Valmiki caste


The Valmikis are a variety of communities throughout India who all claim descent from the legendary author of the Ramayana, Valmiki. The Valmikis can be classified as a caste or sampradaya.
In the north-west Punjab region, this caste had adopted Sikhism. During the Indian Rebellion of 1857, many Valmiki were prominent rebels. Notable examples include Matadin Bhangi, Gangu Mehtar and Bhura Singh Valmiki. Members of this caste are now inclined towards politics and government high positions.
According to the 2001 Census of India, the Valmikis formed 11.2 per cent of the Scheduled Caste population in the Indian state of Punjab and were the second-most populous Scheduled Caste in Delhi National Capital Region. The 2011 Census of India for Uttar Pradesh showed the Valmiki population, which was classified as a Scheduled Caste, as 1,319,241.

Demographics

State, U.TPopulationPopulation %Notes
Andhra Pradesh70,5130.083%In the Joint State of Andhara Pradesh during the 2011 census, the Valmiki caste had been counted as a Scheduled Tribe instead of a Scheduled Caste. 
Bihar207,5490.199%Counted as Hari, Mehtar, Bhangi
Chandigarh82,6247.82%Counted as Mazhabi, Balmiki, Chura or Bhangi
Chhattisgarh19,0160.074%Counted as Bhangi, Mehtar, Balmiki, Lalbegi, Dharkar
NCT of Delhi577,2813.43 %Counted as Chuhra
Goa3090.0%Counted as Bhangi
Gujarat439,4440.72%Counted as Bhangi, Mehtar, Olgana, Rukhi, Malkana, Halalkhor, Lalbegi, Balmiki, Korar, Zadmalli,Barwashia, Barwasia, Jamphoda, Zampada, Zampda, Rushi, Valmiki
Haryana1,079,6824.25%Counted as Balmiki, Chura, Bhangi, Mazhabi and Mazhabi Sikh
Himachal Pradesh35,1500.51%Counted as Balmiki, Bhangi, Chuhra, Chura, Chuhre and Mazhabi
Jammu & Kashmir69180.0%Counted as Chura, Bhangi, Balmiki, Mehtar
Jharkhand58,2420.17%Counted as Hari, Mehtar, Bhangi
Karnataka5,2810.0086%Counted as Bhangi, Mehtar, Olgana, Rukhi, Malkana, Halalkhor, Lalbegi, Balmiki, Korar, Zadmalli
Madhya Pradesh365,7690.5%Counted as Bhangi, Mehtar, Balmik, Lalbegi, Dharkar
Maharashtra217,1660.19%Counted as Bhangi, Mehtar, Olgana, Rukhi, Malkana, Halalkhor, Lalbegi, Balmiki, Korar, Zadmalli, Hela
Mizoram210.0%Counted as Mehtar, Bhangi
Odisha2,4530.0%Counted as Hari, Mehtar, Bhangi
Punjab3,500,87412.61%Counted as Mazhabi, Mazhabi Sikh, Balmiki, Chuhra, Bhangi
Rajasthan625,0110.91%Counted as Majhabi, Bhangi, Chura, Mehtar, Olgana, Rukhi, Malkana, Halalkhor, Lalbegi, Balmiki, Valmiki, Korar, Zadmalli
Tripura1,8510.0%Counted as Mehtor
Uttarakhand118,4211.17%Counted as Mazhabi and Balmiki
Uttar Pradesh1,319,2410.66%Counted as Balmiki
West Bengal431,2570.47%Counted as Hari, Mehtar, Mehtor, Bhangi, Balmiki

Other countries

In the UK, the Council of Valmiki Sabhas UK claims to represent the Valmiki.