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| Mazhabi Sikh Soldier - Sikh LI (Indian Army) |
Mazhabi and Ramdasia Sikhs
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| Landless Labors of Punjab |
According to the 2011 Census, Punjab state in India has a population of around 27.7 million. Sikhism is the most practiced faith in Punjab, and 57.69% of the population belongs to the Sikh faith. Among the Sikhs, the scheduled caste population in Punjab is about 31.94% of the total population.
Mazhabi Sikhs are members of the scheduled caste of Churhas (Sweepers or Sanitary Labor) who have rejected Hinduism in favor of the Sikh faith. The word Mazhabi is derived from the Persian term mazhab ("sect"), and can be translated as the faithful.
Ramdasia Sikhs originated from the scheduled caste of Jhinwars (Agricultural Labors), Chamaar (Shoe Makers), and Julahas (weavers) who have converted to Sikhism during the time of 3rd Guru Ramdas.
Its important to state here that Sikhism rejects the Hindu caste system and professes equality of all caste on principle.
Bhai Lakhi Shah Vanjara
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| Bhai Lakhishah Vanjara taking Guru's body |
Bhai Lakhi Shah Vanjara was a devout Sikh belonging to the scheduled caste of street vendors known as Vanjara or Lobana. He traded saddles, bridles(rakabs) and reins to the Mughal soldiers in Delhi. He was present in Delhi on 1675 when Guru Tegh Bahadur was executed at the orders of Aurangzeb. Taking advantage of a dust storm that had hit Delhi at that time, Bhai Lakhi Shah was able to remove the headless body of the fallen Martyr in a cart loaded with cotton, and carry it to his humble home. He cremated Guru;s body with honor by setting fire to his own home.
Bhai Jaita
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| Bhai Jaita carrying Guru's Head |
Bhai Jaita, another Sikh belonging to the scheduled caste of "Rangretta" followed soon by collecting the severed head of the martyred Guru Teg Bahadur and ran towards Anandpur Sahib in Punjab Hills.
He was ably assisted by several locals of Raisina (Old Delhi) including, Bhai Agyaram, Bhai Udai Singh, Bhai Kaliana, and Pundit Shivnarain. Bhai Jaita took the head along, taking advantage of the dark of the night and rainy weather and deceiving the royal forces. Following a zig-zag passage and passing through Baghpat, Shamli, Ambala, Roper, he reached Kiratpur Sahib on 15 November, 1675 A.D. As per the wishes for the members of the Guru Ji’s family, here onwards Guru’s head was decked in a palanquin and placed on the head of Bhai Jaita Ji who carried to Anandpur Sahib in a procession.
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| Bhai Jaita at Anandpur Sahib |
The young Gobind Rai embraced Bhai Jaita who had brought the head and granted him the title of “Ranghrete Guru Ke Bete” (Son of Guru). Bhai Jaita Ji narrated to Guru Ji his experiences at Delhi from the time 9th Master’s Martyrdom to the time of the cremated of his trunk. He also told him how the residents of Delhi watched this incident quietly and helplessly in terror. This was the turning point in Sikh history as Guru Gobind Singh created Khalsa, the Sikh warrior who will stand up for the rights and liberty of people.
Bhai Jaita took Amrit from Guru Gobind Singh ji on the Vaisakhi of 1699 and was renamed as Bhai Jiwan Singh. Guru Ji introduced the war-drum (Ranjit Nagaara) to declare war against the Mughal tyranny and inject heroism in Sikhs. The beats of the drum could be heard miles down the hills inviting Sikhs to join the Guru. Bhai Jiwan Singh supervised the beating of Nagaara.
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| Ranjit Nagaara at Anandpur Sahib |
Battle of Chamkaur
Guru Gobind Singh Ji along with 40 Singhs, including two of his older sons, and the five Panj Piyare, the original “Beloved Five” reached Chamkaur di Garhi, after leaving Anandpur on the night of December 22/23, 1704A.D. With massive Mughal army in pursuit, they asked permission of the city chief to rest for the night in their Garhi or fortess.
The Battle Of Chamkaur Sahib was a battle fought between Khalsa led by Guru Gobind Singh against the Mughal forces led by Wazir Khan. Guru Ji’s two Sahibzade (sons) and 27 Singhs embraced martyrdom here. The surviving 11 Singhs in the fortress appointed Panj Pyare, who commanded Guru Ji to quit the fortress. Taking it for a divine command Guru Ji accepted this decision.
