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| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| Bihar, India • Terai Region, Nepal | |
| Bihar | 1,253,781 (2023) |
| Languages | |
| Kulhaiya boli (کلاحیا بولی) a dialect of Maithili | |
| Religion | |
 Sunni Islam | |
The Kulhaiya Sheikh (Urdu: کل حیا) is a Muslim community found in the northeastern part of the Indian state of Bihar, India, as well as the Terai region of south-east Nepal.
History
Origin
Founding members of the Kulahiya Sheikh community were preferred for soldiers in the Bengal Sultanate due to their mercenary background. The Faujdars of Purnea at the time of the Mughal Nawab of Bengal, Saif Khan, appointed Kulahiyas to protect Indian border on the side of Nepal against the invading Gurung and Gurkha tribes. The original members of this community were Arab mercenaries and sellswords from Hadhrami tribe of Yemen.
Education
According to the 2011 Census, male literacy rate of the community is 66% and 55.6% for female. The community is categorised as OBC under education quota system.
Demographics
The Kulhaiyas are predominantly found in erstwhile sultanate-era Purnia division of Bihar which includes present-day districts of Purnia, Araria, Katihar and some parts of Kishanganj of Indian state of Bihar.
References
- "Bihar Caste Wise Population Share Full List: बिहार में किस जाति की कितनी संख्या, आबादी में कितना प्रतिशत हिस्सेदारी". Hindustan (in Hindi). Retrieved 2024-02-01.
- Aina-e-Purnea by Akmal Yazdani
- ^ Kulhaiya Bridari by Kabiruddin Fauzan
- Shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in pdf Purnia statistics
- "In Bihar caste rejig, the backward list grows longer". The Indian Express. 2014-03-13. Retrieved 2024-02-01.