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| RAMDASIA SIKHS is how SIKH converts from the community working professionally in leather are usually referred to as a class. The term Ramdasias is an adaptation from Ravidasias, as some Chamar castes came to be called. They owed their affiliation to the famous saint, RAVIDAS, ; pioneer of`Vaisnava' revival. In Utiar Pradesh, Ramdasias are also called Ravidasias. Ravidas, being an unfamiliar name in the Punjab, became here Ramdas or Rain Das, which is ibe name which also belongs to the ilu` Fourth GURU of the Sikhs.
| | Ramdasia Sikhs origionally had weaving as their prime occupation .Ramdasia is a sub caste of Julaha(meaning weaver) .There are Muslim ,Hindu and Christian Ramdasia too. |
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| Chamar (from Sanskrit charmkara, worker in leather) is a functional caste of skinners, tanners, curriers and shoemakers.
| | Britishers put Ramdasia Sikhs along with Mazhabi in a Regement named "The Light Infantry " Which gave birth to the confusion about thier similarity with Mazhabi or Chamar community .Ramdasias are also many times confused with Ravidasia(Chamars) but Ramdasia's profession was very different which was weaving. |
| Chamars as "untouchables" lay it the lowest level of the Hindu social order only slightly higher than the Chuhras or scavengers by virtue of their being craftsmen. "Chuhra-Chamar" has been used as a common depreciatory conjoint, referring to the two castes.
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| The teacinngs of the Gurus with their rejection of the caste system and emphasis on ethnic equality of all human beings naturally appealed to them. Of great significance for them was the canonization of the religious hymns of Bhagat Ravidas in the Sikh Scripture by Guru ARJAN (15631606). Consequently, many Chamars converted to Sikhism and they were as a class given the respectable name of Ramdasia Sikhs. Later, when industrialisation and opening up of new avenues of employment facilitated occupational mobility, many Chamars including Ramdasia Sikhs look to weaving, considered it be a cleaner and more honourable occupation than tanning and shoemaking. It also brought them better bargaining power through its semibartering and semimoney trading economic roles.
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| Conversion of Hindu Chamars to SIKHISM accelerated towards the end of the nineteenth century. This was due to the rise of the SINGH Sabha movement launched in 1873 for the restoration and propagation of Sikh teachings, including the removal of caste distinctions. The fact that one of the leading figures of the movement was himself a Ramdasia Sikh, Giani Ditt Singh, who enjoyed wide esteem in the Sikh community served as an example. The number of Chamars who declared Sikhism as their religion increased from 100,014 in 1881 to 155,717, in 1931. This was besides 66,080 others listed as Ramdasia Sikhs in 1931. The converts were usually very particular about maintaining the five symbols of the KHALSA. They were therefore nicknamed Rahitias, i.e. those meticulously observing the Sikh rahit or code of conduct.
| | Ramdasia community suffered heavy losses in their profession due to Industrial Revolution in which their work went out of demand. Since then most Ramdasia Sikhs made Farming as their prime profession in Punjab and surrounding regions. |
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| Meanwhile the term Ramdasia was no longer confined to Sikhs. During the census of 1931, many Hindu Chamars registered themselves as Ramdasias or Ravidasias, and still many more who registered themselves Ramdasias/Ravidasias declared Adi Dharam (lit. the primal faith) as their religion. Adi Dharam, a new category comprising both Chamars and Chuhras and also some other so called achhut or untouchable classes, denied being Hindus. Yet of all Ramdasias/Ravidasias nearly 52.8 per cent declared themselves Sikhs.
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| Ramdasia Sikhs, unlike Mazhabi Sikhs, were generally a docile community. During World War II, however, the British enrolled them in the Indian army. They along with Mazhabi Sikhs formed the Mazhabi and Ramdasia Sikh Regiment, later redesignated as Sikh Light Infantry. Recruitment to other service corps was also opened for them. After Independence, at the insistence of the Shiromani AKALI DAL, a political party of the Sikhs, Ramdasia Sikhs (along with Mazhabi, Kabirpanthi and Sikligar Sikhs) were included among the scheduled castes who were granted special rights and privileges guaranteed under the Indian Constitution for some depressed classes. Ramdasias now form an integral part of the Sikh community, with additional concessions statutorily provided to them in education, employment and political representation. | | Today Ramdasia Sikhs are mostly into Govt services and also in various other new professions. |
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| 1. Rose, H.A., ed., A Glossary of the Tribes and Castes of the Punjab and North-West Frontier Province. LAHORE, 1911-19
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Ramdasia Sikhs origionally had weaving as their prime occupation .Ramdasia is a sub caste of Julaha(meaning weaver) .There are Muslim ,Hindu and Christian Ramdasia too.
Britishers put Ramdasia Sikhs along with Mazhabi in a Regement named "The Light Infantry " Which gave birth to the confusion about thier similarity with Mazhabi or Chamar community .Ramdasias are also many times confused with Ravidasia(Chamars) but Ramdasia's profession was very different which was weaving.
Ramdasia community suffered heavy losses in their profession due to Industrial Revolution in which their work went out of demand. Since then most Ramdasia Sikhs made Farming as their prime profession in Punjab and surrounding regions.
Today Ramdasia Sikhs are mostly into Govt services and also in various other new professions.