Bhai Jaita took charge of the battlefield and took the Mughal Army head on with his Rangretta Sikhs. They all attained martyrdom on the battlefield and saved precious time allowing the Guru to break the siege and escape to the jungle of Machhiwara.
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| Bhai Jaita against Mughal Army |
The Rangretta are a class of Mazhabi Sikhs found in Punjab and Ambala, who consider themselves socially superior because of this act of Bhai Jaita. The term Rangretta is often used as synonymous with Rangrez or Lilari to denote the cotton dyers.
Mazhabi Sikhs Today
The Mazhabi and Ramdasia Sikhs have been the backbone of the faith. They accepted the new religion in its early days, to escape the oppression of the caste system. The 10th guru promised equality among all the Sikhs, irrespective of the caste from where they came, and this attracted the Ramdasia and Mazhabi Sikhs to the faith. The scheduled caste were represented prominently among Panj Pyare, the five beloveds of the Guru.
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| Sikh Light Infantry of Indian Army |
The Mazhabi Sikhs of Punjab are prosperous today. They don't indulge in the traditional labor jobs and educate their children. A large number benefit from jobs in Indian Army and become preachers and Ragis, the hymn singers in Gurdwaras.
However, despite the teachings of Sikh Gurus and denouncement of caste system in Sri Guru Granth Sahib, implied discrimination exists in rural areas of Punjab. There has been reports of some Gurdwaras in rural areas not giving permission to Mazabi Sikhs to participate. Some villages have separate Gurdwaras for "Jatt" Sikhs and "Mazhabi" Sikhs. Even the cremation grounds are separated in some villages.
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| News article on Conversions in Punjab |
Christian Missionaries are also targeting Mazhabi Sikhs and converting them to Christianity on a large scale. These Mazahabi Sikhs drop their last name "Singh" and adopt a new last name "Masih".
In 2014, a controversy arose when Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) affiliate, Dharma Jagran Manch (DJM), on Tuesday reconverted 40 people, including woman and children, from Christianity to Sikhism near here. The converts claimed to have been Mazhabi Sikhs, who belonged to the Scheduled Caste community before they embraced Christianity.
Jasbir Masih, who was renamed as Jasbir Singh after he embraced Sikhism, said he had converted to Christianity four year back."But they were forcing us to remove photographs of the Gurus from our houses. I could not bear it and decided to go back to my real religion.''
The question is why are these Sikh brothers moving away from mainstream Sikhism? Have we done enough to accommodate then as our brothers as called by Guru Gobind Singh? Or is it because the recruitment for Sikh LI and Sikh Regiments as whole has been gradually reduced ... and this brave community is not getting the same opportunities as before? If this is true, then shame on Indian Army for sidelining these brave sons of the soil.
The question is why are these Sikh brothers moving away from mainstream Sikhism? Have we done enough to accommodate then as our brothers as called by Guru Gobind Singh? Or is it because the recruitment for Sikh LI and Sikh Regiments as whole has been gradually reduced ... and this brave community is not getting the same opportunities as before? If this is true, then shame on Indian Army for sidelining these brave sons of the soil.
References
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazhabi_Sikh
- https://www.sikhnet.com/news/christian-conversions-punjab-battleground-anew
- https://www.sikh24.com/2012/11/08/missionaries-in-punjab-a-growing-concern/#.WuTJk-8vyss
- https://www.quora.com/Is-it-true-that-Christian-Missonaries-are-trying-to-convert-Sikhs-into-Christians-in-Punjab
- https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/In-Punjab-Sangh-brings-Christians-back-to-Sikhism/articleshow/45696587.cms
Wonderful info!
ReplyDeletev good articles
ReplyDeleteif you could d some research and article on sikh carpenter community
The information is not well presented and is not true. The research is not well done as the author described Lobanas as a scheduled caste tribe but infact Lobanas were a trading/merchant business community.
