Sansi Rajput

Sansi(Devnagari: सैंसी)(Gurmukhi: ਸੈਂਸੀ),classified as a nomadic criminal tribe originally located in the Rājputāna area of northwestern India but expelled in the 13th century by Muslim invaders and now living in Rājasthān state as well as scattered throughout all of India. The Sansi claim Rājput descent, but, according to legend, their ancestors are the Beriya, another criminal caste. Relying on cattle thievery and petty crime for survival, the Sansi were named in the Criminal Tribes Acts of 1871, 1911, and 1924, which outlawed their nomadic lifestyle. Reform, initiated by the Indian government, has been difficult because they are an “untouchable” caste and sell or barter any land or cattle given to them.[1]

Numbering some 60,000 in the early 21st century, the Sansi speak Hindi and divide themselves into two classes, the khare (people of pure Sansi ancestry) and the malla (people of mixed ancestry). Some are cultivators and labourers, although many are still nomadic. They trace their descent patrilineally and also serve as the traditional family genealogists of the Jat, a peasant caste. Their religion is simple Hinduism and Sikhism, but a few have converted to Islam.

There were two distinct offshoots of the tribe: the first was a vagrant community connected to the Jat tribes of Central Punjab; the second was an agricultural Jat clan found in Sahiwal, Amritsar and Gujranwala.

GYPSY AND NOMADIC CASTE

Sansi is a gypsy and nomadic caste of Sikhs, although Hindu Sansis also exist within and outside Punjab in sizable numbers.The Sansis community traces its origins to their leader and ancestor, maharaja Sansmal, and their name reflects this heritage. The caste claims origin from Bhati Rajputs from Rajputana who were expelled from Rajasthan by Allaudin Khilji, a Muslim invader who devastated Chittorgarh in the early 13th century A.D who had taken to nomadic life after the Defeat.[2]

Many of these Bhati Rajputs moved north into Punjab and the Sikh ruling houses of Jind, Faridkot and Patiala as well as the clan of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, who was a Sansi, traced their origin to these Bhati Rajputs. Bhati Rajputs were originally a Jadubansi Rajput tribe tracing origin to Lord Krishna’s clan.[3]

CONCLUSION

In the past, Sansi’s also served as the hereditary genealogists of Jats for which every Sansi family would receive a minor share in the harvest from the host families. Sansi’s were also affectionately addressed as “Dada” (or grandfather) by the Jats, perhaps because they provided them the information about their forefathers when requested.

Socio-anthropologists, who have studied Sansi gypsies closely, have found them to be remarkably akin to the gypsies found in Europe in terms of linguistics, cultural habits and genetics. Some of the other names Sansis are commonly known with are Saunsis, Sainsi’s, Sahnsis, Sahsis, Sansiyas, Bhatus or Bhantus.

List of Sansi Subcastes

[4] 1 Agarwal 2 Agowal 3 Arar 4 Awan 5 Badwal 6 Bagri 7 Bains 8 Bhanduwal 9 Bharpai 10 Bhatti 11 Bidowal 12 Bola 13 Budhowal 14 Chahal 15 Chandar 16 Chattha 17 Chatwal 18 Chawle 19 Chhina 20 Choghatta 21 Dagarwal 22 Dandewal 23 Datar 24 Dhaliwal 25 Dhanewal 26 Dhawan 27 Dhindse 28 Diwan 29 Gaddi 30 Galdike 31 Gali 32 Galianwala 33 Gall 34 Gandowal 35 Gawala 36 Gele 37 Ghogharwal 38 Ghuman 39 Ghusar 40 Gill 41 Gorewal 42 Gowala 43 Gudunge 44 Gund 45 Halna 46 Harar 47 Hiba 48 Hira 49 Jagait 50 Jaidev 51 Jairam 52 Jaman 53 Jammun 54 Jandwal 55 Jangiwal 56 Jat 57 Jhanchi 58 Jhandi 59 Jhanji 60 Jhojn 61 Jogi 62 Kadduwal/Kadoo 63 Kang 64 Karjol 65 Karsa 66 Karthan 67 Kawar 68 Khakh 69 Khanwal 70 Khara 71 Khokhake 72 Khokhar 73 Khote 74 Kodbaddu 75 Ladhan 76 Lakhanpal 77 Laloowal 78 Langa/Lange 79 Lodiwal 80 Mahesh 81 Mahi 82 Maiya 83 Majera 84 Mala 85 Mala 86 Malang 87 Malia 88 Maluwal 89 Manasan 90 Mata 91 Mathra 92 Mattu 93 Mehra 94 Morad 95 Mors 96 Nanda 97 Narwai 98 Padda/Padarwal/Paddewal 99 Pakhar 100 Parmanandi 101 Patti 102 Phalad 103 Phan 104 Piddi 105 Pohu 106 Puri 107 Rahar 108 Raiwal 109 Ranji 110 Ratanwal/Ratanwalia 111 Ratilal 112 Sadawa 113 Saddo 114 Saggi 115 Sahjewal 116 Sahota 117 Sakruwal 118 Sakwal 119 Salabi 120 Samhandewal 121 Sanarura 122 Sandhu 123 Sandi 124 Sandrani 125 Sansi 126 Sansmal 127 Saradhwal 128 Sarwani 129 Seguwal 130 Seran 131 Shahriana 132 Shamir 133 Sharnapal 134 Sheral 135 Sherewal 136 Shibar 137 Sial 138 Sidhowal/Sidhuhwal /Sidhu 139 Sodhi 140 Sukerchakia 141 Sunder 142 Sunderwal 143 Tanoi 144 Topi 145 Tor 146 Toriwal 147 Uggon/Uggi 148 Waraich