Chhimba

Chhimba is a profession of printing cloth. Chhimba comes from the word Chhippa which means "printer" (chhappa). "Chhapna" means to "print" in Punjabi. Chhippas before the industrialisation were calico printers/artists and used to colour and print the textiles with the art work.

When they lost their jobs to textile industries they took tailoring jobs.

Bhagat Namdev whose bani is included in the holy Guru Granth Sahib, was a "chhippa/tailor" by profession from Maharashtra. He spent last part of his life at village Ghuman in district Gurdas Pur, punjab.

Bhai Nanu Rai,Chhimba (calico printer), resident of Delhi, a Sikh contemporary of Guru Teg Bahadur and Guru Gobind Singh, who reclaimed the severed head of Guru Teg Bahadur from Chandni Chowk, Delhi, the site of Guru's execution in November 1675, and, accompanied by Bhai Jaita also of Delhi, carried it to Anand Pur. Bhai Nanu became Nanu Singh after taking the rites of the Khalsa. He laid down his life in the battle of Chamkaur on December 7, 1705. His two sons also laid down their lives at Anandpur.

One of the Panj Pyara Bhai Mohkam Singh from Gujrat (some says of Burya village near Ambala) was also a calico printer/tailor. Another great personality from this caste is Mahan Kavi Bhai Santokh Singh the writer of Gur Partap Suraj Parkaash. People from this profession/caste are found among Sikhs, Hindus and Muslims. Bhagat Namdev Gurudwaras all over India and abroad are run by this community of Chhimbas.

REFERENCES: 1. Adi Sri Guru Granth Sahib pages 733, 1375. 2. Mahan Kosh, Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha, page 492 3. Sri Guru Granth Sahib Kosh, Bhai Vir Singh page 262