Sevalal Maharaj

According to Banjara accounts, he was born on 15 February 1739, but his birth place has not been confirmed as Banjaras/Lambadis from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Maharashtra states claim that he was born in Gutti Tanda of Anantapur district in Andhra Pradesh, whereas people from Karnataka argue that he born in Surgondankoppa village, Nyamathi taluk, Davanagere district, Karnataka. His parents were Bhima Naik and Dharmini Bai. Historically, the Banjara/Lambadi community has been forest dwelling and cattle rearing community in the western, central and north of south India. The Banjara/Lambadis' socio-cultural belief and practices evolved with their relation with the forest as they have been traditionally living in the forest frontier from south Rajasthan and East of Gujarat to Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Northern Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and pocket of areas in northern Eastern Indian states.

Aboriginal Banjara/Lambada community lived in and believed in the forests so they have their own socio-cultural beliefs and practices which differ greatly from mainstream caste based Hindu society. Until arrival of colonial rule, the community enjoyed its freedom in the forest while rearing cows and supplying goods as they were expert of all the forest routes and knew how to handle natural forces in the forest very well as they have been living in the forests from ancient times. Thus, the important North, Central and Southern part was their own place as the area is also covered with the dense forests. The Banjaras played crucial role in connecting the southern and northern India when formal mode of transportation were yet to be developed. Thus all the rulers of South and North India would seek their assistance in crossing the areas, passing food and other goods and essential items for the warfare for all Kings, irrespective of their kingdoms. For this reason, all the kings needed their help and also occasionally deployed them for war. Given that the area in which they have been living was strategically important in Indian political history, all the rulers of those times showed high regard for the community though community hardly engaged in any social and political activities with the mainstream society and had only bare functional relationship. The Banjaras were happy living in the forest with nature. But with advent of colonialism in 1600s A.D.in Indian, they started facing the problems. The British colonialism started entering into forest areas to extract resources and controlling the forest space which used to be traditionally Banjara/Lambadis homeland particularly in areas of south Rajasthan, east Gujarat to Karnataka, Telangana, Maharashtra, North of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh.

Banjaras were historically predominant in the states of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Goa, and Madhya Pradesh. In order to control these belt and traditional areas of Banjara community, the Britishers brought forest policies such as Indian Forest Act of 1878 with the nexus of provincial or princely rulers such as Nizam, Mysore and Maratha Kingdoms. The Banjara/Lambadi community resisted the state's act of controlling their areas but they were vulnerable to the powerful and advance British state power. To control the community and govern their spaces, the colonial state went to the extend of declaring them of "Criminal Tribes" by Criminal Tribe Act of 1871 in the Madras Province, Nizam, Mysore kingdoms and North India. The Act and British control of their home territory had detrimental effect on their lives. The Banjaras lost their natural right to reside and dwell in the forest which they had been traditionally living and engaging. At this critical juncture, the birth of leader like Sevalal was much needed. After he attain his adulthood, he meditated deeply in forests, and traveled extensively from Andhra Pradesh to Telangana, Karnataka and Maharashtra to know the conditions of Banjaras, educate them of their rights to live in the forest, rear the cows, and also fought against superstitious belief and practices among the community people. He also professed about protecting environment and asked community people to plant the Neem tree realizing the medical importance of the tree, value of the water and asked to serve the thirsty and provide food to hungry people, respect women, and asked the community to lead natural life in harmony with the nature. To have right to forest for Banjara community, Sevalal had declared that "the forest is birth right and we shall have it either in peaceful negotiations with the rulers or through spiritual protests by boycotting duties to the state and collective meditations and also rearing of cows in the forests. To negotiate with the rulers he met the Governor General of Madras province, Mysore King and also Nizam ruler. Sevalal asserted Banjaras right to live in the forest, rear the cows and demanded that discriminatory and uncivilized 'Criminal Tribe Tag' to the community must be removed. Sevalal fought against heinous crime committed against the Banjaras, against the uncivilized Criminal Tribe Act, fought against superstitions and urged for protecting environment and living the natural life in the very nature of forest. For the first time he united whole community which spread across more than five states. Due to his relentless fight against the barbaric treatment to Banjara Community, the rulers eventually agreed to allow Banjaras to dwell in the forest but with certain condition such as a) paying taxes which they never paid earlier as they were not part of any state and they had their own notion of state and territoriality, and b) helping in the war. Sevalal however, never accepted the condition of war as he always preached among his community people that 'the violence is against humanity'. The act was condemned before independence by nationalist leaders. in 1936, Jawaharlal Nehru denouncing the Act commented that "the monstrous provisions of the Criminal Tribes Act constitute a negation of civil liberty. No tribe [can] be classed as criminal as such and the whole principle [is] out of consonance with all civilised principle". The tag of 'criminal tribal' to the community was not removed until 1952 with enactment of criminal Tribe Act in 1952.

