Pathans of Uttar Pradesh
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| (4,997,000) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
•  India
|
|
| Languages | |
| Awadhi • Bhojpuri • Urdu • English | |
| Religion | |
 Islam 100% |
|
| Related ethnic groups | |
| • Pashtun • Pathans of Hyderabad • Pathans of Madhya Pradesh •Rohilla • Pathans of Gujarat • Pathans of Rajasthan • Pathan of Bihar • Pathans of Punjab • 30-35% of the Muhajir people |
The Pathans of Uttar Pradesh (Pashto: د اوتار پرادش پښتانه), have a large community of Pashtuns in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India, who form one of the largest Muslim communities in the state. They are also known as khans, which is a commonly used surname, although not all those who use the surname are Pathans, for example the Khanzada community of eastern Uttar Pradesh, who are Muslim Rajputs, are also commonly known as khan. Indeed, in Awadh, the boundary between the Khanzada and Pathans are blurred. In addition, the phrase Pathan Khanzada is used to describe Muslim Rajput groups, found mainly in Gorakhpur, who have been absorbed into the Pathan community. However, in Rohilkhand, and in parts of the Doab and Awadh, there are genuine communities of Pashtuns, such as the Rohilla.
The word Pathan is simply the Hindustani pronunciation of the word Pashtun. Their presence in the territory that now forms Uttar Pradesh dates from at the least the 10th Century. Various medieval sources refer to the presence of Pashtuns in the armies of the Delhi Sultanate. With the rise of the Pashtun Lodi dynasty, there were the beginnings of mass Pashtun immigration. The Lodi were replaced by the Mughals, who continued to employ the Pashtuns in their armies.
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