Meo (ethnic group)

Meo is a prominent Muslim Rajput tribe from Northern India and Pakistan.

Mewat, the homeland of the Meos

The place of origin of the Meo Rajputs is Mewat. It is a region that comprises southern Haryana and north-eastern Rajasthan and is known for its admixture of Hindu and Islamic customs, practices and beliefs. Mewat's boundaries are not precisely determined, but generally include Alwar, Bharatpur, and Dholpur districts of Rajasthan, and District and Faridabad districts of Haryana. The region corresponds to the ancient kingdom of Matsya, founded in the 5th century BCE. Mewati is the chief language or dialect of the region

Cultural Aspects

The Meos are have two strong identities, both of which they are equally proud of:

• Their Muslim identity , going back to their conversion to Islam by various Sufi saints who began settling in their territory from the eleventh century onwards, and whose shrines/mausoleums or dargahs/mazars today dot the entire countryside in Mewat.
• Their Rajput heritage and lineage, which they are very proud of. Despite their conversion to Islam, they still follow some Hindu practices to this day as inherited customs.

Geographic Distribution

Today, Meos mostly inhabit the Punjab and Sindh provinces of Pakistan and the states of Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Delhi in India.

Many Meos migrated to Pakistan after its formation in 1947. In India, they are a million-strong.