Shershahabadia

The Shershabadia (Bengali: শেরশাবাদিয়া), also known in various districts of the Kosi Belt as Maldahiya, are a Bengali Muslim community found in the state of Bihar and West Bengal in India. They also form a significant part of the Shaikhs of Bihar. Common surnames used by the community include Mandal and Sekh. These peoples mostly live in chars and dubas (lower land) along Gangetic river lines from Katihar district of Bihar on the north bank and Rajmahal District of Jharkhand on the south bank to Murshidabad districts of West Bengal on the South bank and Malda district of West Bengal on the north bank. Most of them are Sunni Muslims who associate with the Ahl-i Hadith movement.

Terminology

The term Shershabadia is derived from the community's place of origin; a pargana known as Shershabad [> Shershahabad] corrupted from the original Sarsabad as mentioned in Ain-I-Akbari. Jawar-i-Sarsabad or Sarsabad Division of Jannatabad sarkar is located in the Bengal region. Shershahabad comprised parts of southern Malda and northern Murshidabad.

History and origin

The word Shershabadia (from Persian: شیرشاه‌آباد) literally means the language and the people of the land known as Jawar-e-Sheshabad or Shershabad pargana founded. They acquired this name on account of the fact that this community originated from this paragana located in Malda and Murshidabad districts. Shershabadia still speak Bengali, but most now have knowledge of Hindi, which is the official language of Bihar. They live mainly in the surrounding districts of Bihar and West Bengal named Purnia, Katihar, Burdwan, Murshidabad, Birbhum, Nadia and Malda. Presently, after the divide of Bihar into Jharkhand, the districts of Jharkhand namely Pakur and Sahibganj are where they are found.

During the British period, the Shershabadia were considered by the British authorities, to have criminal tendency for the involvement of some members in the anti-British movement known as Wahabi Movement, but later on deleted from the list of Criminal Tribes.

Present circumstances

The Shershabadia practice community endogamy. They are a community of settled agriculturist, but as their population has grown, the land ownership has been sub-divided. This has led to many becoming landless, and a growth of those in the community who are agricultural labour, day labour, teaching, business etc. The community entirely belongs to Sunni Muslim. The majority do not belong to any of the four recognized theological schools of Islam viz. Hanafi, Shafi'i, Maliki and Hanbali. Rather they follow all the correct call from all the four Imams and they are known as Ahl al-Hadith (strict followers of the Quran and Hadith). Preaching of any Pir/ Darbesh (Muslim Saint) is not accepted of them normally. Except the prayer in funeral ground they do not perform Jiyarat (a type of prayer kindling light). They do not take part in any sort of Milad. In their social organization role of a Sardar/ Mandal (Chief of the Community) is very important. Their females follow the system of Parda (Veil) as far as practiced. Shershabadia women are experts in stitching clothes and singing Shershabadia Geed (songs). As a whole they are not involved in popular Muharram but some of them are remain on fasting throughout the day. Marriage is solemnised only at daytime. During marriages they perform the rituals like Haldi etc. Charham and Chalisha (observance on fourth and fortieth day after death) are not performed in Shershabadia Community. Shershabadias speak in Shershabadia dialect at home.

See also

• Shaikh of Bihar
• Bedia (tribe)