TheValmikis are a variety of communities throughout India who all claim descent from the legendary author of theRamayana,Valmiki. The Valmikis can be classified as acaste orsampradaya (tradition/sect).[1]
In the north-westPunjab region, this caste had adopted Sikhism. During theIndian Rebellion of 1857, many Valmiki were prominent rebels. Notable examples includeMatadin Bhangi,Gangu Mehtar andBhura Singh Valmiki.
According to the2001 Census of India, the Valmikis formed 11.2 per cent of theScheduled Caste population in the Indian state ofPunjab[2] and were the second-most populous Scheduled Caste inDelhi National Capital Region.[3][4][page needed] The2011 Census of India forUttar Pradesh showed the Valmiki population, which was classified as a Scheduled Caste, as 1,319,241.[5]
| State, U.T | Population | Population % | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh[6] | 70,513 | 0.083% | In the Joint State of Andhara Pradesh during the 2011 census, the Valmiki caste had been counted as aScheduled Tribe instead of a Scheduled Caste. |
| Bihar[7] | 207,549 | 0.199% | Counted as Hari, Mehtar, Bhangi |
| Chandigarh[8] | 82,624 | 7.82% | Counted as Mazhabi, Balmiki, Chura or Bhangi |
| Chhattisgarh[9] | 19,016 | 0.074% | Counted as Bhangi, Mehtar, Balmiki, Lalbegi, Dharkar |
| NCT of Delhi[10] | 577,281 | 3.43 % | Counted as Chuhra (Balmiki) |
| Goa[11] | 309 | 0.0% | Counted as Bhangi (Hadi) |
| Gujarat[12] | 439,444 | 0.72% | Counted as Bhangi, Mehtar, Olgana, Rukhi, Malkana, Halalkhor, Lalbegi, Balmiki, Korar, Zadmalli,Barwashia, Barwasia, Jamphoda, Zampada, Zampda, Rushi, Valmiki |
| Haryana[13] | 1,079,682 | 4.25% | Counted as Balmiki, Chura, Bhangi, Mazhabi and Mazhabi Sikh |
| Himachal Pradesh[14] | 35,150 | 0.51% | Counted as Balmiki, Bhangi, Chuhra, Chura, Chuhre and Mazhabi |
| Jammu & Kashmir[15] | 6918 | 0.0% | Counted as Chura, Bhangi, Balmiki, Mehtar |
| Jharkhand[16] | 58,242 | 0.17% | Counted as Hari, Mehtar, Bhangi |
| Karnataka[17] | 5,281 | 0.0086% | Counted as Bhangi, Mehtar, Olgana, Rukhi, Malkana, Halalkhor, Lalbegi, Balmiki, Korar, Zadmalli |
| Madhya Pradesh[18] | 365,769 | 0.5% | Counted as Bhangi, Mehtar, Balmik, Lalbegi, Dharkar |
| Maharashtra[19] | 217,166 | 0.19% | Counted as Bhangi, Mehtar, Olgana, Rukhi, Malkana, Halalkhor, Lalbegi, Balmiki, Korar, Zadmalli, Hela |
| Mizoram[20] | 21 | 0.0% | Counted as Mehtar, Bhangi |
| Odisha[21] | 2,453 | 0.0% | Counted as Hari, Mehtar, Bhangi |
| Punjab[22] | 3,500,874 | 12.61% | Counted as Mazhabi, Mazhabi Sikh, Balmiki, Chuhra, Bhangi |
| Rajasthan[23] | 625,011 | 0.91% | Counted as Majhabi, Bhangi, Chura, Mehtar, Olgana, Rukhi, Malkana, Halalkhor, Lalbegi, Balmiki, Valmiki, Korar, Zadmalli |
| Tripura[24] | 1,851 | 0.0% | Counted as Mehtor |
| Uttarakhand[25] | 118,421 | 1.17% | Counted as Mazhabi and Balmiki |
| Uttar Pradesh[26] | 1,319,241 | 0.66% | Counted as Balmiki |
| West Bengal[27] | 431,257 | 0.47% | Counted as Hari, Mehtar, Mehtor, Bhangi, Balmiki |
In the UK, the Council of Valmiki Sabhas UK claims to represent the Valmiki.[28][page needed][29]