Religions Islam Subdivisions 12 main clans | Languages Marathi and Bhili | |
Populated states Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh | ||
The Tadvi Bhil (Urdu: تدوی بهیل ) are a Muslim community found in the states of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan in India and Sindh in Pakistan. They are Muslim converts from the larger Bhil ethnic group and are a clan of it. Tadvi Bhils are descendants of Muslim men and local Bhil women. They are also known as Tadvi Pathan, and use the surname Khan.
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History and origin
The Tadvi Bhil inhabit an area which roughly covers the border areas of the states of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. This territory forms the core of the Faruqi kingdom, a medieval state in central India. A close association between the Bhil of this region, and the Faruqi state led to the conversion of many of them to Islam.
The Tadvi Bhil in Maharashtra consist of three sub-groups, the Tadvi proper, the Nirade, and Nahay. Each of these groups intermarry, although the Tadvi proper perceive themselves to be superior.
Present circumstance
The Tadvi speak a dialect of their own, also known as Tadvi, but many are switching to Hindi and Marathi. Their language is Dhanka, which belongs to the Bhil group of the Indo-Aryan language family. They inhabit villages which are largely Tadvi, although interact with neighbouring Muslim communities such as the Bohra and Pinjara. The community consist mainly of small cultivators. Like the wider Bhil community, they maintain the custom of gotra exogamy, and are strictly endogamous. In Maharashtra, their main clans are the Sirsat, Mankar, Dhopi, Tadvi, Khate, Solanki and Wade. They are found mainly in Dhule and Jalgaon, and in this state are mainly small and medium sized farmers. They are also raise sheep and other livestock.
As of 2001, the Tadvi Bhil of Rajasthan were classified as a Scheduled Tribe under the Indian government's reservation program of positive discrimination.