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{{Short description|Muslim community in North India}} | |||
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}} | |||
{{infobox ethnic group | {{infobox ethnic group | ||
|group= Mirshikar | |group = Mirshikar | ||
|poptime = | |poptime = | ||
|popplace ={{hlist | |popplace = {{hlist|India|Bangladesh|Pakistan|Afghanistan}} | ||
|langs ={{hlist | [[Urdu language|Urdu]] | [[Hindi language|Hindi]]}} | |langs = {{hlist|[[Urdu language|Urdu]]|[[Hindi language|Hindi]]}} | ||
|rels= | |rels = Islam | ||
}} | }} | ||
The ''' | The '''mirshikar''' are a Muslim community, found in [[North India]], who were traditionally hunters and trappers of birds and small animals. Some were recorded as bird-catchers in [[Bihar]] around 1964.<ref>{{cite journal| url=https://archive.org/stream/journalofbombay611964bomb#page/380/mode/2up/ |pages=370–384 |title=Notes on migrant birds of north Bihar| author=George, P.V.| year=1964| journal=Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society | volume=61| issue=1}}</ref> They can be found in [[Bihar]] and [[West Bengal]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Samiuddin |first1=Abida |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qEXFxCK-ulUC |title=Global Encyclopaedic Ethnography of Indian Muslim |last2=Khanam |first2=R. |publisher=Global Vision Publishing House |isbn=978-81-8220-299-3 |pages=521–522}}</ref> | ||
== | ==Practices== | ||
In one mirshikar community in Bihar, young men needed to prove themselves fit for marriage by catching a ''loha sarang'', the [[black-necked stork]] known for being vicious. The practice was stopped when{{When|date=September 2025|reason=When did the boy die? Year/decade/century would help understand how far back the practice stopped.}} a boy was killed in the process.<ref>{{cite journal|author1=Grubh, B.R.|author2= Shekar, P.B.|year=1968| title=Blacknecked Stork (''Xenorhynchus asiaticus'') and the marriage of Mirshikars|journal=[[Newsletter for Birdwatchers]] | volume=8| issue=3|pages=1–2|url=https://archive.org/stream/NLBW9#page/n2/mode/1up}}</ref> | |||
Ali Hussain, from a mirshikar community in [[Manjhaul]], is acclaimed for his work as a bird trapper for the [[Bombay Natural History Society]]. He worked with [[Salim Ali]] and other ornithologists to aid the [[Bird ringing|marking]] and study of birds. In 1998, he was flown to [[Jackson County, Mississippi]], US, and during his one-week visit, he demonstrated his trapping techniques and helped capture 10% of the [[sandhill crane]] population in the state.<ref>{{cite book|url=http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1068&context=nacwgproc| year=2001| chapter=Use of traditional Indian trapping methods to capture sandhill cranes| author1= Hereford, S.G.| author2=Grazia, T.E.| author3=Nagendran, M.D.|author4=Hussain, Ali| title=North American Crane Workshop Proceedings.|page=220}}</ref> His method is now standard in crane research.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Parker, Jeannette M.|author2= Folk, Martin J.|author3= Baynes, Stephen B.| author4=Candelora, Kristen L.|chapter = Use of Clap Traps in Capturing Nonmigratory Whooping Cranes in Florida| year=2008| title=North American Crane Workshop Proceedings. Paper 196.|url=http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nacwgproc/196}}</ref> In 1998, the [[Films Division of India]] recorded a documentary featuring Hussain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://filmsdivision.org/shop/nm0370-birdman|title= Birdman. News Magazine. 370. Directed by Shankar Patnaik. Produced in 1998.|publisher=Films Division, India|access-date=16 September 2016<!--| url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m56iBHvGPlg --> |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/m56iBHvGPlg |archive-date=15 December 2021 |url-status=live}}{{cbignore}}</ref> | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
{{Indian Muslim}} | {{Indian Muslim}} | ||
[[Category:Social groups of Bihar]] | [[Category:Social groups of Bihar]] | ||
[[Category:Muslim communities of Bihar]] | [[Category:Muslim communities of Bihar]] | ||
{{Islam-stub}} | |||
Latest revision as of 16:05, 4 October 2025
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The mirshikar are a Muslim community, found in North India, who were traditionally hunters and trappers of birds and small animals. Some were recorded as bird-catchers in Bihar around 1964.[1] They can be found in Bihar and West Bengal.[2]
Practices[edit | edit source]
In one mirshikar community in Bihar, young men needed to prove themselves fit for marriage by catching a loha sarang, the black-necked stork known for being vicious. The practice was stopped when[when?] a boy was killed in the process.[3]
Ali Hussain, from a mirshikar community in Manjhaul, is acclaimed for his work as a bird trapper for the Bombay Natural History Society. He worked with Salim Ali and other ornithologists to aid the marking and study of birds. In 1998, he was flown to Jackson County, Mississippi, US, and during his one-week visit, he demonstrated his trapping techniques and helped capture 10% of the sandhill crane population in the state.[4] His method is now standard in crane research.[5] In 1998, the Films Division of India recorded a documentary featuring Hussain.[6]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ George, P.V. (1964). "Notes on migrant birds of north Bihar". Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. 61 (1): 370–384.
- ↑ Samiuddin, Abida; Khanam, R. Global Encyclopaedic Ethnography of Indian Muslim. Global Vision Publishing House. pp. 521–522. ISBN 978-81-8220-299-3.
- ↑ Grubh, B.R.; Shekar, P.B. (1968). "Blacknecked Stork (Xenorhynchus asiaticus) and the marriage of Mirshikars". Newsletter for Birdwatchers. 8 (3): 1–2.
- ↑ Hereford, S.G.; Grazia, T.E.; Nagendran, M.D.; Hussain, Ali (2001). "Use of traditional Indian trapping methods to capture sandhill cranes". North American Crane Workshop Proceedings. p. 220.
- ↑ Parker, Jeannette M.; Folk, Martin J.; Baynes, Stephen B.; Candelora, Kristen L. (2008). "Use of Clap Traps in Capturing Nonmigratory Whooping Cranes in Florida". North American Crane Workshop Proceedings. Paper 196.
- ↑ "Birdman. News Magazine. 370. Directed by Shankar Patnaik. Produced in 1998". Films Division, India. Archived from the original on 15 December 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
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