{{Short description|Indian religion}}{{pp-extended|small=yes}} {{Distinguish|Ramdasia|text=Ramdasias, also known as Ravidasias, a caste}} {{Infobox religion | name = Ravidassia | native_name = {{nobold|ਰਬਿਦਾਸੀ}} | native_name_lang = pa | image = Sri Guru Ravidass Dham, Bootamandi Jallandhar.jpg | imagewidth = 250px | caption = Sri Guru Ravidass Dham in Bootan Mandi, Jalandhar | main_classification = Indian religion | scripture = Amritbani Guru Ravidass Ji | theology = Monotheism | governance = | area = Indian subcontinent | language = Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu | headquarters = | founder = | founded_date = | founded_place = Punjab | separated_from = Sikhism | separations = | number_of_followers = | logo = 20px Nishaan }} {{Ravidasi}} '''Ravidassia''' or the '''Ravidas Panth'''<ref name="JacobsenMyrvold2011"/> is a religion based on the teachings of Guru Ravidas. It was considered a sect within Sikhism until 2009.<ref>{{cite book|author=Jan Gonda|year=1970|title=Visnuism and Sivaism: A Comparison|publisher=Bloomsbury Academic|isbn=978-1-4742-8080-8}}</ref><ref name=paramjitjudge181/><ref name="cnn12">{{cite news |date=2010-02-03 |title=India's 'untouchables' declare own religion |work=CNN |url=http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/02/03/india.new.religion/index.html}}</ref><ref name="JacobsenMyrvold2011"/> The new religion was officially announced on 29 January 2010 by the Dera Sachkhand Ballan.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |title=Gurus and Media: Sound, image, machine, text and the digital |date=Sep 25, 2023 |publisher=UCL Press |isbn=9781800085541 |pages=224–225}}</ref> Its scripture is the ''Amritbani Satguru Ravidas Maharaj Ji''.<ref name=":0" /> However, some Ravidassias continue to maintain mainstream Sikh religious practices, including the reverence of the Guru Granth Sahib as their focal religious text, wearing Sikh articles of faith (5Ks), and appending Singh or Kaur to their names.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What California's Ravidassia community believes and why they want caste bias outlawed {{!}} CityNews Toronto |url=https://toronto.citynews.ca/2023/05/29/what-californias-ravidassia-community-believes-and-why-they-want-caste-bias-outlawed/ |access-date=2024-01-06 |website=toronto.citynews.ca|date=29 May 2023 }}</ref>
Historically, Ravidassia represented a range of beliefs in the Indian subcontinent, with some devotees of Ravidass counting themselves as Ravidassia, but first formed in the early 20th century in colonial British India.<ref name=paramjitjudge181>Paramjit Judge (2014), Mapping Social Exclusion in India: Caste, Religion and Borderlands, Cambridge University Press, {{ISBN|978-1107056091}}, pages 179-182</ref> The Ravidassia tradition began to take on more cohesion following 1947, and the establishment of successful Ravidassia tradition in the diaspora.<ref name="Parsons1993">{{cite book|author=Gerald Parsons|title=The Growth of Religious Diversity: Traditions|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tlKkZoNPi0oC&pg=PA227|access-date=10 April 2012|year=1993|publisher=Psychology Press|isbn=978-0-415-08326-3|pages=227–}}</ref> Estimates range between two and five million for the total number of Ravidassias.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-07-19|title=Census 2021: Two Ravidassia factions want recognition as different religions|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/census-2021-two-ravidassia-factions-want-recognition-as-different-religions-6513000/|access-date=2020-08-15|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=forefeurope|date=2019-09-12|title=The 'Untouchables' In Europe – 10 Years After the Murder of Their Saint|url=https://foref-europe.org/blog/2019/09/12/the-untouchables-in-europe-10-years-ago-their-guru-was-murdered-in-vienna/|access-date=2020-08-15|website=Foref Europe|language=en-US}}</ref>
Ravidassias Sikhs believe that Ravidas is their Guru (saint) whereas the Khalsa Sikhs have traditionally regard him as one of many ''bhagats'' (holy persons), a position considered lower than that of a Guru in Sikhism.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.global.ucsb.edu/punjab/journal/v16_1/articles/RonkiRam16_1.pdf |title=Ravidass, Dera Sachkhand Ballan and the Question of Dalit Identity in Punjab |publisher=Panjab University, Chandigarh |author=Ronki Ram |access-date=2013-12-05 |archive-date=2016-03-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304025335/http://www.global.ucsb.edu/punjab/journal/v16_1/articles/RonkiRam16_1.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> Furthermore, Ravidassias Sikhs accept living ''sants'' of Ravidass deras as ''Guru.''<ref name="ravidassiareligion1">{{cite journal |url=http://www.global.ucsb.edu/punjab/journal/v16_1/articles/RonkiRam16_1.pdf |journal=Journal of Punjab Studies |year=2009 |volume=16 |issue=1 |title=Ravidass, Dera Sachkhand Ballan and the Question of Dalit Identity in Punjab |publisher=Panjab University, Chandigarh |author=Ronki Ram |access-date=2013-12-05 |archive-date=2016-03-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304025335/http://www.global.ucsb.edu/punjab/journal/v16_1/articles/RonkiRam16_1.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Ravidassia religion was significantly emerged as a distinct faith following the 2009 assassination attack on their visiting living Guru Niranjan Dass and his deputy Ramanand Dass in Vienna by Sikh militants.<ref name="JacobsenMyrvold2011"/><ref name=fl2009/> Ramanand Dass died from the attack, Niranjan Dass survived his injuries, while over a dozen attendees at the temple were also injured.<ref name=fl2009>[https://frontline.thehindu.com/static/html/fl2612/stories/20090619261203300.htm Inflamed passions] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191204092906/https://frontline.thehindu.com/static/html/fl2612/stories/20090619261203300.htm |date=2019-12-04 }}, Ajoy A Mahaprashasta (2009), Frontline (The Hindu), Volume 26, Issue 12, Quote: "The riots were sparked off by an attack on Sant Niranjan Dass, the head of the Jalandhar-based Dera Sachkhand, and his deputy Rama Nand on May 24 at the Shri Guru Ravidass Gurdwara in Vienna where they had gone to attend a religious function. A group of Sikhs militants armed with firearms and swords attacked them at the gurdwara, injuring both; Rama Nand later died. The Austrian police said the attack that left some 15 others injured “had clearly been planned”."</ref> This triggered a decisive break of the Ravidassia group from the orthodox Sikh structure.<ref name="ravidassiareligion1"/><ref name="JacobsenMyrvold2011">{{cite book|author1=Knut A. Jacobsen|author2=Kristina Myrvold|title=Sikhs in Europe: Migration, Identities and Representations|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y3v3t9bjPAcC&pg=PA290|access-date=10 April 2012|date=1 November 2011|publisher=Ashgate Publishing|isbn=978-1-4094-2434-5|pages=289–291}}</ref>
Prior to their break from Khalsa Sikhism, the Dera Bhallan revered and recited the Guru Granth Sahib of Sikhism in Dera Bhallan.<ref name="toinewreligion20102">{{cite news |date=2010-02-01 |title=Punjab sect declares new religion |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Punjab-sect-declares-new-religion/articleshow/5521656.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811033035/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-02-01/india/28118439_1_dera-head-dera-sachkhand-ballan-sant-ramanand |archive-date=2011-08-11}}</ref> However, following their schism from mainstream Sikhism, the Dera Bhallan compiled their own holy book based exclusively on Ravidas's teachings, the ''Amritbani Guru Ravidass Ji'', and Dera Bhallan Ravidassia temples now use this book in place of the Guru Granth Sahib.<ref name="toinewreligion20102" /><ref name="cnn12"/><ref>{{cite web |title=New Punjab sect lays down code | Original Story | Taaza News |url=http://news.taaza.com/source/218739-new-punjab-sect-lays-down-code.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425133316/http://news.taaza.com/source/218739-new-punjab-sect-lays-down-code.html |archive-date=2012-04-25 |access-date=2011-12-03}}</ref>
==History==
=== Basis === {{Main|Ravidas}}
thumb|Idol of Ravidas from the sanctum of the Guru Ravidas Temple, Raj Ghat, Varanasi Ravidas was born on 15 January 1377 CE (Indian calendar Sunday Sukhal Falgin Parvithta 1433) to the Chamar community.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Lochtefeld|first1=James G.|title=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: N-Z|year=2002|publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group|isbn=9780823931804|url=https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc0000loch|url-access=registration|page=[https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc0000loch/page/512 512]|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Ravidas {{!}} Indian mystic and poet|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ravidas|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|date=20 December 2023 |language=en}}</ref> His birthplace was a locality known as Seer Govardhan in the city of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh state, India. The birthplace is now marked by the Shri Guru Ravidass Janam Asthan (Begampura), and is a major place of pilgrimage for the followers of Guru Ravidas today.<!-- UNCITED Guru Ravidass was also the Guru of the Vaishnava devotee Mira Bai. --> Ravidassias Sikhs believe that Ravidas died in Benares at the age of 151.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/amid-tight-security-dera-ballan-head-follo/750310/ |title=Amid tight security, Dera Ballan head, followers head for Varanasi |publisher=Indian Express |date=2011-02-16 |access-date=2012-07-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sikhnet.com/news/ravidass-followers-declare-separate-religion-release-separate-granth |title=Ravidass followers declare separate religion, release separate granth |publisher=SikhNet |date=2010-02-01 |access-date=2012-07-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/states/ravidassia-community-part-of-sikh-faith-sgpc_601649.html |title=Ravidassia community part of Sikh faith: SGPC |publisher=Zeenews.india.com |date=2010-02-04 |access-date=2012-07-17}}</ref>
=== Precursory movements === There existed a diversity of Ravidasi-affiliated ''panths'' and ''deras'' that were loosely affiliated with one another, headed by ''sants'' who had Chamar-origins, such as the Satnamis (Sadh and Satnampanth) that had been established by Bir Bhan (in 1657 in eastern Punjab), Jagjivan Das (in the 18th century in Barabanki district, near Lucknow), and Ghasidas (in 1820 in Chhattisgarh).<ref name=":02">{{Cite book |last=Duggal |first=Koonal |title=Dalit Journeys for Dignity: Religion, Freedom, and Caste |date=Apr 1, 2025 |publisher=State University of New York Press |isbn=9798855802634 |editor-last=Rawat |editor-first=Ramnarayan S. |chapter=Between Blasphemy and Martyrdom: The Formation of the Ravidassia Religion in Punjab |editor-last2=Satyanarayana |editor-first2=K. |editor-last3=Mohan |editor-first3=P. Sanal}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Duignan |first=Brian |last2=Stefon |first2=Matt |last3=Doniger |first3=Wendy |last4=Lotha |first4=Gloria |date=Apr 26, 2021 |title=Satnami sect |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Satnami-sect |access-date=22 December 2025 |website=Britannica}}</ref> These early movements had connections with Kabir Panth.<ref name=":1" />
In 1920–25, the Ad-Dharmi movement arose, which consolidated a separate religious identity centered on Ravidas.<ref name=":02" /> Around the same time, the Singh Sabha movement of Sikhism was well-underway, which also was consolidating for a separate, Sikh identity apart from Hinduism.<ref name=":02" /> Prominent leaders and thinkers of both movements had been educated in Arya Samajist institutions, thus they both adopted an Arya Samaj-approach to push for their separate identities, combined with a Judeo-Christian understanding of religion due to Christian missionary and British colonial influence (i.e., a central scripture to base their religion around).<ref name=":02" /> Both the Ravidas-aligned movements and Singh Sabhaists revered the Guru Granth Sahib, the primary scripture of Sikhism.<ref name=":02" /> However, the Ravidasis celebrated the scripture primarily due to it containing the most notable and earliest-recorded compositions linked to Ravidas.<ref name=":02" /> Thus, Ravidasis placed their prime figure's ''bani'' on a higher level of importance than the bani found in the scripture authored by others.<ref name=":02" /> The Ad-Dharmis compiled a holy-book known as the ''Ad Prakash'' ("original light"), where-in they elevated the historical Ravidas as their central figure, thereby giving a traditional/spiritual basis to their modern religious movement, with Ravidas being imagined as a main "guru" and his poetry forming the basis of their beliefs.<ref name=":02" /> Despite this, the Sikh scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib, continued to be used by them in their sacred spaces.<ref name=":02" /> In 1946, the Ad-Dharmis took-on the new name: Ravi Dass Mandal.<ref name=":02" /> In 2003, there arose a caste-based conflict in Talhan village of Punjab over the management of a local shrine which involved Ad-Dharmis.<ref name=":02" />
Amongst the Ravidasi-affiliated deras, the Dera Sachkhand Ballan (D.S.B.) played a prominent missionary role, spreading the religious beliefs, including in the diaspora through the ''Mission Begumpura''.<ref name=":02" /> Mission Begumpura aimed to consolidate a central location of pilgrimage and worship for the religious community at Seer Gobardhanpur.<ref name=":02" /> The dera's second guru, Sant Sarwan Dass, had sponsored a mission to Varanasi to locate and establish a location to serve as the focal point of the Ravidassia community, to realize ''Begumpura'', with construction of a temple there beginning on 14 June 1965.<ref name=":02" /> Dalits had longed been excluded from Hindu temples and Sikh gurdwaras by higher castes, thus being shut-out from sacred spaces.<ref name=":02" /> Thus, the decision to build their own, central shrine was a mark of independence and upward-mobility, a place where Begumpura paradise could be realize, where-in all are accepted and none are excluded.<ref name=":02" /> In 2000, a special, annual, religious pilgrimage train called the ''Begumpura Express'' was inaugurated, which would take pilgrims from Jalandhar Cantonment to Varanasi on the occasion of Ravidas' birthday, which furthered promoted the conceptualization of Varanasi as being the central pilgrimage location of the religious movement, akin to Mecca for Muslims and Amritsar for Sikhs.<ref name=":02" /> There were calls for gilding of their central temple in Varanasi, a Golden Temple for them, just like how the Sikhs had their own, with the first phase of adding gold-plates to the shrine beginning in 2008.<ref name=":02" />
=== Foundation of a separate religious identity and split from mainstream Sikhism === Before the 2009 armed attack on Guru Ravidass Temple in Vienna, the majority of Ravidassias were followers of Sikhism. Mainstream Sikhs had long objected to the Ravidasi practice of maintaining the Guru Granth Sahib beside idols/images of Ravidas, alongside a living-guru (''dehdari''), with all three being placed on an equal-height platform.<ref name=":02" /> Normative Sikhs felt this was a violation of Sikh ''maryada'' by the heterodoxical Ravidassia, since the Guru Granth Sahib was viewed by orthodox Sikhs as the embodiment of their guru, thus were offended when persons bowed to an idol or living-guru in the scripture's presence.<ref name=":02" /> Furthermore, the dera was not in-line with the move toward a streamlined Sikh identity embodied by the Khalsa Panth.<ref name=":02" /> There were also other deras which had offended mainstream Sikh sensibilities due to alleged blasphemy and misconduct centred on issues and disagreements related to iconography, scripture, and ritual, such as Dera Sacha Sauda and Dera Bhaniarawala.<ref name=":02" /> In 2001, Dera Bhaniarawala attempted to compile their own ''granth'', with mainstream Sikhs feeling as it attempted to emulate the Guru Granth Sahib.<ref name=":02" /> Furthermore, the dera-leader rode a horse in a similar manner that Guru Gobind Singh is portrayed as, which further fuelled tensions between the two groups.<ref name=":02" /> In 2007, the Dera Sacha Sauda leader, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, offended Sikhs by dressing-up in a costume emulating that of Guru Gobind Singh and introducing a baptismal ceremony known as ''Jām-e-Insān'', which copied the Sikh practice of ''Amrit Sanchar''.<ref name=":02" /> These controversies led to protests against and deaths between Sikhs and followers of the deras.<ref name=":02" />
On May 24, 2009, six shooters attacked Sant Ramanand and Sant Niranjan Das in the mentioned shrine. All six attackers were asylum seekers living in Austria and have been identified as Satwinder Singh (28), Jaspal Singh (34), Tasum Singh (45), and Sukhwinder Singh (28). The other two attackers, Hardeep Singh (33) and Charnjit Singh (24), entered Austria illegally.<ref>{{cite news |date=June 6, 2009 |title=Vienna gurdwara attack: Detained suspect released |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/crime/vienna-gurdwara-attack-detained-suspect-released/ |access-date=14 January 2024 |work=Agencies |publisher=Indian Express}}</ref> In this terrorist attack, Sant Ramanand, 57, was shot dead and more than a dozen others wounded, including another preacher. This attack led to violent protests in the state of Punjab in India and peaceful protest in London.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Marshall |first1=Peter |title=Sikhs March in London against Caste Discrimination |url=https://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/06/432315.html |access-date=14 January 2024 |publisher=Indymedia UK}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Marshall |first1=Peter |title=Ravidassia March in London against Caste Discrimination by Sikhs after assassination of Sant Ramanand at Vienna temple |url=https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-ravidassia-march-in-london-against-caste-discrimination-by-sikhs-after-27936105.html |access-date=14 January 2024 |publisher=alamy}}</ref> Later, the Austrian court sentenced Jaspal Singh, 35, to life in prison for murder, and the other four terrorists received 17 to 18 year prison sentences. The sixth terrorist got six months in prison for attempted coercion.<ref>{{cite news |date=September 28, 2010 |title=Six men jailed over Austrian temple attack |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-11425997 |access-date=14 January 2024 |publisher=BBC}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=SIX SIKHS SENTENCED TO PRISON IN VIENNA RAMANAND TRIAL |url=https://www.panthic.org/articles/5296 |access-date=14 January 2024 |issue=September 28, 2010}}</ref> The funeral of Ramanand was held in June 2009 and attended by many prominent politicians from across Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.<ref name=":02" /> In the aftermath of the attack, the Chamar/Ravidassia community protested both in India and abroad.<ref name=":02" /> While protests abroad were peaceful, in Jalandhar and other parts of Punjab they became violent, with vandalism occurring, involving clashes with police.<ref name=":02" /> Four protests were killed, who would later be memorialized as martyrs (''shahadat'', known as ''Ravidassia Qaum da Shaheed'') of the Ravidassia movement.<ref name=":02" /> The deaths of the four protesters and of Ramanand was commemorated on 13 June 2009, in an event known as ''Shradhanjali Samagam'' by the Dera Sachkhand Ballan.<ref name=":02" />[[File:RavidasiBedford1.JPG|thumb|Procession of Ravidassias in Bedford]]On the occasion of the 633rd birth anniversary of Ravidass in 2010, Dera Sachkahnd Ballan announced a new religion called Ravidassia. Dera also announced that the community would have its own separate religious book called ''Amritbani Satguru Ravidas Maharaj Ji'', a separate symbol 'Har' and a separate motto, 'Jai Gurudev'. The move triggered debate among the religious, social, and political circles of Punjab, and Shiromani Akali Dal and the SGPC tried to convince Dera Ballan Head Sant Niranjan Dass to reverse the decision. Akal Takhat also took an unprecedented step and organised Akand Path in the memory of murdered Sant Ramanand. SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar visited Dera Ballan to meet Sant Niranjan Dass, but he was not allowed to meet him.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Singh |first1=IP |date=Feb 1, 2010 |title=Punjab sect declares new religion |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/punjab-sect-declares-new-religion/articleshow/5521656.cms?from=mdr |access-date=14 January 2024 |publisher=TOI}}</ref>
==Beliefs== Ravidas taught the following principles:<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-04-16 |title="मन चंगा तो कठोती में गंगा", जानिए संत रविदास ने क्यों कही ये उक्ति और क्या है इसका वास्तविक मतलब |url=https://www.jansatta.com/religion/man-changa-to-kathoti-mein-ganga-know-why-saint-ravidas-has-said-and-what-the-real-meaning-of-this/982115/ |access-date=2024-01-10 |website=Jansatta |language=hi}}</ref> * The oneness, omnipresence and omnipotence of God. * Man changa to kathoti me Ganga{{Efn|A loose translation of "Man changa to kathoti me Ganga" is : ''If the mind is pure, even a bowl of water is as sacred as the Ganges''. It is also sometimes interpreted more broadly as ''To the pure, everything is pure''.}}<ref>{{cite web | last=Madhopuri | first=Balbir | title=Building Begumpura | website=The Indian Express | date=8 September 2019 | url=https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/guru-ravidas-poems-punjabi-begumpura-society-5975930/ | access-date=11 June 2025|quote=..His people-friendly verses like Man changa to kathoti vich Ganga (If the mind is pure, then Ganga flows in the small earthen pot) is part of lexicon.}}</ref> * The human soul is a particle of God. * The rejection of the notion that God cannot be met by lower castes. * To realise God, which is the goal of human life, man should concentrate on God during all rituals of life. * The only way of meeting with God (moksha) is to free the mind from duality.
==Places of worship== [[File:The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi offering prayers at Shri Guru Ravidas Janmsthan Mandir, Seer Goverdhanpur, in Varanasi on February 22, 2016 (1).jpg|thumb|The Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in the sanctum of Shri Guru Ravidas Janmsthan Mandir in Varanasi.]]
thumb|Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at Guru Ravidass Temple, Vancouver
A Ravidassia place of worship is called a ''dera'', ''sabha'', ''mandir'', ''gurudwara'', or ''bhawan'', sometimes translated as ''temple''.<ref>http://www.gururavidas.org.uk/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180330084826/http://gururavidas.org.uk/ |date=2018-03-30 }} point 15: # To address our place of worship as Ravidassia Temple’ all the time and for all the purposes.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=List of Ravidassia's temple in the World|url=https://www.ravidassguru.com/|access-date=2020-08-12|website=www.ravidassguru.com}}</ref>
Outside the sabha there is always a flag upon which is written the Nishaan, and above it the "Harr" symbol which symbolising enlightenment from Guru Ravidas' teachings. But Guru Ravidass Sabhas in Derby, Walsall, Gravesend, Montreal and Papakura are exceptions, as these Sabhas' official title boards display Ek Onkar and Khanda emblems alongside Harr. The title boards of these sabhas clearly mark the buildings as both Sikh Gurdwaras and Ravidass Temples.<ref name="Singh Fenech 2014 p. 357">{{cite book | last1=Singh | first1=P. | last2=Fenech | first2=L.E. | title=The Oxford Handbook of Sikh Studies | publisher=OUP Oxford | series=Oxford Handbooks in Religion and Theology | year=2014 | isbn=978-0-19-969930-8 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8I0NAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA357 | access-date=2022-09-13 | page=357}}</ref> Moreover, Derby Sabha's display board mentions it as a Sikh temple.<ref name="Singh Fenech 2014 p. 358">{{cite book | last1=Singh | first1=P. | last2=Fenech | first2=L.E. | title=The Oxford Handbook of Sikh Studies | publisher=OUP Oxford | series=Oxford Handbooks in Religion and Theology | year=2014 | isbn=978-0-19-969930-8 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8I0NAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA358 | access-date=2022-09-13 | page=358}}</ref>
==Scriptures== Ravidassia places of worship contain the holy book ''Amritbani Guru Ravidass Ji'' which contains all the hymns by Guru Ravidas. This book contains the following hymns: Raga – Siri (1), Gauri (5), Asa (6), Gujari (1), Sorath (7), Dhanasari (3), Jaitsari (1), Suhi (3), Bilaval (2), Gaund (2), Ramkali (1), Maru (2), Kedara (1), Bhairau (1), Basant (1), and Malhar (3). The book contains 140 shabads, 40 pade, and 231 salok.<ref name="derasachkhandballan.com">{{Cite web|title=JaiGurdev. Ravidassia Religion, Dera Sach Khand Ballan, jalandhar punjab india|url=http://derasachkhandballan.com/ravidassia-dharam.php|access-date=2020-08-12|website=derasachkhandballan.com}}</ref> There are 177 pages in all of the book.
A version of the holy book ''Amrit Bani'' containing 240 hymns of Guru Ravidas was installed at the Guru Ravidas temple in Jalandhar, Punjab, on 1 February 2012 on the occasion of birth anniversary of Guru Ravidass. The Dera Sach Khand Ballan religious community had announced the formation of the new Ravidassia religion and separation from Sikhism at Varanasi. The split from Sikhism was triggered after the killing of its deputy head Ramanand Dass in May 2009 at a temple in Vienna by some Sikh radicals. President of newly formed Begumpura Lok Party and a supporter of the new religion, Satish Bharti, said that the copies of the new Bani were put on display during the religious processions in order to assert that the community members are firm believers of the new religion.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://jagopunjabjagoindia.com/no-guru-granth-sahib-but-amrit-bani-adorned-at-ravidas-sobha-yatra-3292 |title=Punjab News - No 'Guru Granth Sahib' but 'Amrit Bani' adorned at Ravidas Sobha Yatra |publisher=Jagopunjabjagoindia.com |date=2010-01-30 |access-date=2012-07-17 |archive-date=2023-04-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425150920/http://jagopunjabjagoindia.com/no-guru-granth-sahib-but-amrit-bani-adorned-at-ravidas-sobha-yatra-3292 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/ravidassias-assert-identity-display-new-granth-in-shobha-yatras/908944/0 |title=Ravidassias assert identity, display new Granth in shobha yatras |publisher=Indian Express |date=2012-02-07 |access-date=2012-07-17}}</ref> <!-- DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE SUPPORTED BY REFS, NEED TO DOUBLE-CHECK THESE FOR CITING In Doaba region – comprising Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala and Nawanshahr – more than than 45 per cent population belong to Dalit community, a majority of whom are now following the Ravidassia religion. -->
==Ravidassia in the UK census==
In the United Kingdom, during the 2011 census, the Office for National Statistics counted Ravidassia as a separate religion from Sikhism. There were 11058 individuals<ref name="White 2012">{{cite web | last=White | first=Emma | title=Religion in England and Wales 2011 | website=Office for National Statistics | date=2012-12-11 | url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/culturalidentity/religion/articles/religioninenglandandwales2011/2012-12-11 | access-date=2022-09-13}}</ref><ref name="brin.ac.uk 2012">{{cite web | title=Census 2011 – Any other religion? - | website=brin.ac.uk | date=2012-12-16 | url=http://www.brin.ac.uk/census-2011-any-other-religion | access-date=2022-09-13}}</ref> who described themselves as Ravidassia in the census. Data shows that around 10% of members of Ravidassias community cited their religion as ’Ravidassia’ – empathically distinct from Sikhs and Hindus. During the census, not even a single Guru Ravidass Gurdwara came into direct support of this separate identity, and till date, all Guru Ravidass Gurdwaras in Britain are practising Sikhism and they do pray and perform all rituals in the presence of Shri Guru Granth Sahib.<ref name="Singh Fenech 2014 p. 357"/>
Unlike the UK Office for National Statistics, the Indian government and its census department have not accepted the Ravidassias community as a religion. During the 2011 census, the Ravidassia community was counted alongside other groups such as Ramdasia Sikh and Jatav under the title of Chamar caste.<ref>{{Cite web| title=Punjab | url=https://socialjustice.gov.in/writereaddata/UploadFile/Scan-0015.jpg | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220623232819/https://socialjustice.gov.in/writereaddata/UploadFile/Scan-0015.jpg | archive-date=2022-06-23}}</ref><ref name="2011 census1">{{cite web |url=https://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/SCST-Series/SC14/SC-03-00-14-DDW-2011.XLS|format=XLS |publisher=The Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India |title=SC-14 Scheduled Caste Population By Religious Community (States/UTs) – Punjab |access-date=2021-06-27}}</ref>
==Mauritian Ravidassias== In Mauritius, for Ravidassias, a different terminology is in use called Ravived.<ref>{{cite journal | url=https://journals.openedition.org/samaj/3886 | doi=10.4000/samaj.3886 | title=The 'Land of the Vaish'? Caste Structure and Ideology in Mauritius | year=2015 | last1=Claveyrolas | first1=Mathieu | journal=South Asia Multidisciplinary Academic Journal | doi-access=free |issn=1960-6060 }}</ref> During the initial stage of migration in Mauritius, significant numbers of Chamar people joined the Arya Samaj in the hope that it would help them to be free from the curse of casteism, as it was claimed by the leaders of the Arya Samaj.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ERR6DQAAQBAJ&dq=arya+ravived+pracharini+sabha&pg=PT104 | isbn=9781351986830 | title=The Legacy of Indian Indenture: Historical and Contemporary Aspects of Migration and Diaspora | date=10 November 2016 | publisher=Routledge }}</ref> But later, Upper Caste Arya Samajis started building separate halls for themselves and Chamars for prayer within the same shrine to avoid Arya Samaj being labelled as a Chamar religion, which led to the establishment of Arya Ravived Pracharini Sabha in 1935.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2oI8DwAAQBAJ&dq=arya+ravived+pracharini+sabha&pg=PA40 | isbn=978-0-19-539164-0 | title=New Homelands: Hindu Communities in Mauritius, Guyana, Trinidad, South Africa, Fiji, and East Africa | year=2010 | publisher=Oxford University Press, USA }}</ref>
==Customs== The Ravidassia employ the greeting "ਜੈ ਗੁਰੂਦੇਵ" (''Jai Gurdev, जय गुरुदेव''), meaning “hail the god-like teacher”, the motto of the religion.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/religion-or-a-prayer-for-identity/574754 |title=Religion or a prayer for identity? |agency=Indian Express |access-date=2013-12-05 |date=2010-02-03 |author=Amrita Chaudhry |author-link=Amrita Chaudhry |location=Ludhiana}}</ref>
== Symbols == thumb|Nishan Sahib The Ravidassia religious symbol is the Khanda, Harr Nishaan and Ik Onkar. The Gurmukhi transliteration of the name Harr is the main symbol of the Ravidassia religion.<ref name="toinewreligion20102"/> It is also called as ''Koumi Nishan''.<ref name="ravidassiareligionsymbol">{{cite journal |url=http://www.global.ucsb.edu/punjab/journal/v16_1/articles/RonkiRam16_1.pdf |journal=Journal of Punjab Studies |year=2009 |volume=16 |issue=1 |title=Ravidass, Dera Sachkhand Ballan and the Question of Dalit Identity in Punjab |publisher=Panjab University, