Sikh Ravidasia: Difference between revisions
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Both the words Ramdasia and Ravidasia are also used inter changeably while these also have regional context. In Puadh and Malwa, largely Ramdasia in used while Ravidasia is predominantly used in Doaba. | Both the words Ramdasia and Ravidasia are also used inter changeably while these also have regional context. In Puadh and Malwa, largely Ramdasia in used while Ravidasia is predominantly used in Doaba. | ||
In old era & during British period in Punjab, Hindu/Sikh Ravidasia Professions were Footwear Makers, Weaving Product Markers, Leather Tanning. They were the main supplier of Army Shoes to British Army. These days most of the tanneries (leather manufacturing units), shoe factories and sports goods manufacturing units in Punjab are owned by Ravidasia/Ramdasia community. Almost 90% Punjabi Jutti (Traditional Shoes) shops in Punjab are also owned by this sect of Sikhism. Socio Economic survey of 2011 census reflects that this community has highest number of government officials (bureaucrats) and also highest number of Medical graduates. | In old era & during British period in Punjab, Hindu/Sikh Ravidasia Professions were Footwear Makers, Weaving Product Markers, Leather Tanning. They were the main supplier of Army Shoes to British Army. These days most of the tanneries (leather manufacturing units), shoe factories and sports goods manufacturing units in Punjab are owned by Ravidasia/Ramdasia community. Almost 90% Punjabi Jutti (Traditional Shoes) shops in Punjab are also owned by this sect of Sikhism. Socio Economic survey of 2011 census reflects that this community has highest number of government officials (bureaucrats) and also highest number of Medical graduates in Punjab. | ||
==Military Service== | ==Military Service== |
Revision as of 23:04, 28 June 2022
Sikhism does not endorse caste based distinctions in society that lead to unequal opportunities for some people. In fact, Sikhism completely rejects class or race based distinctions between humans, that leads us to make an inequitable society. Such distinctions have surfaced only due to ill interests of certain section of people, who, on the pretext of making a society more manageable through these classifications, eventually paved the way to an unequal grouping within the human race. This article is just for information purpose and to share how people from different castes came into the Sikh fold. So, please treat this article as a source of general information about this issue and kindly do not amend this article to highlight this important underlying Sikh principle. If you have any comments, please discuss them appropriately here |
Castes & Tribes | |
Ravidasia | |
Classification | Shoe Makers, Weaving |
Subdivisions | Chamar |
Significant populations in | Punjab (India) |
Languages | Punjabi |
Religions | Sikhism |
Ravidasia were historically a Sikh Hindu sub-group that originated from the caste of leather tanners and shoemakers known as Chamar. Nowadays people of this community do farming, large number of them are Governnent officials, Granthi in Gurudwara and Prominent politicians.
Both the words Ramdasia and Ravidasia are also used inter changeably while these also have regional context. In Puadh and Malwa, largely Ramdasia in used while Ravidasia is predominantly used in Doaba.
In old era & during British period in Punjab, Hindu/Sikh Ravidasia Professions were Footwear Makers, Weaving Product Markers, Leather Tanning. They were the main supplier of Army Shoes to British Army. These days most of the tanneries (leather manufacturing units), shoe factories and sports goods manufacturing units in Punjab are owned by Ravidasia/Ramdasia community. Almost 90% Punjabi Jutti (Traditional Shoes) shops in Punjab are also owned by this sect of Sikhism. Socio Economic survey of 2011 census reflects that this community has highest number of government officials (bureaucrats) and also highest number of Medical graduates in Punjab.
Military Service
British Raj
The Ravidasia Sikhs, together with the Majhabi Sikhs, were recruited to the Sikh Light Infantry regiment (SLI) after its formation in 1941. The Sikh Light Infantry has always been a "single class" regiment in the parlance adopted from the British Raj era. This means that it recruits only from one demographic, which in this instance means the Ramdasia/Ramdasia Sikhs and Mazhabi Sikhs. Indeed, the SLI was initially called the Mazhabi & Ramdasia/Ravidasia Sikh Regiment. Despite unwillingness among some policy makers, the British had to abandon their traditional distinction between martial and non-martial races during the Second World War. This was necessitated by the need for more recruits than could be supplied by those communities upon which they usually relied, such as the Jat Sikhs, Dogras and Punjabi Musalmans. In addition, indiscipline among Jat Sikhs caused by their concerns regarding a post-war division of India was another reason to prefer recruitment of new classes. While recruitment from the pre-war martial classes was still pre-eminent, that from newly recognised classes such as the Ramdasias/Ravidasia snd Mazhabis became significant.
