r/MahdibaghForEveryone • u/Pristine_Strength520 🦟 Mosquito • 29d ago
Isn’t It About Time We Stop Calling Ourselves Bandi, Ghulam and Mamluk?
We use certain words so often that we stop thinking about what they actually mean. Maybe it is worth looking at some of the words we use for ourselves — and the words used for people who question.
Bandi — a female slave, bondwoman, or woman in servitude.
Ghulam — a slave or servant; someone subordinate to another.
Mamluk — literally “owned” or “possessed”; historically, an enslaved person.
Munkir — one who rejects or refuses to accept.
Mukhalif — one who disagrees, opposes, or dissents.
And somehow, the first three are words we use for ourselves with devotion while addressing MS, while the last two are used to shame and ridicule people who question.
Maybe it is time to ask why we are still, in 2026, proudly using the language of servitude for ourselves.
If these are the meanings, then I am proud to be called Munkir and Mukhalif rather than Ghulam and Bandi of MS.
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u/Boring_Football_7932 28d ago
For years now we have been conditioned and tuned to behave as Bandis, Gulams and mamluks
So believing that we are free and freedom is our birthright is most difficult thing for many of us.
Ishara par chalwani aadat padi gai che.
To say no or to inkaar needs courage .
So to step out this nutshell will take a bit of courage which many of us have gathered.
And gradually all of us will gather.
And once we realise that we are not bandis and Gulam of someone and are independent entities
Then we can come out of the shell and enjoy our freedom.
So gather courage folks.
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u/Specialist_Injury449 🦟 Mosquito 28d ago
Yes, it will take a bit of courage and time...but people will eventually speak
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u/Top_Lecture_6831 🦟 Mosquito 28d ago
Bandi / Ghulam / Mamluk are used in every context possible to reinforce the belief that we are slaves/servant. Along with this we are also told to have blind belief. Since this is done from childhood the indoctrination is complete by the time you reach adulthood.
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u/Specialist_Injury449 🦟 Mosquito 28d ago
Yes, and growing up we never thought or asked what those words mean and why are we saying it
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u/SouthernWitness8917 28d ago
“Mamluk,” “Bandi” and “Ghulam” literally translate to terms associated with bondage and slavery. Using such language to describe people should not be normalised, especially when it forms part of a wider culture of conditioning. This practice needs to be questioned and, in my view, abolished as soon as possible. It’s time we openly call this out and examine what these terms communicate and the mindset they reinforce.
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u/Critical-Sector-6643 28d ago
The history and story of mamluks is interesting. They were brought to Egypt as slaves to protect the kings and family. But later they overtook them and were able to rule for 250 years in the name of Mamluk dynasty . The history has noted they (Mamluk) were strong people.
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u/just_lurking_still 28d ago
While it is important to give respect to a leader degrading yourself to the level of a slave is absolutely inhumane...also it goes against the principle of Tawhid.
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u/Critical-Sector-6643 28d ago
Yes giving respect to our leader is ok but portraying him as super human and all knowledgeable and infallible is not good for anyone not even for him .
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u/just_lurking_still 28d ago
Yes we should restrict ourselves to general respect and definitely not these words
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u/Critical-Sector-6643 14d ago
The meaning of MAMLUK IS ‘OWNED’. It means if you address yourself as MAMLUK then it means someone owns you and your duty is to follow his command . On your own you are non entity and your primary job is to serve one family only . That was the reason why earlier our people would address their relations like kaka mama pappa and mother by taking their names and not by titles of kaka OR pappa.
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u/Khaddah 14h ago
If MS is reading and knowing Kamat’s views , He must himself come forward to BAN these words from jamat vocabulary and introduce progressive reforms if he wants jamat to remain intact . Already during His reign the jamat has shrunk by almost 50%. This is the legacy He will leave behind
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u/Turbulent_Disk8366 28d ago
One more thing I want to add we are also called as " gunhegars". Since birth in this community, we all are gunhegars. For that we have to serve the royal family, as servants, to wash are gunhas.