Ramdasia

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".[1]

Ramdasia's are a Scheduled Caste[2] and prefer to be called Sikh only.[3]

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".[4] Kalsi notes that some Chamar's claim to have been Julahas but then reverted to be Chamar. "We are all Chamars (landless labourers and leather 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 gots and our houses are located on one side of the villages."[3]

Paramjit S. Judge says that: "The caste whose collective actions could be justifiably put under the category of “change in the caste hierarchy" leading to political implications is Chamar/Ad-dharmi. For the sake of clarification and to avoid nomenclatural confusion we may add Ramdasia and Ravidasia also. Since they are all Chamars, the subsequent reference to all these caste names would be covered under the umbrella term, Chamar".[5]

Neeru Sharma says "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."[6]

The word Ramdasia, has also been associated with masands or preachers that were appointed by the Sikh Guru Ram Das.[7]

• Handloom
• Kabir panth
• Ravidass