After Independence of India
When India became independent in 1947, the British Indian Army became the Indian Army. This, like its predecessor, relies on the martial race theory for much of its recruitment and thus there is a grossly disproportionate number of Sikhs within its ranks. The Ramdasias/Ravidasia Sikhs amd Mazhabi Sikhs continued their service with the SLI in the new army. The SLI has served in almost all of the post-1947 conflicts involving India, including the wars with Pakistan in 1947, 1965 and 1971, the Hyderabad Police Action of 1948 and the Chinese aggression in 1962. It has also served in Sri Lanka, where the 1st, 7th, 13th and 14th Battalions have contributed towards peace-keeping.
Hindu Ravidasias of Punjab
This sect of Ramdasia/Ravidasia having faith in Hinduism and they mostly residing in Pathankot, Jammu, Himachal Pradesh and Jalandhar. Hindu Ramdasia/Ravidasia migrated from Pakistan and back in Sialkot, these Ramdasia/Ravidasia were involved in Leather/Sports Goods Business. After migrating in Jalandhar they established their own Tanneries and Sports Goods manufacturing Units. For This purpose Government of Punjab, India helped them by providing liberal loans and allotting sites for their Factories Hindu Ramdasias/Ravidasias are staunch follower of Guru Ravidass and they follow Dera Swami Gurdeep Giri ji, Pathankot.
Ravidasia Diaspora and Guru Ravidass Temples and Gurdwaras
Ravidasia Sikh diaspora emigrated from India and Pakistan is significant. Emigration from the Punjab began before and after the 19th century, with many Ravidasia Sikh settling in Europe, and also a large Ravidasia Sikh population in North America such as the United States and the Canada. There is sizeable population of Ravidasia Sikh in Oceania too.
Today they have presence in every major city of world where they have also established Guru Ravidass Gurdwaras and Sikh Temples.
Fiji
New Zealand
- Guru Guru Ravidas Sikh Temple, Bombay Hills, Auckland
- Guru Ravidas Temple, Hastings
- Gurdwara Begampura Sikh Temple, Papakura
Australia
Greece
Italy
- Shri Guru Ravidass Dham, Bergamo
- Shri Guru Ravidass Temple, Verona
- Shri Guru Ravidass Gurdwara, Gorlago
- Shri Guru Ravidass Temple, Vicenza
- Guru Ravidass Temple, Sabaudia
Germany
Austria
Holland
Spain
Belgium
France
England
- Shri Guru Ravidas Bhavan, Birmingham
- Shri Guru Ravidass Temple, Southall
- Shri Guru Ravidass Community Centre, Handsworth
- Shri Guru Ravidass Temple, Wolverhampton
- Shri Guru Ravidass Community Centre, Wolverhampton
- Shri Guru Ravidas Temple - Coventry
- Shri Guru Ravidass Community Centre, Coventry
- Shri Guru Ravidass Temple, Hockley
- Shri Guru Ravidas Temple - Foleshill
- Shri Guru Ravidass Temple, Bradford
- Shri Guru Ravidass Gurdwara - Bedford
- Shri Guru Ravidass Temple - Darlaston
- Guru Ravidass Sabha Community Centre, Derby
- Shri Guru Ravidass Sikh Temple - Derby
- Shri Guru Ravidass Sikh Temple, Leicester
- Shri Guru Ravidass Temple - Willenhall
- Shri Guru Ravidass Temple - Walsall
- Shri Guru Ravidass Gurdwara - Erith Kent
- Shri Guru Ravidass Mission Temple, London
