Chhimba

The Chhimba is a caste and Kinship of Jats found in the Punjab region , which stradles North India and Pakistan. They are mainly of the Sikh faith. Chhimba is known to be Jat clans along with other popular Jat clans like Cheema, Chhina, Purba, Bhushan, Gill, Randhawa,Bhullar, Chhillar etc.

While many people credit China with the first movable type for printing this may possibly be an invention imported from India. So the printing of texts and books would have had a small audience. Vidya (knowledge was passed orally in traditional stories). This was the same system practiced in Medieval Europe where the giant stained glass windows of the Gothic cathedrals were built to educate an illiterate public. 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 and became 'Darzis'.

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) ^{[citation needed]} , 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.

Chhimbas, who are Kashatryas by caste, are also known as Tonk Kashatryas.

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 Kashatryas.

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.