Drive for social reform and education, ” THE DEWASIs

“Be educated, be organized and be agitated . Cultivation of mind should be the ultimate aim of human
existence.”
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar

The Rebaris is the community renowned for its valour, loyalty, faithfulness, simplicity, morality and
peacefulness. Having so many attributes our forefathers being duly given respect from spirituality to
folklores but gradually , in modern era, in free and modern India where education is the most powerful
weapon of reformation, where the common man is given fundamental rights of equality, liberty, etc. and
some basic privileges to grow up, stand up, HERE with passing of time we slipped to the last lines of
Indian communities due to illiteracy, due to nomadic way of life.
Occupational struggle of Raikas kept them away from mainstream of society, it was the ultimate bar to
stop us for striving for our Rights, for special arrangements for education of our children , it was the bar
to go for political partnership, in total sum we are waking up after 75 years of freedom of India. So the
present generation and youth have the sole responsibility to raise and build this community .As Swami
Vivekananda said
” You have to grow from the inside out , none can teach you, none can make you spiritual, there is no
other teacher but your own soul.”
In eighties and nineties a few of our elders succeeded in getting education , some of them with their
toilsome efforts entered in govt services viz. Army, police, education dept. nursing employees etc. many
of them who couldn’t complete their education and dropped out however reached in south and
established businesses there, it was a factor of major relief for the society like us who wasn’t getting any
political patronage and no assurance of govt. Jobs when most of Raikas were abandoning their ancestral
career of sheppard. Here this figure is noteworthy that each five year animal census of Rajasthan was
showing fall in sheep n camel numbers by 10-20%. Yet 85% families of Raikas were herding sheep n
camel till 2005 .

” You have to grow from the inside out , none can teach you, none can make you spiritual, there is no
other teacher but your own soul.”

In the eighties and nineties, a few of our elders succeeded in getting education, some of them with their
toilsome efforts entered in govt services viz. Army, police, education dept. nursing employees etc. many
of them who couldn’t complete their education and dropped out however reached in the south and
established businesses there, it was a factor of major relief for the society like us who wasn’t getting any
political patronage and no assurance of govt. Jobs when most of Raikas were abandoning their ancestral
career of Sheppard. Here this figure is noteworthy that each five year animal census of Rajasthan was
showing fall in sheep n camel numbers by 10-20%. Yet 85% families of Raikas were herding sheep n
camels till 2005.
Raikas being a semi-nomadic culture which is displayed by their attics, clothes, and by vocation but
Raikas was certainly always in mainstream culture as there are no odd rituals opted by us. Our etiquettes,
rituals, traditional values of all celebrations and mourns from birth to death are same as of mainstream
communities like The Rajputs.
When we talk about culture we shouldn’t turn blind eyes to the bad rituals and customs which prevails
in Raikas also viz. Child marriage, Martyu-bhoj, Nyat-mosar, Afim Manuhar, Aata-sata, superstitions etc.
Our bad rituals and customs are big hurdles then sheep herding for keeping us backward . It is good to
be aware of culture and tradition but a society should always walk with the time and changes opted by
others societies which are good. No society must pressurize its members to wear only certain type of
clothes and follow certain type of customs if they are not suitable as per the time and era.
Nelson Mandela wrote ” Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world”.

Thus wholesome education for each member of a society is the only path to reach the aspiration one
society dreams. After a long and heroic agitation and struggle of our Gurjar brothers under the able
leadership of honourable captain sab Kirodi singh ji Bainsala our basic need recognized and in results
numerically we started counting our some name in different govt services first time in history viz RAS,
RTS SI, teachers, engineers, nurses police service, etc. Still having umbrella cover of MBC reservation we
couldn’t repeat our numbers who successfully got their places before the MBC era in prestigious services
of IES, IRS, Doctors. So it’s clear we have to travel a long journey ahead.
In recent updates, it’s a matter of great honour for Raikas /DEWASIs as their daughters are filling the
empty space duly waiting for them . No society can develop itself in full manner till its girls Start getting
proper education and equal responsibility in every sector. As Dr. Ambedkar said-
“I measure the progress of a community by the degree of progress which women have achieved”.
All of us by heart wish that our dear community progresses and contributes its role in nation-building ,
may each nice act of our brothers n sisters give us pride.
Finally I’ll quote Mother Teresa who appeals each person to bring positive change around him to change
the world in whole.