16 January 2012 01:41:37 AM
Email: chaudhary76@gmail.com
Harjot Sahab,
Sat Sri Akal!
I agree we should not be putting down other castes on this website. That is why we should not be discussing Jats , Malis or Goles on this message board because none of these are Sainis.
I take objection to your comment “would be serious mistake to put down other Saini communities”. I think you have misunderstood the issue here.
Nobody is putting down “other Saini communities” here. It is just that some people from communities of uncertain social standing which adopted Saini identity after 1930s to gain access to army jobs have repeatedly tried to misrepresent our identity. If we point to census records and other academic facts to preserve our identity in an undiluted form, then this is a legitimate thing to defend our community against slander and disinformation.
I don’t want my children to be taunted as Mali or Gole, what is wrong in this? I don’t want them to be called by these names not because these terms are less than flattering but because they are based on absolute falsehood and misrepresentation of our identity and history. These words have never been used for Sainis in Punjab and have never been part of our social and historical experience.
Because we have ignored this issue for so long, it has allowed the propaganda of these groups to go unchecked. The ultimate effect of this negligence in preserving our history and identity properly was that Kanshi Ram openly insulted our community in 2001. In 2009 but for timely but rare activism of our community members, we almost got pushed into OBC list. Where is this thing going to stop?
In case you are not familiar with Saini identity was manipulated in 1930 here are some references for you:
********************************************
ORDER
Jodhpur, the 6th February, 1937.
No. 2240
Subject- Recording of Malis as “Sainik Kshatriyas” in Pattas and Development Department records. Reference- P.W.D.
Minister’s No. 431 Dated 22nd October, 1936
His Highness has stated his personal view that he has no objection to Malis being recorded as “Sainik Kshatriyas” in the
pattas of the Development records.
Mehakmas D.M. Field LT. Col. CIE. Jodhpur.
Chief Minister.
January 23, 1937.
Government of Jodhpur
.
*****************************************************************
Here is another reference from Census of India report proving that Malis switched their identity to Sains only around 1930-1940:
***********************************************************
“At the time of 1941 Census most of them got registered themselves as Saini (Sainik Kshatriya) Malis.”
-Census of India, 1961, Volume 14, Issue 5, pp 7, Office of the Registrar General, India.
************************************************************
There is no need for us to treat any other group (Mali or Jat) as inferior or even discuss them unduly. But these Malis make it a point to come here and lecture us on our identity when a clear and documented record exists that they were never Sainis in first place.
When they themselves are ashamed of being Malis as is clear from 1931 switching of identity, how do they expect a response other than skeptical and hostile when they try to insinuate this status for Sainis?
Sainis who have not lived in areas beyond Haryana do not know the actual social standing of these groups and have no way knowing what being called a “Mali” or “Gola” implies. So let us leave aside this idealistic talk about getting above the caste. We know it exists and it is not going away. If we do not proactively protect our identity, there are very serious social consequences for us and for our future generationss. Lets be realistic.
I am glad Sainis rose up in 2009 to reject the misguided OBC lobby. It shows that our community is very proud and self-confident and will not compromise with anything when even it comes to defending our Kshatriya honor and values. Constant association with groups which clearly have different social standing, culture and ideological aspirations undermines this. This is why we need to be very vigilant about these attempts.
Fateh!