https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Nat_%28Muslim%29Nat (Muslim) - Revision history2026-09-07T13:30:45ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nat_(Muslim)&diff=240694&oldid=prev->Partonez at 10:40, 16 May 20212021-05-16T10:40:26Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Muslim community in North India}}{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2018}}<br />
{{Ethnic group|<br />
| group = Nat<br />
| native_name = <br />
| native_name_lang = <br />
| poptime = <br />
| popplace = • India • Nepal<br />
| langs = • [[Urdu language|Urdu]] • [[Maithili language|Maithili]]<br />
| rels = [[Islam]] 100%<br />
| related = • [[Nat (caste)|Hindu Nat • Bakho]]<br />
}}<br />
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The '''Nat''' are a [[Muslim]] community found in [[North India]]. A few are also found in the [[Terai]] region of [[Nepal]].<ref name=GJ1>People of India Bihar Volume XVI, part 2. Edited by Surendra Gopal and Hetukar Jha, pages 725-728.</ref> They are Muslim converts from the [[Hindu]] [[Nat (caste)|Nat]] caste.<br />
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==History and origin==<br />
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The Muslim Nat are a semi-nomadic community, traditionally associated rope dancing, juggling, fortune telling and begging. They are found mainly in the districts of [[Madhubani district|Madhubani]], [[Darbhanga]], [[Samastipur]] and [[Patna]]. They speak [[Urdu]].<ref name=GJ1/><br />
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== Present circumstances ==<br />
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The Muslim Nat are mainly cattle dealers, while a small number are involved in begging. They are one of the most marginalized Muslim communities in [[Bihar]]. Almost all the Nat are landless. A small number of Nat have now settled down and are cultivators.<br />
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The Nat are strictly endogamous, and generally live in isolation from other [[Muslim]] communities in their neighbourhoods. Although they are [[Sunni]] Muslims, they incorporate many folk beliefs.<ref name=GJ1/><br />
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In [[Uttar Pradesh]], the Nat are said to have come originally from [[Chittaur]] in [[Rajasthan]]. They are found mainly in the districts of [[Varanasi]], [[Allahabad]], [[Barabanki district|Barabanki]] and [[Jaunpur district|Jaunpur]]. The Nat speak Urdu and [[Hindi]] and converted to [[Islam]] during the rule of the [[Nawabs of Awadh]], about two hundred years ago. The Muslim Nat consist of number of sub-groups, the main ones being the Aman, Goleri, Mahawat, Rari, Siarmaroa and Turkata. Many Nat are still involved with fortune telling and live a semi-nomadic lifestyle. Most Nat are now landless agricultural labourers, and are in depressed economic circumstances. The Nat are [[Sunni]] [[Muslim]]s, but incorporate many folk beliefs.<ref>People of India Uttar Pradesh Volume XLII Part Two by K.S. Singh pages 1053 to 1056.</ref><br />
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In [[Haryana]], they are found mainly in the districts of [[Faridabad]], [[Gurgaon]] and [[Rohtak]]. They speak [[Haryanvi]], and understand Hindi. Little is known about the circumstances of their conversion to Islam. Historically, the community in Haryana were rope dancers, jugglers and acrobats. The Nat consist of a number of exogamous clans, the main ones being the Dagariya, Sansebar, Baraike, Khoyareke, Paharike, Nangariye, Dhadhasiya, Palike, Jirmichya, Dangiya, Kotiya, Shirkarake, Dilwati, Occhluke, Rashidiya, and Badanke. The Nat are no longer involved in their traditional occupation, and are now largely landless agriculture workers, migrating to different places in search of employment. They are nominally Sunni, but practice many folk beliefs.<ref>People of India Haryana Volume XXIII edited by M.K. Sharma and A.K. Bhatia pages 380 to 385 Manohar</ref><br />
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==References==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
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{{Indian Muslim}}<br />
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[[Category:Dalit Muslim]]<br />
[[Category:Muslim communities of Bihar]]<br />
[[Category:Muslim communities of Uttar Pradesh]]<br />
[[Category:Social groups of Haryana]]</div>->Partonez