- Shri Guru Ravidass Gurdwara and Community Centre- Hitchin
- Shri Guru Ravidass Gurdwara- Newham, London
- Guru Ravidass Sabha, Northampton
- Dera Baba Gobind Dass, Guru Ravidass Sabha, Bilston
- Shri Guru Ravidass Gurdwara - Gravesend
- Shri Guru Ravi Dass Sabha - Letchworth
- Shri Guru Ravidass Bhavan - Luton
- Shri Guru Ravidass Gurdwara- Strood, Medway
- Shri Guru Ravidass Gurdwara - Southampton
United States of America
- Guru Ravidass Sikh Temple, Pittsburgh, California
- Guru Ravidass Sikh Temple, Fresno
- Guru Ravidass Sikh Temple, Rio linda
- Guru Ravidass Sikh Temple, Union City
- Guru Ravidass Sikh Temple, Yuba City
- Guru Ravidass Gurdwara, Selma
- Guru Ravidass Sikh Temple, Houston
- Guru Ravidass Sikh Temple, New York
Canada
- Guru Ravidass Gurdwara, Burlington
- Guru Ravidass Sabha, Brampton
- Guru Ravidas Temple, Etobicoke,Toronto
- Guru Ravidass Sikh Temple,Montreal
- Guru Ravidass Sabha, Edmonton
- Guru Ravidass Sikh Temple, Vancouver
- Guru Ravidass Gurdwara and Community Centre, Calgary
Eminent Ravidassias
Charanjeet Singh Channi- Former Chief Minister of Punjab
Giani Harpreet Singh - Current Jathedar (Head) of Shri Akal Takhat Sahib
Late Giani Tarlochan Singh - Former Jathedar of Takhat Shri Kesgarh Sahib (Shri Anandpur Sahib)
Mohinder Kaur Midha - Lord Mayor Ealing Council of West London
Harinder Singh Khalsa - Member Parliament and Ex I.F.S. He resigned I.F.S in protest against the Operation Blue Star.
Butshikhan Singh - Ex High Commissioner of India to Brunei Darussalam
Giani Ditt Singh - Co Founder - Singh Sabha Movement , First professor of Punjabi Language
Shaeed Baba Sangat Singh - Martyred in the battle of Chamkaur Sahib
Neetu S Badhan-Smith - Judge, California Superior Court
Miss Pooja - Punjabi Singer
Amar Arshi - Punjabi Bhangra Singer
Dr. Baldev Singh Sher First Sikh Physician graduated from Glasgow University. He was son of Giani Ditt Singh.
Bishan Dass - First Indian Lord Mayor of City of Wolverhampton - 1986 . Elected as Councillor of Ettingshall Ward on 1 May 1975.
Lahori Ram- Economic Development Commissioner , State of California. Co- Founder of First Guru Ravidass Gurdwara in United States.
Ram Parkash Lakha - Ex Lord Mayor of Coventry 2005
Tej Ram Bagha (1939 to 2018) - Ex Lord Mayor of London Borough of Ealing 2014-2015
Gurdip Ram Bangar - Lord Mayor of Gravesham
Netan Sansara - British Footballer
Kulwant Singh - First Mayor of Mohali City and Current M.L.A
Ramesh Chander Mahey- IFS - Ex Ambassador to Belarus (2009 -10)
Ravidasia/Chamar Clans
Aadharmi, Ankhi, Arshi, Badhan, Banga, Bangar, Bhago, Bhagat, , Chamkila, Cairay, Chumber, Chutan, Claire, Dev, Digra, Goria, Heer, Lochan, Jaiswar, Kalday, Kalsi, Kailey, Kattar, Kaler, Kainth, Kuril, Jakkhu, Jarngal, Jassal, Jatav, Jattu, Jhall, Jhalli, Kapri, Mall, Mehmi, Mahey, Mahay, Mahi, Mehta, Momi, Negi, Padam, Ravidas, Ranu, Rattu, Sheemar, Simer, Soami, Tokhi
Social Groups | ||
Rajput ♣♣ Khatri ♣♣ Lohar ♣♣ Kumhar ♣♣ Nai ♣♣ Chamar ♣♣ Arora ♣♣ Bhatra ♣♣ Agrawal ♣♣ Bania ♣♣ Sindhi ♣♣ Saini ♣♣ Julaha
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