ReplyDeleteAs a Sikh of Guru Nanak and Guru Gobind Singh, I do not believe in the caste system as all humans are made equal. The caste system is a Hindu practice designed by the Brahmins to categorize people by profession or race. As far as my research goes, the Lobanas are never included in the Vaishya caste of Hindus like Gupta, Aggarwal, etc. They have historically been hawkers and more related to the Banjara commmunities. Most Lobanas are Sikhs and should not care to be associated with any of the castes. Its a real shame that you feel insulted by being associated with the working class and want to be recognized as a "higher caste" ... didn't Guru Gobind Singh say, "Manas ki jaat sbhai eko pehchango"? I am a decsendent of Guru Nanak and feel proud to be in the company of our Ravidassia and Balmiki brothers.
DeleteArv Singh bro, I really appreciate your thinking. I would like to have you as a friend.
DeleteRamdasia Sikhs are basically Chamars(Leatherworkers) who left their trade and adopted weaving but later many of them restarted the work of leather. Only in Ferozpur district the Ramdasias are from original Julaha caste and Jhinwar Sikhs are called Kahyap Rajput, Dhimar or Mallah in Punjab and sometimes they use Mehra Rajput(Don't get confused with Khatris). All of the Jhiwars I stated are same caste and falls under OBC in Punjab unlike Rmdasias.
ReplyDeleteRamdasia Sikhs are The Weavers (julaha ) who weave the clothes, and Because of the Hindu Cast System Weavers Converted to Sikhism at Time Of Guru Ramdaas Ji Maharaj (Amritsar) Julaha's Have the High Status Compare to Chamar's (Chamar is different Caste- Leather Shoe Makers ) Cham - Leader"" , Basically Ramdasia's ancestors Have got a Great respect in Sikhism and Known as the Back bone of the faith. Some Writes Try to Mix Chamars and Julaha's that Both are Same which is Just an False Propaganda .
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DeleteJulaha's are the Weaver's class Caste and Not Chamars (shoe makar) who weave clothes and at the Time of Guru Ramdas Ji They all Converted to Sikhism from Hinduism, Old records shows wrong information about Julaha's Chamar's also Converted in Huge amount to Sikhism and they said we are all Chamar's who dont have Land , and we all are working as Agriculture Labourers which is False Propaganda. Ramdasia's have High Rank life Style and status Compare to Ravidasia's (Chamars) in other easy words Ravidasia Caste are the follower of Bhagat Ravidass and Ramdasia's Julaha's are Followers of Bhagat Kabir (weaver) julaha . Guru Granth Sahib is the True Source of it and we can research on it, Hence Ramdasia's are not Chamar's and Chamar's are not Ramdasia.
DeleteIt is a shame that lower caste hindus , who converted to sikhism to get rid of caste, still follow the same manuwadi caste system and oonch/neech. This is nothing but deceiving the sikhi and the sikh gurus.
Deletethanx, this is very Informational Post to Read now I am Waiting for your next post. sikh store in usa
ReplyDeleteJulaha's are the Weaver's class Caste and Not Chamars (shoe makar) who weave clothes and at the Time of Guru Ramdas Ji They all Converted to Sikhism from Hinduism, Old records shows wrong information about Julaha's Chamar's also Converted in Huge amount to Sikhism and they said we are all Chamar's who dont have Land , and we all are working as Agriculture Labourers which is False Propaganda. Ramdasia's have High Rank life Style and status Compare to Ravidasia's (Chamars) in other easy words Ravidasia Caste are the follower of Bhagat Ravidass and Ramdasia's Julaha's are Followers of Bhagat Kabir (weaver) julaha . Guru Granth Sahib is the True Source of it and we can research on it, Hence Ramdasia's are not Chamar's and Chamar's are not Ramdasia.
ReplyDeleteNo you are wrong i am ramdasia sikh and i am also worship of guru ravidas ji maharaj
DeleteShame on you for propagating castism in sikhi.
DeleteThe caste system is alive and kicking in our sikh religion my father was in the Sikh light infantry army in 1945 liberated the Italian's my father was in a Gursikh i do not follow any caste system respect is earned in time people who believe and push the caste system are not Sikhs in faith
DeleteJaatpaat ye kdi ni not skda jbtk ek dusre nu dilu ni ni smanjna hega.aaj mande hege mazabi thoda ghaat padelikhe rhndeye Nye lkin eda matlb ki wo sbnu chota jaat smjhe
ReplyDelete