Sikh Ravidasia: Difference between revisions
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'''Late Giani Tarlochan Singh''' - Former Jathedar of Takhat Shri Kesgarh Sahib (Shri Anandpur Sahib) | '''Late Giani Tarlochan Singh''' - Former Jathedar of Takhat Shri Kesgarh Sahib (Shri Anandpur Sahib) | ||
'''Giani Ditt Singh''' - Co Founder - Singh Sabha Movement , First professor of Punjabi Language | '''Giani Ditt Singh''' - Co Founder - Singh Sabha Movement , First professor of Punjabi Language | ||
'''Shaeed Baba Sangat Singh''' - Martyred in the battle of Chamkaur Sahib | '''Shaeed Baba Sangat Singh''' - Martyred in the battle of Chamkaur Sahib | ||
'''Mohinder Kaur Midha''' - Lord Mayor Ealing Council of West London | |||
'''Neetu S Badhan-Smith''' - Judge, California Superior Court | '''Neetu S Badhan-Smith''' - Judge, California Superior Court | ||
'''Dr. Baldev Singh Sher''' First Sikh Physician graduated from Glasgow University. He was son of Giani Ditt Singh. | '''Dr. Baldev Singh Sher''' First Sikh Physician graduated from Glasgow University. He was son of Giani Ditt Singh. | ||
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'''Darshan Singh Shivalik''' - Former MLA | '''Darshan Singh Shivalik''' - Former MLA | ||
'''Gurdarshan Singh IPS''' - | '''Miss Pooja''' - Punjabi Singer | ||
'''Amar Arshi''' - Punjabi Bhangra Singer Kala Chashma fame | |||
'''Gurdarshan Singh IPS''' - Former ADGP U.P cadre and member Uttar Pradesh Civil Services | |||
'''Malkit Singh IPS''' - | '''Malkit Singh Jakhu IPS''' - Former DGP | ||
'''Baljit Singh Sandhu IPS'''- Former DGP Haryana State | '''Baljit Singh Sandhu IPS'''- Former DGP Haryana State |
Revision as of 21:42, 10 September 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 Gurudwaras 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 Ravidasias were involved in Shoe making, Weaving and 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 community 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 alongside Ramdasia Sikhs from Malwa emigrated from India and Pakistan is significant. Emigration from the Punjab began before and after the 19th century, with many Ramdasia/Ravidasia Sikhs settling in Europe, and also a large Ramdasia/Ravidasia Sikh population in North America mainly in United States and the Canada. There is sizeable population of Ramdasia/Ravidasia Sikh in Oceania as well.
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 Ravidass Sikh Temple, Bombay Hills, Auckland (Established in 1991)
- Guru Ravidas Temple, Hastings (Established in 2007)
- Gurdwara Begampura Sikh Temple, Papakura (Established in 2008)
Australia
England
- Shri Guru Ravidas Bhavan, Birmingham (Established in 1968 and current building came into existence in 1991)
- Shri Guru Ravidass Temple, Southall (Established in 1972)
- Shri Guru Ravidass Community Centre, Handsworth (Purchased by Ravidass Gurdwara at the amount of 6 million pounds from Handsworth Girls School in 2008)
- Shri Guru Ravidass Temple, Wolverhampton (Established in 1958)
- Shri Guru Ravidass Community Centre, Wolverhampton
- Shri Guru Ravidas Temple - Coventry (Established in early 80s)
- Shri Guru Ravidass Community Centre, Coventry
- Shri Guru Ravidass Temple, Hockley
- Shri Guru Ravidas Temple - Foleshill (Established in 80s)
- Shri Guru Ravidass Temple, Bradford (Established in 1978)
- Shri Guru Ravidass Gurdwara - Bedford (Established in 1980)
- Shri Guru Ravidass Temple - Darlaston (Established in 1981)
- Guru Ravidass Sabha Community Centre, Derby
- Shri Guru Ravidass Sikh Temple - Derby (Established in 1980)
- Shri Guru Ravidass Sikh Temple, Leicester (Established in 1979)
- Shri Guru Ravidass Temple - Willenhall
- Shri Guru Ravidass Temple - Walsall ( Oldest one in UK , established in 1956)
- 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 (Established in 1981)
- Shri Guru Ravidass Gurdwara- Strood, Medway
- Shri Guru Ravidass Gurdwara - Southampton (Established in 1986)
United States of America
- Guru Ravidass Sikh Temple, Pittsburgh, California (Established in 1981 by migrants from Fiji Island and Punjab
- Guru Ravidass Sikh Temple, Fresno
- Guru Ravidass Sikh Temple, Rio linda (Established in 1984)
- 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 (Established in 1985)
Canada
- Guru Ravidass Gurdwara, Burlington (Established in 1978)
- Guru Ravidass Sabha, Brampton
- Guru Ravidas Temple, Etobicoke,Toronto ( Not in operation anymore and 40 acre land has been purchased by this shrine for the construction of new building in Caledon)
- Guru Ravidass Sikh Temple,Montreal (Established in 2000)
- Guru Ravidass Sabha, Edmonton
- Guru Ravidass Sikh Temple, Vancouver (Established in 1981)
- Guru Ravidass Gurdwara and Community Centre, Calgary (Established in 1989)
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
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)
Giani Ditt Singh - Co Founder - Singh Sabha Movement , First professor of Punjabi Language
Shaeed Baba Sangat Singh - Martyred in the battle of Chamkaur Sahib
Mohinder Kaur Midha - Lord Mayor Ealing Council of West London
Neetu S Badhan-Smith - Judge, California Superior Court
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
Samir Jassal - Former Councillor / Deputy Leader Conservative Group, Gravesham Borough Council. Conservative Candidate for U.K. Member Parliament election for 2014 and 2017.
