Teli is a caste traditionally occupied in the pressing of oil in India, Nepal and Pakistan. Members may be either Hindu or Muslim; Muslim Teli are called Roshandaar or Teli Malik.[clarification needed][1]
The Jewish community of Maharashtra (called Bene Israel) was also known to be a sub-group in the Teli case called Shanivar Teli meaning Saturday oil pressers for their Jewish custom of abstention from work on Shabbat.
The Teli are sometimes considered to belong to the Vaishya (merchant) varna in Hinduism.[2] Other sources, however, classify them with the ritually lower-ranked Shudra (cultivators),[3][page needed][4][page needed][5] while others note that the Teli have attempted to avoid lower-classed activities and associations in an attempt to identify themselves as Vaishya.[6]
In Bengal, the Teli would be reckoned as Vaishya, along with other traders and bankers such as the Suvarnabanik, Gandhabanik, Saha[disambiguation needed], had not the Vaishya varna disappeared there.[7][page needed]
In Rajasthan, the Teli claim Kshatriya (warrior) status, though their neighbors recognise them as Vaishya.[8]
The Bene Israel of Maharashtra were nicknamed the Shanivar Teli ("Saturday oil-pressers") by the local population as they abstained from work on Saturdays which is Judaism's Shabbat.[9][10]
The Ghanchi community of Gujarat have been described as a "counterpart" of the Telis.[11]
According to 1931 caste census, Teli had a population of 12.10 lakh which was second to Ahir or Yadav.[12] In May 2009,there was a bid to include Teli in Extremely backward caste(EBC) i.e in Annexure-I in Bihar,but the idea was dropped and Teli caste was kept in the original Annexure II list meant for backward castes.There was opposition from some EBC communities that Teli caste has same influential socio-economic and educational status like upper OBCs (Yadavs, Kurmis, etc.)[13]