|
|
| Line 1: |
Line 1: |
| | |
| | {{short description|Sikh caste of India}} |
|
| |
|
| {{Infobox caste | | {{Infobox caste |
| | caste_name=Ramdasia | | | caste_name=Ramdasia |
| | classification = Shoe Makers, Leather Tanners, Weavers
| | | populated_states=[[Punjab]] • [[Haryana]] • [[Jammu]] • [[Himachal Pradesh]] • |
| | subdivisions= [[Chamar]]
| | | languages=[[Punjabi language|Punjabi]] • [[Hindi]] |
| | populated_states=[[Punjab]] • [[Haryana]] • [[Jammu]] • [[Himachal Pradesh]] | | | religions=[[Sikhism]] |
| | languages=[[Punjabi language|Punjabi]] • [[Hindi]] • [[Dogri]] | |
| | religions=[[Sikhism]] • [[Hinduism]]}} | |
| | |
| The '''Ramdasia''' were historically a [[Sikh]] [[Hindu]] sub-group that originated from the [[Caste system in India|caste]] of leather tanners and shoemakers known as [[Chamar]].<ref name="Rajesh K. Chander">{{cite book |title=Combating Social Exclusion: Intersectionalities of Caste, Class, Gender and Regions |first=Rajesh K I. |last=Chander |publisher=Studera Press |year=2019 |isbn=978-93-85883-58-3|page=64 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8TvnDwAAQBAJ&dq=ramdasia+caste+in+jammu&pg=PA64}}</ref> Nowadays people of this community do [[farming]], large number of them are Governnent officials, [[Granthi]] in Gurudwara and Prominent [[politicians]]. In the book ''British Untouchables: A Study of Dalit Identity and Education'' by Paul Avtar Singh Ghuman, it is clearly mentioned on page number IX under the heading "Glossary of Terms" that Ramdasias are chamars who converted to Sikhism.<ref>{{cite book|last=Ghuman|first=Paul|title=British Untouchables A Study of Dalit Identity and Education|date=May 2011|publisher=Ashgate Publishing, Limited|isbn=978-0754648772|page=iX|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eQZcI3FCxlEC&pg=PR9}}</ref>
| |
| | |
| ==Terminology==
| |
| "Ramdasia is a term used in general for Sikhs whose ancestors belonged ex untouchables [[Chamar]] caste. Originally they are followers of [[Guru Ravidass]] ji who belongs to [[Chamar]] community ".<ref name="Rajesh K. Chander"/> 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]].<ref name="toi">{{cite web|date=30 September 2021|title=Punjab's dalit conundrum: A look into Sikhs' caste identity|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/punjabs-dalit-conundrum-a-look-into-sikhs-caste-identity/articleshow/86607310.cms|work=[[The Times of India]]|accessdate=11 October 2021}}</ref>
| |
| | |
| Ramdasia Sikhs are enlisted as scheduled caste by Department of Social justice, Empowerment and Minorities- Government of Punjab. On Department's list of Scheduled Caste, this caste is listed on serial number 9 along with other [[Chamar]] caste synonymous such as [[Ravidasia]], [[Jatav]] and so on. <ref>{{http://socialjustice.gov.in/writereaddata/UploadFile/Scan-0015.jpg}}</ref>
| |
| | |
| ==Military service==
| |
| | |
| ===British Raj===
| |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| The Ramdasia Sikhs, together with the Majhabi Sikhs, were recruited to the [[Sikh Light Infantry]] regiment (SLI) after its formation in 1941.<ref name="wilkinson">{{cite book |title=Army and Nation: The Military and Indian Democracy Since Independence |first=Steven I. |last=Wilkinson |publisher=Harvard University Press |year=2015 |isbn=978-0-67472-880-6 |page=11 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B-qaBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA11}}</ref> 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 Sikhs and Mazhabi Sikhs.<ref>{{cite book |title=Army and Nation: The Military and Indian Democracy Since Independence |first=Steven I. |last=Wilkinson |publisher=Harvard University Press |year=2015 |isbn=978-0-67472-880-6 |pages=39–41 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B-qaBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA39}}</ref> Indeed, the SLI was initially called the Mazhabi & Ramdasia Sikh Regiment.