Thus, Sevalal provided essential leadership to the subjugated and discriminated community by connecting physically, emotionally, spiritually, and culturally. He brought socio-political consciousness, and struggled through out his life for essential rights and much needed dignity to the community. Though socio-culturally the Banjaras/Lambadis were connected but is was Sevalal who brought unity among the all Banjara of all areas and consolidated them to create pan India political identity. Thus, subsequently became a God figure for the Banjara/Lambadi community. He never got married for the cause of community, so community calls him as Seva Bhaya mean lovable/younger unmarried brother-in-law, the protector and the savior. now he is essential part of Banjara community and their identity. he is worshiped as God, though he always advocated to worship the community goddesses and nature.

(22 major principles of Banjara Life/ Seva Bollies)

1) Protect the forest and the environment

2) Live the natural life in consonance with nature

3) Do not practice discrimination toward anyone and any form

4) Live a life with dignity

5) Don't lie, be honest (sat Boli), and do not steel others belonging

6) Don't talk ill of others and do not harm others

7) Respect Women, and girl childs are living Goddesses

8) Don't worry and live fearless, be courageous and confident life

9) shade the greediness and material sensual comforts

10) Protect the water and provide water to the thirsty and also never involve in selling water which is biggest crime/sin

11) Provide food to hungry and help the needy people

12) Respect elders and love youngers, and also respect animals

13) Never leave the forest and don't destroy the forest, if you destroy the forest then you are destroying yourself

14) Do not consume toxic substances and completely avoid drinking alcohol

15) Do not involve in illicit relationship

16) Meditate have inner peace, and study, seek knowledge and gain the Knowledge

17) Don't not be lured by modern life style and comfort, and must engage with physical activity

18) love humanity and not money, and have comradeship with fellow community persons

19) Have reasoned life and avoid all superstitious beliefs

20) Respect you parents, take care of your family and the community, and never break the brotherhood in the community

21) Protect the culture and language of the community, speak Gaor Bhasa/Goarboli and also celebrate all the community's festivals which are connected with the nature, and avoid those festivals which causes harm to nature.
22) Should follow the norms and maintain identity of the Goar Be connected with Nature Don't Exploit Nature.

Sevalal have been a man of exemplary truthfulness, courage, concerned, humanitarian, disciplined, meditative, a great musician, a rationalist who fought against superstition, and a benighted devotee of Sheetala and Sati Devi includes Goddess Jagadamba.[1]

The colonial British administrators also quote his stories, but they place him in the 18th century and identify his original name as Siva Rathod.

Sant Sevalal Maharaj revered greatly by Banjara/Lambadi community people, over a period of time become one of an important God for the community, and several temples have been build to worship him in many places in India. Every village/ Tandas or residence area of Banjara/Lambada has sacred places with white flag which symbolize Sevalal. On all festivals and important events ceremonial respected is paid to him before the celebration of festivals and programs. His struggles and commitment for the community is invoked for asserting political identity, seeking rights of the community, and also spiritual, social and political unity among the community people. An important temple of Sant Shree Sevalal Maharaj is situated in the village Pohora Devi of Washim district, Maharashtra. A large number of Banjara devotees visit this temple. Jagdamba Yadi Mandir, the temple of Jagadamba Mata, is also situated here.

With dedicated and honest efforts of the local community leaders in Karnataka, a beautiful temple of Sant Sevalal Maharaj has been recently built in Surgondankoppa village, Near Nyamathi Taluk, Davangere district, Karnataka. This temple has been nicely developed and maintained with various tableau s depicting the simple living of a banjara family and its community. It has become a major tourist attraction in recent times and hoards of people from all communities and walks of life, flock there to enjoy the serenity of the place.