An interesting little footnote from the caste background of the Brahma Kumaris who arose from amongst the Bhaibund (or Bhaiband meaning "brotherhood") and Amil castes of Hyderabad, from 'Cosmopolitan Connections: The Sindhi Diaspora, 1860-2000' by Mark-Anthony Falzo.
Amils are a Lohana sub-caste. The word "Amil" has its origin in the Persian word "amal" meaning "to administer". In the Sindh, the Amils sub-caste was the most prestigious among Lohanas, followed by Bhaiband and Sahitis and consisted principally of bankers, clerks, and minor officials many of whose financial skills were put to good use by the business minded Bhaibunds ... "Amil equaled educated, Bhaibund equalled uneducated".
Hyderabad, from where the BKs arose, was seen as the heartland of the bhiabands but was also home of the educated amils a widely acknowledged as one of the most affluent and fashionable places in north-west India ... the "Paris of Sind". Most Sindhi names end in "-ani" meaning 'descendent of'.
Sindiwork, the trade of the Bhaiband, was not a 'nine-to-five' job the author continues, it was an all-embracing way of life.
The book is very helpful in providing the background with which to understand the form and mentality of the Brahma Kumari leaders and their creation. Not surprisingly, Lekhraj Kirpalani being a bhaihband Sindiworker, numerous similarities immediately jump out.
I suggest BKism is basically more of the same ... but selling the vestments of religion rather than materials.
The book also confirms the tendency of the Sindhis to lean towards Right Wing politics and nationalism, and groups such as the Shiv Sena.
Amils are a Lohana sub-caste. The word "Amil" has its origin in the Persian word "amal" meaning "to administer". In the Sindh, the Amils sub-caste was the most prestigious among Lohanas, followed by Bhaiband and Sahitis and consisted principally of bankers, clerks, and minor officials many of whose financial skills were put to good use by the business minded Bhaibunds ... "Amil equaled educated, Bhaibund equalled uneducated".
The difference between amils and bhaibunds was the most marked ... still today, bhaibands are seen by amils as unpolished, having poor aesthetic tastes, and given to vulgar displays of wealth.
Bhaihund women tend not to work.
Hyderabad, from where the BKs arose, was seen as the heartland of the bhiabands but was also home of the educated amils a widely acknowledged as one of the most affluent and fashionable places in north-west India ... the "Paris of Sind". Most Sindhi names end in "-ani" meaning 'descendent of'.
Sindiwork, the trade of the Bhaiband, was not a 'nine-to-five' job the author continues, it was an all-embracing way of life.
Employees were expected to be at the service of their managers round the clock - one informant even remembers having to massage his manager's feet after a day's work ... Various hard words - "exploitative", "bloodsuckers", "slavery", and such - were used by my informants to describe their working conditions ... as Sindwork developed the gap between employers and employees, the bosses and those who were 'in service' widened ... Although bhaibund literally means "brotherhood", it is clear that the Brothers were on unequal terms.
Members of a particular firm ate and worked together, slept under the same roof, and sometimes did puja together - this was partly because of the risk of trade information leaking to another Sindiwork firm was a constant worry to the employers and considered to be too great to encourage a wider socialisation.
The book is very helpful in providing the background with which to understand the form and mentality of the Brahma Kumari leaders and their creation. Not surprisingly, Lekhraj Kirpalani being a bhaihband Sindiworker, numerous similarities immediately jump out.
I suggest BKism is basically more of the same ... but selling the vestments of religion rather than materials.
The book also confirms the tendency of the Sindhis to lean towards Right Wing politics and nationalism, and groups such as the Shiv Sena.