Ramdasia Sikhs
RAMDASIA SIKHS is how Sikh converts from the community working professionally as weavers( julaha ) are usually referred to as a class.
Julaha(from , is a functional caste of weavers . The teachings of the Gurus with their rejection of the caste system and emphasis on ethnic equality of all human beings naturally appealed to them.
The social significance for them was the canonization of the hymns of Bhagat Kabir Das in the Sikh Scripture by Guru Arjan (1563-1606). Consequently, many julaha people converted to Sikhism and they were known as a class given the respectable name of Ramdasia Sikhs.
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 Julahas 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 and were therefore nicknamed khalsa biradar( Brother of khalsa). Meanwhile the term Ramdasia was no longer confined to Sikhs.During the census of 1931, many Hindu julahas registered themselves as Ramdasias , and still many more who registered themselves Ramdasias declared Sikh religion .
Yet of all Ramdasia nearly 52.8 per cent declared themselves Sikhs. Ramdasia Sikhs, were generally a brave community. During England Rule, the British enrolled them in the Indian army.They along with Mazhabi Sikhs formed the Royal Sikh pioneer regiment, later redesignated as Sikh Light Infantry. Recruitment to other service corps was also opened for them.
After Independence,around 1960 at the insistence of the Shiromani Akali Dal (a political party of the Sikhs) Ramdasia Sikhs (along with Mazhabi, ravidasia sikhs 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. Ramdasia Sikhs now form an integral part of the Sikh community, with additional concessions statutorily provided to them in education, employment and political representation.
