Ad-Dharmi


The Ad-Dharmi is a Dalit Scheduled Caste of Chamar origin mainly found in the state of Punjab in India. As of today, they are entitled to reservations in Education sector and government jobs, as they are recognised as a Scheduled Caste. Ad Dharmis are 14.9% of the total Dalit population in Punjab.

Origin

The Ad-Dharm movement was started in 1920s, for the purpose of getting a distinct religious identity same as Adi Dravida movement of Tamil Nadu. The founder of the Ad-Dharm Movement was Mangu Ram Mugowalia, Master Gurbanta Singh B. L. Gherra and also Pandit Hari Ram who was the secretary of the organization.
The movement projected Ravidas, the 13th century Bhakti Movement saint as their spiritual Guru and a sacred book Ad Parkash for separate ritual traditions. The Ad-Dharmi Dalits came together as a faith was in 1925 when the British ruled India.
In the 1931 census, more than 450,000 registered themselves as members of the new indigenous faith called Ad Dharam. But this faith and movement vanished after India's independence because of major concentration of its leader into state politics and govt.'s reservation policy only for low-caste from Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist communities.
Clans of Ad Dharmis include - Badhan, Bains, Batoi, Bhatti, Ghamori, Heer, Kathana, Mehmi, Phundwal, Sidhu, Chauhan, Bangar, Kajla, Chumber and Kaler.

Present circumstances

Although the Ad-Dharmi are followers of Guru Ravidas, and incorporate elements of Sikhism as they regard Shri Guru Granth Sahib as their religious text. But after killing of Ramananda Dass on Vienaa triggered them a lot and they formed separate Amritbani and customs.
Each of their settlement contains a gurdwaras and Ravidas Bhawans, which are both a centre of worship and as well as a focus of the community.
The traditional occupation of the Ad-Dharmis was leather tanning and also a majority were involved in peasantry. Many Ad-Dharmis have started to migrate to towns and cities, for better opportunities. As other Punjabi communities, the Ad-Dharmis have participated in the overseas migration of the ethnic group. There are now fairly large no. of Ad-Dharmis in Europe and North America, in particular the United Kingdom.

Notable Ad Dharmis