<ref>{{cite book |first=Stephen |last=Cohen |chapter=The Untouchable Soldier |title=Recruiting, Drafting, and Enlisting: Two Sides of the Raising of Military Forces |editor-first=Peter |editor-last=Karsten |publisher=Routledge |year=2013 |isbn=978-1-13566-150-2 |page=170 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Fh_fAQAAQBAJ&pg=RA1-PA170}}</ref> 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, [[Dogra]]s and [[Punjabi Muslims|Punjabi Musalman]]s. 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 snd Mazhabis became significant.<ref>{{cite book |title=Phoenix from the Ashes: The Indian Army in the Burma Campaign |first=Daniel |last=Marston |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group |year=2003 |isbn=978-0-27598-003-0 |pages=218–220, 236 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E-CPkbHvcZEC&pg=PA218}}</ref>
| |
| | |
| ===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.<ref>{{cite book |first=Kaushik |last=Roy |chapter=Indian Society and the Soldier |pages=66–67 |title=Handbook of Indian Defence Policy: Themes, Structures and Doctrines |editor-first=Harsh V. |editor-last=Pant |publisher=Routledge |year=2015 |isbn=978-1-31738-009-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9xG4CwAAQBAJ}}</ref> The Ramdasias Sikhs amd Mazhabi Sikhs continued their service with the SLI in the new army.<ref name="wilkinson" /> The SLI has served in almost all of the post-1947 conflicts involving India, including the wars with Pakistan in [[Indo-Pakistan War of 1947|1947]], [[Indo-Pakistan War of 1965|1965]] and [[Indo-Pakistan War of 1971|1971]], the [[Hyderabad Police Action]] of 1948 and the [[Sino-Indian War|Chinese aggression in 1962]]. It has also served in [[Sri Lanka]], where the 1st, 7th, 13th and 14th Battalions have contributed towards peace-keeping.<ref>{{cite web |title=Story of The Sikh Light Infantry |publisher=The Sikh Review |url=http://www.sikhreview.org/november1995/chivalry.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020531202833/http://www.sikhreview.org/november1995/chivalry.htm |archive-date=2002-05-31}}</ref>
| |
| | |
| ==Hindu Ramdasia==
| |
| This sect of Ramdasia having faith in [[Hinduism]] and they mostly residing in [[Pathankot]], [[Jammu]], [[Himachal Pradesh]] and [[Jalandhar]]. Hindu Ramdasia migrated from Pakistan and back in [[Sialkot]], these Ramdasia 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<ref name="Krishan L. Sharma">{{cite book |title=Entrepreneurial Growth and Development Programmes in Northern India |first=Krishan L. |last=Sharma |publisher=Abhinav Publications |year=1980 |isbn=9780836406498|page=67 |url=https://www.google.com.au/books/edition/Entrepreneurial_Growth_and_Development_P/fwI7fLC9qQMC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=ramdasia+meerut&pg=PA67&printsec=frontcover}}</ref> Hindu Ramdasia's are staunch follower of [[Guru Ravidass]] and they follow Dera Swami Gurdeep Giri ji, Pathankot. According to Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India Ramdasias are listed as [[Chamar]] Caste on serial number 4 and 14 for [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]] and [[Himachal Pradesh]] respectively.<ref>{{http://socialjustice.gov.in/writereaddata/UploadFile/Scan-0006.jpg}}</ref> <ref>{{http://socialjustice.gov.in/writereaddata/UploadFile/Scan-0030.jpg}}</ref>
| |
| | |
| ==Ramdasia Religious faith==
| |
| Ramdasia community having faith in [[Guru Ravidas]] and they have established several shrines dedicate to him. In India first recognized shrine was constructed in Kolkata and outside India first shrine was established on Fiji island in 1939 in Nasinu. In Nasinu first Sikh Gurdwara dedicated to [[Guru Ravidas]] was constructed by migrants from Doaba region of Punjab.
