saini

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."Surasena refers to an ancient region named after a Jadu raja who is believed to have lived before Krishna. Bayana (near Mathura) from where the Jadus ruled ..." Against History, Against State: Counterperspectives from the Margins, p 54, Shail Mayaram, published by Permanent Black, 2004

Gahlot and Banshidhar indicate some commonality in origin with Rajput Malis of Rajputana, who also claim to be of Rajput descent.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DuAtAAAAMAAJ |quote=In the Punjab in the sub-mountainous region the community came to be known as 'Saini'. It maintained its Rajput character despite migration. In other parts, it came to be called by the name of "Kshatriya-Mali" (Rajput Mali) |title=Castes and Tribes of Rajasthan |page=108 |first1=Sukhvir Singh |last1=Gahlot |first2=Banshi |last2=Dhar |publisher=Jain Brothers |year=1989|isbn=9788185287003 }}

During the British period Sainis were classified as both a statutory agricultural tribe and, later, a martial race.{{cite book|first=Rajit K. |last=Mazumder|title=The Indian army and the making of Punjab|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=O4Wop9vwS9sC&pg=PA105 |year=2003|publisher=Orient Blackswan|isbn=978-81-7824-059-6|pages=99, 105, 205}} 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.{{Cite journal|last=Rand|first=Gavin|s2cid=144987021|title=Martial Races and Imperial Subjects: Violence and Governance in Colonial India 1857–1914|journal= European Review of History|volume=13|issue=1|pages=1–20|publisher=Routledge|date=March 2006|doi=10.1080/13507480600586726 |issn = 1350-7486 }}{{cite book |title=Martial Races: The military, race and masculinity in British Imperial Culture, 1857-1914 |last=Streets |first=Heather |year=2004 |publisher=Manchester University Press |isbn=978-0-7190-6962-8 |page=241 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BscnZT_1po8C}} 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.{{cite book |title=The Punjab Under Imperialism, 1885-1947 |first=Imran |last=Ali |publisher=Princeton University Press |year=2014 |orig-year=1988 |isbn=978-1-40085-958-0 |pages=51, 56, 64, 73 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MgUABAAAQBAJ&pg=PA51 |access-date=23 September 2019 |archive-date=21 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230221180659/https://books.google.com/books?id=MgUABAAAQBAJ&pg=PA51 |url-status=live }}

Some Saini landlords were also appointed as zaildars, or revenue-collectors, in various districts.History of Hisar: From Inception to Independence, 1935–1947, p 312, M. M. Juneja, Published by Modern Book Co., 1989

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.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=58G8PPAN48cC|title=Awareness in Weaker Section: Perspective Development and Prospects|first=Mahendra Lal|last=Patel|publisher=M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd.|year=1997|page=37|isbn=8175330295|access-date=15 August 2020|archive-date=2 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202201928/https://books.google.com/books?id=58G8PPAN48cC|url-status=live}}

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.People of India, National Series Volume VI, India's Communities N-Z, p 3090, KS Singh, Anthropological Survey of India, Oxford University Press, 1998

Notable people who bear the name and may or may not be associated with the caste are:

• Joginder Singh (Param Vir Chakra){{cite news |last1=Mehta |first1=Raj |date=15 April 2018 |title=When the will became a weapon |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/features/when-the-will-became-a-weapon-572352 |work=The Tribune |access-date=23 June 2025}}

• Gurdan Saini (Rajput General- died in Ranthambore also known as Rana Gurdan Saini)A Comprehensive History of India : The Delhi Sultanat, A.D. 1206–1526, pp 318, Kallidaikurichi Aiyah Nilakanta Sastri, Indian History Congress, 1957{{qn|date=July 2023}}
• Harnam Singh Saini (Ghadar movement, died - hanged on 16 March 1917 after Lahore Conspiracy Case trial)Agrarian Scene in British Punjab, pp 71, By Hari Singh, Published by People's Pub. House, 1983, Item notes: v.2, Original from the University of Michigan{{qn|date=July 2023}}

• Labh Singh Saini (Akali dal president)Pratap Singh, Giani, Gurdwara Sudhar arthat Akali. Lahir. Amritsar, 1975{{qn|date=July 2023}}
• Jathedar Sadhu Singh Bhaura (Akal Takht Jathedar)Surjit Singh Nanua, Saini Jagat (Utpati Ate Vikas), Patiala, 2008{{pn|date=July 2023}}{{qn|date=July 2023}}

• Sandeep Singh Saini a field hockey player from Shahabad town of Haryana{{cite magazine |title=Taapsee Pannu to play ODI captain Mithali Raj in biopic |url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/starlife/taapsee-pannu-to-play-odi-captain-mithali-raj-in-biopic/article30152653.ece |magazine=Sportstar |date=3 December 2019 |access-date=23 June 2025}}

• Chaudhari Nand Ram Saini (Zaildar from Hissar Division)History of Hisar: From Inception to Independence, 1935–1947, pp 312, M. M. Juneja, Published by Modern Book Co., 1989{{qn|date=July 2023}}
• Sardar Nanu Singh Saini(Sikh army General and well Known Jagirdar in Phulkian Rayast)Saini jagata utapati ate wikasa / Surajita Singha Nanua, pp 108, 109, pp 111, Patiala : Manajota Prakashana, ਪਟਿਆਲਾ : ਮਨਜੋਤ ਪ੍ਰਕਾਸ਼ਨ, 2008, DK Agencies DKPAN-5413 ( HBD ){{qn|date=July 2023}}

• Sumedh Singh Saini (former Director general of police of Punjab, India{{cite news | url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sumedh-singh-saini-a-former-top-cop-on-the-run/article32589647.ece | title=Sumedh Singh Saini | A former top cop on the run | newspaper=The Hindu | date=12 September 2020 | last1=Vasudeva | first1=Vikas }}{{qn|date=July 2023}}
• Gurbux Saini, Canadian MP

{{Reflist|colwidth = 30em}}

• [http://www.SainiOnline.com SainiOnline.com]
• [http://www.sainiinfo.com SainiInfo.com]

{{Ethnic groups, tribes and clans of the Punjab}}

{{Rajput Groups of India}}

Category:Indian castes

Category:Punjabi tribes

Category:Social groups of Punjab, India

Category:Social groups of Haryana

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