Teli is a caste traditionally occupied in the pressing of oil in India and Pakistan. Members may be either Hindu or Muslim; Muslim Teli are called Samani, Malik, Roghangar, Ghanchi, Rathod etc. based on different state in India.
The word Teli comes from Tel, which means oil. The name Teli is given because of their profession of “making edible oil”. In old times, these people had their small oil mills known as kolhu or Ghana operated by oxen to make or extract edible oil from oil seeds like mustard and sesame.
Our Association belongs to Muslim Teli Community.
Samani and Malik are the two of the most commonly used sir names found in North India, especially in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Uttarakhand and Delhi.
Many people believed that our ancestors were from Khilji dynasty that came from Iran and Afghanistan. This community is descended of Turk soldiers in the armies of Bakhtiyar Khilji, the Muslim conqueror of India.
Bakhtiyar Khilji, a member of the Khilji tribe, a Turkic tribe long settled in what is now southern Afghanistan was head of the military force that conquered much of eastern India at the end of the 12th Century. When he lost the battle with his opponents. In that battle, many of his Commanders and officers were either killed or they hide themselves to save their life.
These soldiers went to some unknown places and started their business of Oil pressing for their livelihood. They used to manufacture Oil and would got to cities to sell it. Since they were originally well educated soldiers from Turkish they used to speak only Persian language (Farsi in Urdu). In those days Persian language was best spoken language like English is what today. People who saw them speaking Persian they were very surprised to know this fact that Oil presser (Teli) is speaking such a well known language. And then people heard this famous phrase from people.
“ BOLE PHARSI BECHE TEL”
“ DEKHO KUDRAT KA YEH HAI KHEL”
Our Ancestors choose business our service and we should feel proud of it.
