They are Muslim converts from the larger Nagar Brahmin community.
Even today, many prominent Muslims from Western Uttar Pradesh belong to these communities.
As the Nagar played a key role in the 1857 War of Independence, most of their estates were confiscated.
They were led by Sohrab Khan, who set himself up as the independent ruler, taking advantage of the collapse of British authority.
[1][full citation needed] The Nagar are largely endogamous, although there have been a few cases of intermarriage with the Behlim Shaikh of Bulandshahr city, a community of similar status.