| |
| | |
| ==Demographics==
| |
| | |
| As of 2011 Census, there were 3,095,324 [[Chamars]] in the Indian state of Punjab, of whom 1,017,192 declared themselves as [[Ad-Dharmi]] [[Chamar]] and 2,078,132 declared themselves as Ramdasia/Ravidasia [[Chamar]]. According to this Census, during the same year the population of Sikh Ramdasia/Ravidasia and Hindu Ramdasia/Ravidasia in Punjab was 1,443,079 and 629,157 respectively.<ref name="2011 census1">{{cite web |url=https://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/SCST-Series/SC14/SC-03-00-14-DDW-2011.XLS|format=XLS |publisher=The Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India |title=SC-14 Scheduled Caste Population By Religious Community (States/UTs) – Punjab |access-date=2021-06-27}}</ref>
| |
| | |
| Most of the Hindu Ramdasias (Counted along with other Chamar Caste Synonyms such as Ravidasia and Jatav) living in the [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]], [[Himachal Pradesh]] and [[Haryana]]. {{As of|2011}}, there were 212,032 Ramdasia in Jammu and Kashmir, comprising 209,512 Hindus, 2,486 Sikhs and 34 Buddhists,<ref name="2011 census2">{{cite web |url=https://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/SCST-Series/SC14/SC-01-00-14-DDW-2011.XLS|format=XLS |publisher=The Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India |title=SC-14 Scheduled Caste Population By Religious Community (States/UTs) – Jammu and Kashmir |access-date=2021-06-27}}</ref> 2,429,137 lived in Haryana (2,390,403 Hindu, 37,191 Sikh and 1,543 Buddhists)<ref name="2011 census3">{{cite web |url=https://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/SCST-Series/SC14/SC-06-00-14-DDW-2011.XLS|format=XLS |publisher=The Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India |title=SC-14 Scheduled Caste Population By Religious Community (States/UTs) – Haryana |access-date=2021-06-27}}</ref> and 458,838 resided in Himachal Pradesh (453,871 Hindu, 4,887 Sikh and 80 Buddhists)<ref name="2011 census4">{{cite web |url=https://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/SCST-Series/SC14/SC-02-00-14-DDW-2011.XLS|format=XLS |publisher=The Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India |title=SC-14 Scheduled Caste Population By Religious Community (States/UTs) – Himachal Pradesh |access-date=2021-06-27}}</ref>
| |
| | |
| ==Ramdasia Diaspora and Guru Ravidass Temples and Gurdwaras==
| |
| | |
| Ramdasia Sikh diaspora alongside [[Ravidassia]] from doaba emigrated from India and Pakistan is significant. Emigration from the Punjab began before and after the 19th century, with many Ravidasia/Ramdasia Sikhs settling in Europe, and also a large Ravidasia/Ramdasia Sikhs population in North America mainly in United States and the Canada. There is sizeable population of Ravidasia/Ramdasia Sikhs in Oceania as well.<ref name="sikhiwiki.org">{{Cite web|title=Sikh Ravidasia|url=https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Sikh_Ravidasia|access-date=2022-06-30|website=www.sikhiwiki.org}}</ref>
| |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| Today they have presence in every major city of world where they have also established Guru Ravidass Gurdwaras and Sikh Temples.
