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{{Short description|Maharaja of Bijnor}}
{{pp|small=yes}}
{{Short description|Indian folk hero}}
{{Infobox royalty
{{Infobox royalty
|name      = Maharaja Bijli Pasi<br />{{lang|hi|महाराजा बिजली पासी}}
|name      = Maharaja Bijli Pasi<br />{{lang|hi|महाराजा बिजली पासी}}
| image    = File:Maharaja Bijli Pasi Ji.jpg
| image    = File:Maharaja Bijli Pasi Ji.jpg
| alt      = Bijli Pasi
| alt      = Bijli Pasi
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| spouse  =  
| spouse  =  
| title    = [[Maharaja]] of [[Bijnor]]
| title    = [[Maharaja]] of [[Bijnor]]
| religion = [[Hinduism]]
| religion = [[Shaivism]], part of [[Hinduism]]
| family  =  
| family  =  
}}
}}
'''Maharaja Bijli Pasi''' was a king from the [[Pasi (caste)|Pasi]] community, a [[Dalit]] caste in [[northern India|North India]]. He ruled during the [[Muslim]] period from a site located near [[Lucknow]], and is believed to have constructed 12 [[forts]] in what is now the state of [[Uttar Pradesh]].{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}
'''Maharaja Bijli Pasi''' was a king from the [[Pasi (caste)|Pasi]] community, According to popular belief, he ruled part of what is now [[Uttar Pradesh]].


==Life==
==Life==
[[File:Maharaja-Bijli-Pasi-India-Stamp-2000-01.jpg|thumb|Maharaja Bijli Pasi on Stamp in 2000]]
Historical evidence for the existence of a king named Bijli Pasi is lacking. However, in 2000, the [[India Post|Department of Posts]], [[Government of India]] issued a commemorative stamp about him. The move was influenced by the caste upliftment movement of Pasis under the leadership of [[Dalit]] leader [[Ram Vilas Paswan]]. According to the stamp, Bijli Pasi founded the city of [[Bijnor]] in [[Uttar Pradesh]].It is said that he consolidated his position when northern India was divided into several small states prior to the fall of the mighty empires of the past.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bgpEIb4tNjgC&pg=PA2045|title= Caste in Question: Identity Or Hierarchy?|first=Dipankar|last= Gupta|publisher=SAGE|year=2004|isbn=0761933247|accessdate=2020-07-11}}</ref>
 
There is little to no historical record of Bijli Pasi's life. As belonging to Delhi-based medieval leader, Prithviraj Chauhan [1178-1192 CE], Bijli Pasi was the legendary figure responsible for the defense and morality of the Dalit people.<ref name="Dalit Assertion">{{cite book|author=Badri Narayan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iAQrpDW4-_YC&pg=PA72|title=Women Heroes and Dalit Assertion in North India: Culture, Identity and Politics|publisher=SAGE|year=2012|isbn=9780761935377|page=73}}</ref>{{unreliable?|date=April 2021}} Bijli Pasi was the one who founded the city of Bijnor in [[Uttar Pradesh]], and was responsible for the success of his caste. Before the fall of the mighty empires of the past,<ref>{{cite book|last=Gupta|first=Dipankar|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bgpEIb4tNjgC&pg=PA2045&dq=bijli+pasi|title=Caste in Question: Identity Or Hierarchy?|publisher=SAGE|year=2004|isbn=0761933247|access-date=2020-07-11}}</ref> Bijli Pasi conquered his crown when North India was divided into smaller states.
 
The warrior representation of the Maharaja Pasi was created by the suggestion of [[Kanshi Ram]], founder of the [[Bahujan Samaj Party]]. It is often seen on the walls of various [[Dalit]] communities, especially communities of the Pasi Caste. Kanshi Ram designed the image to contain the features of five [[Sikh gurus]] including [[Guru Arjan]], Gobind Singh, and [[Guru Nanak]], who are all worshiped by Dalit communities. Characteristics of the five gurus can be in the Maharaja's personality.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}


==In popular culture==
==In popular culture==
{{unreferenced section|date=March 2021}}
The assertion of Bijli Pasi gave voice to the claims of [[Dalit]]s that in the past there were Dalit kings and that they  had a glorious history just like upper castes. The warrior image of Maharaja, often seen upon the walls of various Dalit communities (especially people of Pasi caste) was designed as per the suggestion of [[Kanshi Ram]], the founder of [[Bahujan Samaj Party]]. He wanted the image to contain the features of five Sikh gurus, who are also worshipped by Dalit communities to date. The specific feature of those gurus is visible in Maharaja's image, upon careful examination.<ref name="Dalit Assertion">{{cite book|author=Badri Narayan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iAQrpDW4-_YC&pg=PA72|title=Women Heroes and Dalit Assertion in North India: Culture, Identity and Politics|publisher=SAGE|year= 2012|isbn=9780761935377|page=73}}</ref>
In 2000, the [[Government of India]], [[India Post|Department of Posts]] - led by the [[Minister of Communications and Information Technology (India)|Minister of Communications and Information Technology]] - issued a commemorative stamp to honor the social and political influence of the Pasi caste.  The commemoration of Bijli Pasi gave legitimacy to the [[Dalit]] claim, which attests to the existence of multiple Dalit kings, often humble in origin but ending up with riches and privileges' reminiscent of today's upper castes. [[Uttar Pradesh]] is one of the states in which different castes are often in opposition, and therefore the commemoration of Bijli Pasi was a move towards empowering the Pasi caste.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}
 
[[File:Raja bijli pasi Qila 1858.jpg|thumb|Fortress of Maharaja Bijli Pasi in 1858 [[Jellalabad]] in [[Uttar Pradesh]]]]
 
==See also==
*[[Pasi (caste)|Pasi caste]]
*[[Madari Pasi]]
*[[Chauharmal]]
*[[Hinduism]]
*[[History of Uttar Pradesh]]


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:Dalit leaders]]
[[Category:Dalit leaders]]
[[Category:Indian people]]
[[Category:Fictional Indian people]]

Revision as of 11:58, 18 October 2024

Maharaja Bijli Pasi
महाराजा बिजली पासी
Maharaja of Bijnor
Bijli Pasi
ReligionShaivism, part of Hinduism

Maharaja Bijli Pasi was a king from the Pasi community, According to popular belief, he ruled part of what is now Uttar Pradesh.

Life

Historical evidence for the existence of a king named Bijli Pasi is lacking. However, in 2000, the Department of Posts, Government of India issued a commemorative stamp about him. The move was influenced by the caste upliftment movement of Pasis under the leadership of Dalit leader Ram Vilas Paswan. According to the stamp, Bijli Pasi founded the city of Bijnor in Uttar Pradesh.It is said that he consolidated his position when northern India was divided into several small states prior to the fall of the mighty empires of the past.[1]

In popular culture

The assertion of Bijli Pasi gave voice to the claims of Dalits that in the past there were Dalit kings and that they had a glorious history just like upper castes. The warrior image of Maharaja, often seen upon the walls of various Dalit communities (especially people of Pasi caste) was designed as per the suggestion of Kanshi Ram, the founder of Bahujan Samaj Party. He wanted the image to contain the features of five Sikh gurus, who are also worshipped by Dalit communities to date. The specific feature of those gurus is visible in Maharaja's image, upon careful examination.[2]

References

  1. Gupta, Dipankar (2004). Caste in Question: Identity Or Hierarchy?. SAGE. ISBN 0761933247. Retrieved 2020-07-11.
  2. Badri Narayan (2012). Women Heroes and Dalit Assertion in North India: Culture, Identity and Politics. SAGE. p. 73. ISBN 9780761935377.