Valmiki caste
Valmiki is a name used by a variety of communities throughout India who all claim descent from the author of the "Ramayana", Valmiki. The Valmikis can be classified as a caste or Sampradaya (tradition/sect). North India. Valmiki comes under Scheduled Caste in North India. The originality of Valmiki caste in North India is Chuhra and Bhangi, historically this caste originated in Delhi Sultanate and Mughal period . Valmikis are thought to be descended from Kshatriyas who were defeated by Islamic invaders. The Kshatriyas were given the options of either accepting Islam or picking up sewage. They did not  accept Islam and adopted the practice of manual scavenging, due to this they were seen with a dirty eye in the society. In the North West Punjab region, the Chuhra caste had adopted Sikhism. They were given the task of engaging in war. The Indian British government recruited them in their army and declared them a martial caste. During the 1857 revolution, many valmikis were prominent freedom fighters. Notable examples include Matadin Bhangi, Gangu Mehtar, Bhura Singh Valmiki. At the present time many changes have been seen in this caste, now they incline towards politics and government high positions. According  to the 2001 Census of India, the Valmikis formed 11.2 per cent of the Scheduled Caste population in Punjab and were the second-most populous Scheduled Caste in Delhi National Capital Region. The 2011 Census of India for Uttar Pradesh showed the Valmiki population, which was classified as a Scheduled Caste, as 1,319,241. South India. In South India the term is mainly used as a self-identification by the Boya or Bedar caste, a traditional hunting and martial caste who are considered as Backward castes now changed by government of Andhra Pradesh into scheduled Tribes in Andhra Pradesh, Most Backward  caste (MBC) in Tamil Nadu and Scheduled Tribe in Karnataka. The Valmikis are mainly concentrated in Anantapur, Kurnool and Kadapa districts of Andhra Pradesh and in Bellary, Raichur and Chitradurga districts of Karnataka, although they are spread all over the state. They also built a temple of Valmiki in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh. In Andhra Pradesh they are known as "Boya Valmikis" or "Valmikis". Other countries. In the UK, the Council of Valmiki Sabhas UK claims to represent the Valmiki.