Mewat’s Meo Muslims Turn the Scars of Lynching into Haunting Songs
Meo Muslims of Mewat are singing songs of mob lynchings and cow vigilantism.
Meos are the inhabitants of Mewat, a region in northwest India situated between the cities of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. Most of them belong to Rajput families and had embraced Islam four centuries ago, though a lot of Hindu customs were practiced as late as the mid-20th century. Meo society is still divided into pals and gotras and marriages happen based on clans.
The folk singers, Mirasis, constitute lower caste Meo Muslims. For a community that has no written record, Mirasis’ bards reveal a lot. Gandhi’s visit to Ghasera, an important chapter in Mewat’s history, is something that they continue to sing about with pride.
