Affinity Bloc: South Asian Peoples

Overview: The Valmiki (Balmiki) are a Dalit community of India. The Valmiki include the Bhangi, Mehtar, Lalbegi and a few other communities. They are widely distributed in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Delhi and Chandigarh. Dalit is a Sanskrit term meaning "broken or scattered" and refers to the lowest caste in India, often characterized as "untouchable".

  K. S. Singh, People of India. Volume IV. India's Communities A-G. Delhi: Oxford University Press (1998). Pp. 233-236

Peoples within this cluster: Balmiki (Andamani); Balmiki (Awadhi); Balmiki (Garhwali); Balmiki (Haryanvi); Balmiki (Panjabi); Bhangi (Bengali); Bhangi (Chhattisgarhi); Bhangi (Gujarati); Bhangi (Konkani); Bhangi (Mewari); Bhangi, Hindu; Chuhra

Countries where they are found: India; Pakistan