Ramdasia

Ramdasia
Classification	Ramdasia
Religions	Sikhism, Kabirpanthi, Ravidassi
Languages	Punjabi, Hindi
Populated States	The Punjab region
Subdivisions	Chamar, Kabirpanthi, Ad-Dharmi, Julaha

The Ramdasia are a Sikh sub-group that has originated from Chamar dalit caste as well as the Hindu caste of weavers known as Julaha. In Punjab among total Scheduled Castes population after Mazhabi Sikhs (31.6% of population) Ramdasia-chamars (excluding Ad-Dharmis) are numerically the second largest scheduled caste having 26.2% population.

Terminology

H. S. Singha says that "Ramdasia is a term used in general for Sikhs whose ancestors belonged to backward classes. Originally it meant the descendants and followers of Ramdas who belonged to the weaver (Julaha) community". They are also known as the Khalsa biradar (brother of the Khalsa).

Ramdasia Chamars

Gerald Parsons says that "Ravidasis are to be distinguished from the Ramdasias who also belonged to the Chamar caste in Punjab but who were converted to the Sikh community, according to tradition, during the guruship of Ram Das". Kalsi notes that some Chamar's claim to have been Julahas but then reverted to be Chamar. "We are all Chamars (landless labourers andleather workers) - some families chose to take up weaving, they were known as Julahas. My ancestors were weavers, but they reverted to shoe-making during the war. We have common gets_ and our houses are located on one side of the villages."

The author Neeru Sharma in her book Caste in Punjab: Political Marginalization and Cultural Assertion of Scheduled Castes in Punjab, states that ″The other segment of the dalit Sikhs consisted primarily of the Chamars. The Ad-Dharmis are predominant among Chamars and are mainly leather workers. Chamars (including the Ramdasias and AdDharmis) and Mazhabhis (including Chuhras and Balmikis) together constitute nearly three-fourths of the total scheduled caste population in Punjab". She also states that "The Congress state government under the leadership of Giani Zail Singh introduced a classification among the scheduled castes for jobs reserved under the quota system. The concessions were granted to the four major Sikh scheduled castes - Ramdassias, Kabirpanthis, Mazhabhis and Sikligars."

Caste Status

Ramdasia's are a Scheduled Caste and prefer to be called Sikh only.

Other uses

The word Ramdasia has also been associated with masands or preachers that were appointed by the Sikh Guru Ram Das.

Notable people

• Lal Singh Dil, a revolutionary poet
• Puran Singh Ramdasia
• Kanshi Ram, Bahujan Samaj Party founder
• Giani Ditt Singh, a scholar, poet, editor and an eminent Singh Sabha reformer

See also

• Chamar
• Ad-Dharmi
• Kabir panth