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). In the North West Punjab region, this 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 Indian Rebellion of 1857, many valmiki 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. See also Mazhabi Sikh Matadin Bhangi Madakari Nayaka Bhai Jiwan Singh Bhura Singh Valmiki Gangu Baba Sikh Light Infantry Valmiki Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal Balmikism Valmiki Ashram References Dalit communities Hindu communities Scheduled Castes of Punjab Scheduled Castes of Uttar Pradesh Scheduled Castes of Gujarat Scheduled Castes of Madhya Pradesh Scheduled Castes of Delhi Scheduled Castes of Haryana Scheduled Castes of Chhattisgarh Scheduled Castes of Assam Scheduled Castes of Jammu and Kashmir Scheduled Castes of Bihar Scheduled Castes of Himachal Pradesh Scheduled Castes of Odisha Scheduled Tribes of Andhra Pradesh