Question: I want to know about Bhai Mani Singh , whether he was a Vanjara Sikh?

Answer: We do not promote glorifying great persons on the basis of their so-called ‘castes’, ‘Jaati’ or ‘varan’. However, from merely academic point of view, we sometime mention their family background. Also, sometime a few casteist writers try to prove that specific great person belonged to writer’s caste/community. I believe that this trend is very dangerous. Not only that such writers try to spread casteism, but they distort the actual history as well.

There were two persons with same name (Bhai Mani Singh) during Guru Gobind Singh Ji’ life time.

The first Bhai Mani Singh Ji was the person, who served Sri Darbar Sahib Ji Sri Amritsar Sahib, written a copy of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, edited Sri Dasam Granth Sahib Ji and was martyred (his body was chopped to pieces joint by joint in Lahore city in present Pakistan). Kesar Singh Chhibbar was a contemporary with Bhai Mani Singh Ji. Kesar Singh Chhibbar lived in Sri Amritsar Sahib with his father Gurbaksh Singh Chhibbar. Gurbakssh Singh was one of persons who were appointed to take care of Sri Amritsar Sahib Ji by Mother Sahib Devan Ji (wife of Guru Gobind Singh Ji). Bhai Mani Singh Ji reached and started to live in Sri Amritsar during that period. So, it is obvious that Kesar Singh Chhibbar personally knew Bhai Mani Singh Ji.

Kesar Singh Chhibbar writes in his ‘Bansavalinama Dasan Patshahiaan Ka’: –

Tab Bhai Mani Singh Jaati Kamboy Kaheeyai.
So Aaye Miley Jin Ke Sam Sikh Koee Aisa Guru Ka Na Laheeyai. (Charan 13th).

And,

Eh Granth Autaar Leela Da Jo Haisee;
So Bhai Mani Singh Musaddi Jaat Kambou Horaan Ikkathha Karvaaya. 381. (Charan 10th).

So, according to Kesar Singh Chhibbar, Shaheed Bhai Mani Singh Ji belonged to ‘Kambo’ community. As Kesar Singh Chhibbar personally knew Bhai Mani Singh Ji and even lived with him in Sri Amritsar Sahib, I do not find any reason to doubt his (Kesar Singh’s) statement.

The second Bhai Mani Singh Ji was father of Bhai Bachitar Singh Ji and Bhai Uday Singh Ji. He belonged to Vanjara/Lubana community. Originally, Vanjara or Lubana community is a part of wider Rajput community.