Punjab’s dalit conundrum: A look into Sikhs' caste identity

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(Left-right) Charanjit Singh Channi, Giani Harpreet Singh an ..
 

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JALANDHAR: Well before Punjab could have a dalit Sikh chief minister, considered a tectonic change in politics of the state, the Sikhs coming from so-called lower caste backgrounds led two highest Sikh institutions – Akal Takht and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee.
Giani Harpreet Singh, the jathedar of Akal Takht, highest temporal seat of Sikhs, comes from Scheduled Caste background and SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur from Backward Class background. Bibi Jagir Kaur, who is heading SGPC for the third time now, became the first woman president of SGPC in 1999, coinciding with the tercentenary of the foundation of Khalsa.

Incidentally, Leader of Opposition in Punjab, Aam Aadmi Party’s Harpal Singh Cheema is also an SC Sikh.
Even before current incumbents of Akal Takht and SGPC, Sikhs from so-called lower caste backgrounds headed both the institutions and also served at Darbar Sahib, the central shrine of Sikhs, and scores of other historic gurdwaras. 

Bhai Ranjit Singh comes from
the Ramgarhia community, which is also classified BC.
Former SGPC chief Prof. Kirpal Singh Badungar also came
from BC background. There have been other jathedars,
granthis (scripture readers), ragis (hymn singers), preachers
and DhaAds (ballad singers), hazoori ragis at Darbar Sahib
from so-called lower caste backgrounds. In fact, this has
already been so normalised that it needs a lot of effort to
trace caste roots of former or serving jathedars, head
granthis, granthis, ragis, etc. In the case of current Akal Takht
jathedar too, when TOI reported first about his caste
background two months back, it needed a lot of inquiries for
confirmation, as a usual reply in SGPC circles would be
‘nobody has ever discussed or bothered’ and even  from
those close to him in religious or community affairs. His
father was also a granthi.

Darbar Sahib Hazoori Ragi and Padma Shri awardee, Bhai
Nirmal Singh, whose death due to Covid-19 last year was
grieved by the community across the globe, came from
Mazhabi Sikh background. Mazhabi Sikhs come from the
lowest step of the caste ladder. He was trained at SGPC run
missionary college in Amritsar. There have been scores of
Mazhabi and Ramdasia/Ravidasia Sikhs, who are serving as
granthis, ragis, preachers, and DhaAds in gurdwaras in
towns and villages across the state. Some already enjoy
much respect in the Sikh community.

When asked about his caste background, his journey in Sikh
religious affairs, and elevation to the top post, Giani Harpreet
Singh had told TOI over two months back, “It has never
mattered for me or those around me. Throughout my only
identity have been of a Sikh and only my dedication to
Gurus’ philosophy and cause has been mattering for those
around me.”
“I stood first in the three-year course from Guru Kashi
Gurmat Institute Talwandi Sabo in 1997 and SGPC officials themselves called me for appointment as parcharak
(preacher). I was later appointed head granthi and Katha
Vachak two years later and was then appointed jathedar of
Takht Damdama Sahib in May 2017. I have always been
saying that Sikh religion provides equal recognition for all,”
he told TOI. He was appointed acting jathedar of Akal Takht
in October 2018.
Punjab had a BC Sikh as CM 49 years back
Giani Zail Singh, who later became the first Sikh President of
India, belonged to the Ramgarhia community, classified as He became the CM of Punjab in 1972 and
completed his full term till 1977. He got the prefix ‘Giani’ as
he had trained at SGPC-run Shaheed Sikh Missionary
College, Amritsar, and had also worked as a Sikh preacher
later.
SC population in Punjab and SCs among Sikhs
When many from outside Punjab are wondering if
Scheduled Castes exist among Sikhs, analysis of the 2011

Census data shows that SCs make one-third of the total Sikh
population in Punjab and there are more SC Sikhs than SC
Hindus in the state. Among them, highest population is that
of the Mazhabi Sikhs.
How does SC identity exist among Sikhs?
Explaining the reason for Scheduled Caste identity existing
among Sikhs even as Sikhism does not believe in caste as
the Gurus preached, former IAS officer and noted Sikh
author Gurtej Singh says there is no place of caste
stratification in Sikhism but Sikh leader Master Tara Singh
got certain castes among the Sikhs included in the
Scheduled Caste list in the 1950s, a few years after the
promulgation of the Constitution, as those who had joined
the Sikh-fold from the ‘lower castes’ were still largely
economically-deprived and deserved the benefit of
reservation for economic upliftment. “Otherwise, granthis,
ragis coming from SC backgrounds is the biggest
recognition not only of their religious and social
emancipation but also of complete reversal of castedisabilities,”
he adds.
Earlier Sikh SCs were denied reservation
“The Sikhs coming from ‘lower caste’ backgrounds were
refused reservation originally in the Constitution even as
Sikh representatives of Akali Dal in the Constituent Assembly
had pressed for it as home minister Patel had strongly
opposed it in the Constituent Assembly. After making other
efforts, Master Tara Singh wrote to the President of India on
April 4, 1953, on the issue. Finally, he threatened agitation at
Delhi and left with a Jatha from Anandpur Sahib on October
1, 1953. He and other Sikh activists were on the way when
Prime Minister Nehru intervened and four castes – Mazhabis,
Ramdasias, Kabir Panthis (Julahas) and Sikligars were
included in the SC list for reservation,” says Tarlochan Singh,
INDIA

