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 (tradition/sect).[1]
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. Caste members now they incline towards politics[2] 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[3] and were the second-most populous Scheduled Caste in Delhi National Capital Region.[4] [5] The 2011 Census of India for Uttar Pradesh showed the Valmiki population, which was classified as a Scheduled Caste, as 1,319,241.[6]
| State, U.T | Population | Population % | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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) | |
| Gujarat[11] | 439,444 | 0.72% | Counted as Bhangi, Mehtar, Olgana, Rukhi, Malkana, Halalkhor, Lalbegi, Balmiki, Korar, Zadmalli,Barwashia, Barwasia, Jamphoda, Zampada, Zampda, Rushi, Valmiki | |
| Haryana[12] | 1,079,682 | 4.25% | Counted as Balmiki, Chura, Bhangi, Mazhabi and Mazhabi Sikh | |
| Himachal Pradesh[13] | 35,150 | 0.51% | Counted as Balmiki, Bhangi, Chuhra, Chura, Chuhre and Mazhabi | |
| Jharkhand[14] | 58,242 | 0.17% | Counted as Hari, Mehtar, Bhangi | |
| Karnataka[15] | 5,281 | 0.0086% | Counted as Bhangi, Mehtar, Olgana, Rukhi, Malkana, Halalkhor, Lalbegi, Balmiki, Korar, Zadmalli | |
| Madhya Pradesh[16] | 365,769 | 0.5% | Counted as Bhangi, Mehtar, Balmik, Lalbegi, Dharkar | |
| Maharashtra[17] | 217,166 | 0.19% | Counted as Bhangi, Mehtar, Olgana, Rukhi, Malkana, Halalkhor, Lalbegi, Balmiki, Korar, Zadmalli, Hela | |
| Punjab[18] | 3,500,874 | 12.61% | Counted as Mazhabi, Mazhabi Sikh, Balmiki, Chuhra, Bhangi | |
| Rajasthan[19] | 625,011 | 0.91% | Counted as Majhabi, Bhangi, Chura, Mehtar, Olgana, Rukhi, Malkana, Halalkhor, Lalbegi, Balmiki, Valmiki, Korar, Zadmalli | |
| Uttarakhand[20] | 118,421 | 1.17% | Counted as Mazhabi and Balmiki | |
| Uttar Pradesh[21] | 1,319,241 | 0.66% | Counted as Balmiki |
In the UK, the Council of Valmiki Sabhas UK claims to represent the Valmiki.[22] [23]