Siddi Sidi Habshi caste is last name of many people in Indian subcontinent. Siddi Sidi Habshi caste definition is The name given to Africans whether Abyssinians or Negroes. Habshi means one coming from El Habish the Arabic name for North-East Africa. Siddi is a corruption of Saiyad the designation of a descendant of the Prophet and is commonly used as a term of respectful address in North Africa like Sahib in India. The Bombay Gazetteer states91 that about the middle of the fifteenth century when the Bahmani dynasty became independent of Delhi and intercourse with Northern India ceased the fashion arose of bringing to Western India large numbers of Abyssinians and other East Africans. Though most of the Habshis came to India as slaves their faithfulness courage and energy often raised them to positions of high trust in the Bahmani court. According to Orme the successful Abyssinians gathered round them all of their countrymen whom they could procure either by purchase or invitation including negroes from other parts of Africa as well as Abyssinians. From their marriages first with natives of India and afterwards among their own families there arose a separate community distinct from other Muhammadans in figure colour and character. As soon as they were strong enough they formed themselves into an aristocratic republic and produced some of the most skilful and daring soldiers and sailors of Western India. The rulers of Janjira and Sachin States in Bombay are Siddis by descent. They are now employed as stokers and firemen on steamers and as fitters and mechanics in the dockyards of Bombay and are described92 as A hardy race with muscular frames thick lips and crisp black hair the very last men whom you would wish to meet in a rough-and-tumble and yet withal a jovial people well-disposed and hospitable to any one whom they regard as a friend. In other parts of India the Siddis are usually beggars and are described as Fond of intoxicating drinks quarrelsome dirty unthrifty and pleasure-loving obstinacy being their leading trait. They worship Baba Ghor an Abyssinian saint. It is recorded that the medicine called Silajit a nervine tonic for the generative power was formerly believed to be prepared from the flesh of Abyssinian boys. Mr. Hooper writes: Silajit is allied to another ancient drug named Momiayi which has long been employed in the East. The original drug is said to have been made from Egyptian mummies and subsequently to have been prepared by boiling down and extracting the essence of Abyssinian boys. Since the last source of supply has become scarce several bituminous exudations are reported to have been substituted.94 The drug is now said to be made from the gum of some stone in Hardwar and this must be the bitumen referred to by Mr. Hooper. The virtue ascribed to the flesh of Abyssinian boys was no doubt based on their superior bodily strength and perhaps partly on the prolificacy of the negroes. In the case of mummies as the body of the mummy was believed to have retained life or the capacity of life for many ages its material would naturally possess extraordinary vitality and should be capable of imparting this quality to others when assimilated into their bodies.. Siddi Sidi Habshi caste is one of the many castes subcastes of India.
India has thousands of castes and subcastes, they are in existence and practice since the Vedic times. They were created to solve the problem of division of labor. Siddi Sidi Habshi caste name could indicate the type of work people belonging to the Siddi Sidi Habshi caste do or did in earlier times. Many last names in India indicate the place the person originally belongs to. All castes sub castes are primarily divided into 4 categories:
1.Brahmins – The learned or priestly class
2.Khastriyas – The warrior class or those with governing functions
3.Vaishyas – The trader, agriculturalists or cattle rearers class
4.Shudra – The class that serves other three categories
Siddi Sidi Habshi caste belongs to one of the above 4 categories. Indian caste system is the best system to solve the problem of division of labor. In earlier times there was no rigidity in caste system. Indian caste system is still the best solution for the problem of division of labor, the only change that is needed as per changed times is that rather than having a vertical hierarchical system with Brahmins on top and Shudras at bottom, it would be good to have a horizontal socialist system with Brahmins, Khastriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras all at same level.
The caste system of India is in ruins at present. It is also cause of bloody quarrels in certain parts of the rural India. People of backward castes have reservations in government jobs, this facility is widely misused in India. Many of the backward caste people have become rich and still use the facility for their benefit. Many in India believe reservation in jobs should be given on the basis of poverty rather than caste because there are many poors in upper castes as well.
Many foreginers and followers of Abrahmic religions criticize the Indian caste system because of bad material condition of lower castes but if they observe in an unbiased way they would find that there are many in upper castes with bad material conditions. The problem lies in power not in castes, power can corrupt anyone be it from upper caste or lower caste.
Secondly I have seen Abrahmic religions especially Muslims and Christians claiming that they have no caste system – It is an utter lie. All cultures, all countries, all religions have caste system in one form or the other. Christians have different churches depending on the region or language or skin color of people. Muslims have a priestly class that tries to control everything. Arab Muslims before the oil boom were so much divided among tribes that if you drank water from a well of a different tribe you could be shot dead. Tribal divisions still exists among Muslims. You can also see the caste system in a different form in your corporate companies. I had seen different food and drinking facilities for people at different levels.
Siddi Sidi Habshi caste is also known as Siddi Sidi Habshi Gotra.
Caste situation is quiet different in urban India, people in urban areas especially youngsters don’t bother about castes. Inter caste, inter religious, inter lingual marriages are quiet common in urban India. Inter caste, inter religious and inter lingual marriages in rural areas attract severe criticism and many times people are expelled from community for not marrying as per religious and caste rules.
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