Netan Sansara - British Footballer
Jasbinder Dehar - Councillor for Blakenhall Ward of City of Wolverhampton Council.
Ram K. Mehmi - Councillor for Pleck ward of Walsall Council
Kulwant Singh - First Mayor of Mohali City and Current M.L.A
Mohinder Singh Kaypee - Former Member Parliament
Babu Jagjivan Ram - Former Deputy Prime Minister of India
Chaudhary Santokh Singh- Member Parliament from Jalandhar Constituency
Selja Kumari- Former Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment and Tourism in the Government of India
Ashok Tanwar - Former Member Parliament Lok Sabha
Late Basant Singh Khalsa - Former Member Parliament Lok Sabha
Shamsher Singh Dullo - Former Member Parliament Raj Sabha
Late Bhan Singh Bhaura- Former Member Parliament Lok Sabha
Late Sukhdev Singh Libra - Former Member Parliament Lok Sabha from Fatehgarh sahib Constituency
Gopal Singh Khalsa - Member of Legislative Assembly during British Rule, Secretary SGPC and first Dalit Sikh who did Law graduation from San Joaquin Delta College, Stockton (California) in 1923.
Santosh Chaudhary- Former Member Parliament Lok Sabha
Babu Parmanand- Former Speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly in 1980 and Former Governor of Haryana from 19 June 1999 to 2 July 2004
Late Kanshi Ram- Founder Bahujan Samaj Party and Former Member Parliament
Bikramjit Singh Khalsa - Former MLA and member Punjab Civil Services
Malkit Singh Dakha - Former Minister Punjab Government
Darshan Singh Shivalik - Former MLA
Miss Pooja - Punjabi Singer
Amar Arshi - Punjabi Bhangra Singer Kala Chashma fame
Gurdarshan Singh IPS - Former ADGP U.P cadre and member Uttar Pradesh Civil Services
Malkit Singh Jakhu IPS - Former DGP
Baljit Singh Sandhu IPS- Former DGP Haryana State
Iqbal preet Singh Sahota IPS- DGP Punjab
Kulwant Sarangal IPS - ADGP Maharashtra Cadre
S.R.Darapuri IPS - Former I.G , Uttar Pradesh
Sube Singh IPS - DGP Punjab 1996
Kamal K Attri IPS - DGP Punjab 2009
Darbara Singh Guru IAS - Former principal secretary
Dr. Karam Singh Raju IAS - Former principal secretary
Hussan Lal IAS - Former principal secretary
Jagmohan Singh Raju IAS - Former Cheif Resident Commissioner, Tamil Nadu
Tilak raj Sarangal IAS - Former principal secretary, Punjab Government
Shakuntala Jakhu IAS - Former Cheif Secretary, Government of Haryana
Ramendra Jakhu IAS - Former Additional Cheif Secretary, Government of Haryana
P.L.Punia IAS - Former Bureaucrat and Former Member Parliament both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha
Som Prakash Kainth IAS - Former Bureaucrat and Current Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Government of India.
Dr. Amar Singh IAS - Former Bureaucrat and Current Member Parliament from Fatehgarh Sahib
S.R.Kaler IAS - Former Bureaucrat and Former M.L.A
Harinder Singh Khalsa IFS - Member Parliament and Ex I.F.S. He resigned I.F.S in protest against the Operation Blue Star.
Butshikhan Singh IFS - Ex High Commissioner of India to Brunei Darussalam
Ramesh Chander Mahey- IFS - Ex Ambassador to Belarus (2009 -10)
Meira Kumar IFS- Former Indian Diplomat and Speaker of Lok Sabha (2004 to 2009)
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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