Gerald Parsons says that "Ravidasis are to be distinguished from the Ramdasias who also belonged to the Chamar caste in Punjab but who were converted to the Sikh community, according to tradition, during the guruship of Ram Das". Kalsi notes that some Chamars claim to have been Julahas but then reverted to be Chamar. "We are all Chamars (landless labourers and leather workers) - some families chose to take up weaving, they were known as Julahas. My ancestors were weavers, but they reverted to shoe-making during the war. We have common "gots" and our houses are located on one side of the villages."