Mandarkia

The Mandarkia are a community found in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India.

Origin

The Mandarkia claim to be a clan of the Sombansi Rajputs of Awadh. They trace their descent from one Kishan Chand, a Sombansi Rajput, who is also said to have founded the town of Kishni. A descenndent of Kishan Chand was Mandar Sah, from whom they get their name. A section of the Mandarkia converted to Islam during the rule of Sher Shah Suri. They are found mainly in and near the town of Jagdishpur in Sultanpur District, and occupy fourteen villages. The Mandarkia are almost evenly divided between the Hindu and Muslim sections. The former intermarry with other Rajput groups, while the Muslims are endogamous, occasionally intermarrying with the Bharsaiyan, another community of similar status.

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