| |
| | |
| ===Fiji===
| |
| *Guru Ravidass Gurdwara (Nasinu Sikh Temple), Nasinu (Established in 1939)
| |
| ===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===
| |
| *Guru Ravidas Gurdwara, Campbellfield, Melbourne (Established in 1996)
| |
| ===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
| |
| *Shri Guru Ravidass Temple, Glasgow
| |
| | |
| ===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
| |
| *Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha, DFW, Texas
| |
| | |
| ===Canada===
| |
| *Guru Ravidass Gurdwara, Burlington
| |
| *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
| |
| *Guru Ravidass Sabha, Edmonton
| |
| *Guru Ravidass Sikh Temple, Vancouver
| |
| *Guru Ravidass Gurdwara and Community Centre, Calgary
| |
| ===Greece===
| |
| *Shri Guru Ravidas Darbar, Koropi, Athens
| |
| ===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
| |
| *Shri Guru Ravidass Temple, Manerbio
| |
| *Shri Guru Ravidass Darbar, Velletri
| |
| *Shri Guru Ravidas Darbar, Mantova
| |
| *Shri Guru Ravidass Bhavan , Treviso
| |
| *Shri Guru Ravidass Temple, Brescia
| |
| *Shri Guru Ravidass Dharam Asthan, Reggio Emilia
| |
| *Shri Guru Ravidass Temple, Montevrchi Arrizo
| |
| *Shri Guru Ravidass Temple, Capaccio Salerno
| |
| *Shri Guru Ravidass Temple, Sabaudia
| |
| | |
| ===Germany===
| |
| *Guru Ravidass Temple, Frankfurt
| |
| ===Austria===
| |
| *Guru Ravidass Temple,Vienna
| |
| ===Holland===
| |
| *Guru Ravidass Sikh Temple,Den Haag
| |
| *Guru Ravidass Temple,Amsterdam
| |
| ===Spain===
| |
| *Guru Ravidass Temple, Barcelona
| |
| *Guru Ravidass Dham, Girona
| |
| ===Belgium===
| |
| *Guru Ravidass Sikh Temple,Oostende
| |
| ===France===
| |
| *Guru Ravidass Gurdwara, Paris
| |
| *Guru Ravidass Temple, Le blanc Mesnil
| |
| | |
| ==See also==
| |
| | |
| * [[Sikh Ravidasia]]
| |
| * [[Chamar]]
| |
| * [[Sikh Light Infantry]]
| |
| * [[Jatav]]
| |
| * [[Sikhism]]
| |
| * [[Ad-Dharmi]]
| |
| * [[Ahirwar]]
| |
| * [[Chambhar]]
| |
| | |
| ==References==
| |
| {{Reflist}}
| |
|
| |
|
| {{Ethnic groups, tribes and clans of the Punjab}}
| | Ramdasia Sikhs are members of sikh community. Their ancestors belonged to the caste of Weavers [[julaha]] and Shoemakers [[chamars]] .They started practising [[Sikhism]] during the time of 4th sikh Guru [[Ramdas ji]]. There is a saying that a group of weavers and shoemakers served Guru ji and Guru Ramdas ji blessed them with the title of Ramdasia sikhs. |
| | Ramdasias are categorized as [[Scheduled Castes]] in states of Haryana, Punjab, Himachal pradesh and Uttar pradesh. |
| | With Time they left their Traditional work of weaving and leather. Nowadays most of them do Farming , Govt. Jobs , a large part of their population serves in [[Indian Army]]. They have a separate Sikh regiment in army named [[Sikh Light Infantry]] , which was refferd as [[23rd Sikh pioneers]], [[34th royal sikh pioneers]] and 32nd sikh pioneers in British Indian Army. |
| | They are preffered to be called sikhs only. |
|
| |
|
| [[Category:Sikh communities]] | | Ramdasia sikhs are different from Ravidasia Sikhs , they should not be reffered as same. They are two Differnt communities, as [[Ravidasia]] community have their own holy shrine known as Dera Sach Khand in jalandhar,punjab and they only worship Guru [[Ravidas]] ji maharaaj . Whereas Ramdasia sikh community only worships shri Guru Granth Sahib ji maharaj. |
| [[Category:Social groups of Punjab, India]] | |
