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Sainis of Himahal Pradesh |
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Himachal Pradesh (H.P.) is situated in NorthWest Himalyan region of India and covers the area of all three parallel running chains of Himalya i.e. lower Shivalik, middle, and upper Himalya. In Vedic times, it was known as Deva Bhumi. H.P is the birthplace of many rivers of Punjad plains such as; Satlej, Beas, Ravi, and Chenab. In East, it shares borders with Tibet, in North J and K, in SouthWest Punjab, and in SouthEast with Haryana and Uttaranchal. Before being recognized as an individual province, it was a part of greater Punjab. Now it comprises 12 districts with capital at Shimla. During 2000 BC era, this land was inhabited only by Aboriginal tribals such as Khasas. Later, Aryans started moving to this area and established kingdoms. Mauryas also controlled this land as well as Guptas. Large numbers of Rajputs who were made landless by their own people due to fighting among themselves immigrated to middle and upper Himalyan are along with their priests and established their small states by subjugating the Aboriginal tribals and became a farming community. Southern lower Shivalik foothill regions have cultivable lands and is as warm as Punjab plains. This area has been inhabited by Sainis and Chahangs who are the professional farming people of modern times. This lower Shivalik area was a part of Mauryan empire.
Sainis- Sainis of HP are one of the largest professional farming community, although the majority of Sainis follw Hinduism but they are the largest Sikh community of the region. They speak Punjabi-Dogri, Hinduri, and Haryanvi dialects in different parts. They are professional agriculturalists and are also involved in agro-based industries who grow such products as; potatoes, maize, wheat, barley, vegetables, and as well as vegetable and potato seed production.
DISTRIBUTION- 1. SouthWest Zone includes Kangra, Una, and Bilaspur districts, and some parts of Mandi district. Kangra was once ruled by Pandavas and is famous as a school of Hindu art, its paintings and murals related to Krishna are world famous. This district shares borders with Saini dominated Pathankot and Hoshiarpur of Punjab and has a large population of Saini farmers in the Damtal, Indora, Fatehpur, Gangath, Jawali, Bagwan, Nurpur, Nagrota, and Pong, Kangra segments. Mr. Chaand Saini is the leader of the Saini community and is a former MLA. He is an exectutive member of HP Congress Committee and is President of Kangra Block Congress. Mr. Sita Ram Saini of Sulah and Mr. Ramesh Saini are also prominent congress leaders. Mr. Rampal Saini is a BJP leader of this area. Mrs. Tripta Saini is a woman rights activist and is President of Nurpur Block Mahila Congress.
In Una district, Sainis are the majority farming people.This district was earlier a part of Hoshiarpur. Santokhgarh-Una, Bangana, Amb- Mubarakpur, Gagret, Dehlan, Bhakhra and Chintpurni areas are Saini populated. Una is the only place in HP that is linked to Delhi by broad gauge rail. Mrs. Santosh Saini is the leader of BJP Mahila Morcha. Mr. Ram Gopal Saini is the General Secretary of District Youth Congress. Mr. P.D. Saini is the President of Himachal Pradesh Saini Samaj. Bilaspur- Naina Devi, Namoli, and Manwan have a sizable Saini population. In Mandi, Saini farmers have a minority farming caste position. Mr. Kanhaiya Lal Saini is District Kissan Congress President. Mr. Baldev Saini of Nachan, is also a prominent personality of Sainis
2. SouthEast Zone- Consists of Solan and Sirmaur districts and southern parts of Shimla district. Here, Sainis are the majority peasant caste of Solan district especially in Nalagarh tehsil. Doon, Arki, Kasauli, and Brotiwala are Saini segments.Rajpura and Saini Majra are largest villages of Sainis. Sh. Hari Narain Singh Saini is MLA of Nalagarh and is Town and Country planning Minister of HP and is the representative of Sikhs in present HP ministry.Mr. Satnam Singh Saini is a Akali leader from Nalagarh.
In district Sirmaur, Paonta Sahib-Bhagani, Majra Kalan, Nahan-Trilokpur-Nahna and Sarahan are Saini dominated belts. This district shares borders with Saini dominated Dehradoon and Jamuna Nagar districts of Uttaranchal and Haryana respectively. Historic Sikh Temple, Shri Dashmesh Sahib is situated in Paonta Sahib. Sardar Rattan Singh Saini is MLA of this constituency and is Vice-President of Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee.He belongs to Nihalgarh village of this district and is the first Sikh MLA of HP. Mr. Mani Ram Saini(ex- president Nahan Panchayat) and Sh. Surinder Saini (vice -chairman Nahan Muncipal Council)are prominent persons of Nahan area. |
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