former Rajya Sabha member and chairman of NationalCommission for Minorities, who also authored an article onthis subject.
Ramdasia Sikhs – got their name from the fourth SikhGuru
Memorandum on Sikhs by Captain B T Crowther, 23rdPioneers, District Recruiting Officer, Sikh District, publishedin 1894, reveals: “The Ramdasia was originally a C*** , orworker in leather, but nowadays he has, for the most part,abandoned the leather and taken to the loom. He isfrequently a Sikh, his name is said to have been taken fromGuru Ramdas. He is mostly found in the Doaba and isenlisted in small numbers in our Muzbee (Mazhabi)regiment, where he has proved himself a good soldier”.
Inquiries from the ground suggest that the ‘Ramdasia Sikh’term is used both by those coming from working in weavingand leather background while ‘Ravidasia Sikh’ or ‘Ravidasia’alone is used by those whose forefathers were working inleather. Both the words are also used inter-changeably whilethese also have regional context. In Puadh and Malwa,largely Ramdasia is used while Ravidasia is predominantlyused in Doaba.
Mazhabi Sikhs make the largest component of SCs amongSikhs
Mazhabi Sikhs come from the lowest step of the casteladder. They share their caste background with ati-shudraBalmikis. Originally called Raghretas in Sikh literature, tenthSikh Master Guru Gobind Singh gave them a place of pride(Ranghreta Guru Ka Beta – Ranghreta is the son of theGuru). It was a Ranghreta, Bhai Jaita, later Bhai Jiwan Singh,who, after ninth Sikh Master Guru Teg Bahadar’s executionduring Aurangzeb’s rule, brought his severed head fromDelhi to Guru Gobind Singh (then Gobind Rai) at AnandpurSahib and was called ‘Guru ka beta’. He remained thebiggest icon of Ranghretas aka Mazhabi Sikhs.
They make the biggest component of SC Sikhs and alsoamong all the SCs with a 25.62 lakh headcount in the 2011Census. In addition, 2.07 lakh (24%) among those whomentioned their caste as Balmiki also identified themselvesas Sikhs. The Sikhs who faced eviction from a colony inMeghalaya a few years back and behind whom larger Sikhcommunity and Sikh institutions put their weight, are alsoRanghretas or Mazhabi Sikhs. Memorandum on Sikhs byCaptain B T Crowther mentions, “Maharaja Ranjit Singh hada great admiration for their bravery and enlisted themfreely.”
Hindu Scheduled Castes in Punjab
While the Hindu population is 38.4% in Punjab, among themalso SCs make close to one-third of their population at 12.4%.The two largest communities whose members identifythemselves as Hindus are Ad-dharmis/Ravidassia and
 Since last year sections of Ad-dharmis/Ravidassiahave been demanding that they should get a separatereligion column as they don’t want to identify themselves asHindus. However, there are differences among them overthe two names – Ad-dharmi and Ravidassia - while makingthis demand. Both names are actually caste names in the SClist and census data. Balmikis have largely stayed withCongress so far and now SAD has been trying to make somebase among them, Ad-dharmi/Ravidassia (especially thosewho had Hindu identity) were originally with Congress, thenBSP got a major section of them and now Akali Dal has alsomade some base among them. Ramdasia Sikhs remainedwith Akali Dal. However, both the biggest SC communitieshave remained averse to Hindutva politics and BJP has notyet been able to make much of a base among them even asit has been working on them since 2014. Former Punjab BJPpresident and former MoS Vijay Sampla, how now headsNational Commission for Scheduled Castes, and Unionminister Som Parkash Kainth – come from the Ad-dharmicommunity. Despite such elevations, they have remainedBJP SC leaders but have not become leaders of SCs inPunjab.
BSP - How caste and religious identities decide politics inPunjab
They may have the largest population but SCs in Punjab arenot a monolith, they have remained divided socially as wellas politically.
The two largest Scheduled Caste communities – MazhabiSikh/Balmiki and Ravidassia/Ad-dharmi – have beencompeting with each other in political space.
This can be best understood from the example of BSP, thefirst party of SCs which wanted BCs also in its board – asboth are called Bahujans. Its founder Kanshi Ram belongedto Punjab and incidentally came from the same region –Puadh – from where the new Punjab CM comes from andalso from a similar caste background. He made greatattempts to unite them under Dalit identity and after himalso BSP leaders attempted social engineering but not onlysmaller SC communities but the biggest SC community -Mazhabi/Balmikis also largely stayed away from it. It haslargely remained party of one caste Ad-dharmi/Ravidassia,something similar to UP where in the last few years BSP hasbecome the party of Jatavs.
While Channi can be a positive factor in Ravidasia/ Ad-dharmi community but how this factor would work amongMazhabi Sikhs, who are the biggest community amongScheduled Castes in Punjab, is yet to be seen and oppositionparties can also attempt to work on them.
Balmikis, who are largely urban-based and have Hinduidentity, have largely remained with Congress while Akali Dalhas managed to make some inroads among them. Mazhabi
 

 

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