Rajput Mali

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Rajput Mali is a distinctive ethnic group from Jodhpur, (Marwar), Rajasthan as well as a separate sub-category within the Rajput group.^[1][2]

Origin

The ancestors of these Rajput Malis are said to be Rajput soldiers and feudals who lost battles with the Muslim emperors of Delhi like Sahabuddin Ghori, Kutubuddin, Shamsuddin, Gayasuddin, Alluadin, etc. After the fall of Prithviraj Chauhan (the last Hindu emperor of India) in Virkam Samvat 1249 (1192 AD).

When the Rajput soldiers of Prithviraj Chauhan fell in battles against Shahabuddin Ghori or Muhammad Ghori and the empires of Ajmer and Delhi were destroyed, some Rajputsbecame captive and could see no way of saving themselves except embracing Islam and they came to be known as Ghori Pathans. Some Rajputs were let off on the recommendation of a Royal gardner or Mali who represented captive Rajputs as Malis. In this way many Rajputs became Malis.^[1][3]

Community Resolution of 1200 AD

When the storm had passed the community which had now been cut adrift from the main Rajput group, thought of devising ways and means of ensuring their purity of blood and guard against any vices that may creep in by adoption of new fold. Accordingly, they assembled on at Ajmer on Magh Shudi 7, Samvat 1257 (January 24, 1200, Monday) and passed a resolution that was to hold good for all time. The resolution was embodied in a "Parwana" and handed over to a Bhat (genealogist) who was a descendant of Mahakvai Chand Bardai.^[3] The resolution reads as follows:

"When these people in order to get rid of danger to their life and property settled in cities and towns, and got an experience of this new fold, about its social status and condition after living with them for 3 or 4 years, they felt necessity of framing new social rules after reviewing their past and present condition. They would not tolerate many evils which they had found in that new fold in which they and their descendants were to spend their lives as they had their origin of pure Rajput blood, they assembled in Pushkar (Ajmer) under the presidentship of Mahadeo, son of Kushma Ajmera Chauhan on Magh Sudi 7th V.S. 1257 and framed some social rules and regulations for their fold and handed over that document to their Bhat in order to act accordingly."

The meeting unanimously passed 22 reforms for their caste, such as ban on the eating of meat, drinking of wine and killing of animals and widow remarriage etc.^[1]

Adoption of new identity in 1930–1940

Rajput Mali community adopted the surname "Sainik Kshatriya" in the 1930-1940 decade during the colonial rule. Sainik Kshatiya Mali call themselves Independent community. They are neither part of Mali (actual) community nor Rajput Community. ^[4][5]

Clans

They have 13 clans as follows which have come out of Rajputs.:^[3]

• TAK
• Kachhwaha
• Mandora Parihar/Sundesh Parihar - part of Parihar who are followers of Mata Sundha
• Solanki
• Panwar
• Gahlot
• Sankhla
• Tanwar
• Chauhan
• Bhati - Mostly live in Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh)Kuldevi at Damoh.(MP)
• Parmar- Mostly live in Barmer and Deesa (Gujarat), Banans Kantha (Gujarat)
• Devda
• Sisodiya -Mostly live in Deesa (Gujarat), Banans Kantha (Gujarat)

References

1. ^ Jump up to:^a b c Action sociology and development , pp 198, Bindeshwar Pathak, Concept Publishing Company, 1992
2. Jump up^ The Indian Journal of Social Work, pp 172, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Tata Institute of Social Sciences [etc.], 1956
3. ^ Jump up to:^a b c Castes and Tribes of Rajasthan, pp 107,Sukhvir Singh Gahlot, Banshi Dhar, Jain Brothers, 1989
4. Jump up^ . A Muslim Sub-Caste of North India: Problems of Cultural Integration Partap C. Aggarwal Economic and Political Weekly, Vol. 1, No. 4 (Sep. 10, 1966), pp. 159-161,Published by: Economic and Political Weekly
5. Jump up^ "At the time of 1941 Census most of them got registered themselves as Saini (Sainik Kshatriya) Malis." pp 7 , Census of India, 1961, Volume 14, Issue 5 , Office of the Registrar General, India.