The term "Khalasi" for helpers, especially in indian Railways, has its roots in the Arabic language. The Arabic word "Khala" has various meanings, including space, sky, empty space, void, heaven, emptiness, etc. From "Khala," the word "Khali" is derived, which means to make empty or, in a philosophical sense, zero. "Khalas" is then formed from "Khali," and "Khalasi" is derived from "Khalas."
Historically, in the Middle Ages, individuals were appointed to unload the ships of Arab merchants and assist with various tasks related to ships. These individuals were known as "Khalasi." Their duties included unloading goods from ships, launching ships into the sea, and performing repairs.
In the context of ships, there were typically three types of individuals on board. The "Muallim" was responsible for navigation and showing the way forward. The "Al Askar" was the sailor or boat driver. The third person was the "Khalasi," who handled tasks related to unloading and ship maintenance.
While the term "Khalasi" was commonly used in railways for helpers, the term "helper" is now more commonly used in its place. The word "Khalasi" is used in various languages, including Gujarati and Hindi, and in English, people often use the term "helper" to refer to individuals assisting with various tasks.
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