Saini

This article is about the Saini community of Punjab. For the Mali community who were not recorded as Saini prior to 1937, see Mali caste. For the communities in North India using the surname, see Saini (surname).

Not to be confused with Siani or Sinai.

Saini (pronunciation^ⓘ) is a farming and landowning caste^[1] of northern India. The community is given representation in government jobs and educational institutes as an Other Backward Class (OBC)^[2] in the states of Uttar Pradesh,^[3] Punjab,^[4] Haryana,^[5] Rajasthan^[6] and Madhya Pradesh.^[7] Sainis, like other farming castes such as the Jats, play a dominant role in shaping the social and cultural life of rural villages in Punjab. Their size, farming and political visibility, strengthens their position in local society.^[1]

Saini
Country	Primarily India
Populated states	Punjab, India, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Chandigarh and Delhi

As both a statutory agricultural tribe and a designated martial race during the British Raj era that followed the Indian Rebellion of 1857, Sainis had been chiefly engaged in both agriculture and military service. Since the independence of India, they have diversified into white-collar professions.^[8]

History

Mythology

The Sainis of Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur districts claim to be the descendants of kings of the Yaduvanshi or Surasena lineage who ruled these kingdoms, who came to these areas to avoid forced conversion to Islam.^[9]

Academic

Gahlot and Banshidhar indicate some commonality in origin with Rajput Malis of Rajputana, who also claim to be of Rajput descent.^[10]

British era

During the British period Sainis were classified as both a statutory agricultural tribe and, later, a martial race.^[11] The latter was an administrative device based on the now-discredited theories of scientific racism: ethnic communities were categorised as being either martial or non-martial, with the latter being those who were thought to be unfit to serve in armies due to their sedentary lifestyles.^[12][13] The community was also one of several peasant peoples who benefitted from the development of the Punjab Canal Colonies, through which they obtained land grants from the British authorities, especially in the Chenab Colony following the introduction of the Punjab Land Alienation Act, 1900.^[14]

Some Saini landlords were also appointed as zaildars, or revenue-collectors, in various districts.^[15]

Post Independence India

Castes similar to Sainis in north India are Koeri, Kushwaha, Maurya and Shakya. Over the time, these communities have come together and started inter-marrying among themselves for caste consolidation.^[16]

Marriage

According to the Anthropological Survey of India, "The Saini are endogamous community and observe exogamy at village and gotra level." Remarriage after the death of a spouse is permitted nowadays, as is divorce.^[17]

Notable people

Armed Forces

• Joginder Singh (Param Vir Chakra)^[18]

Indian National Freedom Movement

• Gurdan Saini (Rajput General- died in Ranthambore also known as Rana Gurdan Saini)^{[19][need quotation to verify]}
• Harnam Singh Saini (Ghadar movement, died - hanged on March 16, 1917 after Lahore Conspiracy Case trial)^{[20][need quotation to verify]}

Religious and political leaders

• Labh Singh Saini (Akali dal president)^{[21][need quotation to verify]}
• Jathedar Sadhu Singh Bhaura (Akal Takht Jathedar)^{[22][page needed][need quotation to verify]}

Sports

• Sandeep Singh a Field Hockey player from Shahabad town of Kurukshetra,Haryana

Civilians with titles

• Chaudhari Nand Ram Saini (Zaildar from Hissar Division)^{[23][need quotation to verify]}
• Sardar Nanu Singh Saini(Sikh army General and well Known Jagirdar in Phulkian Rayast)^{[24][need quotation to verify]}

Others

• Sumedh Singh Saini (former Director general of police of Punjab, India^{[25][need quotation to verify]}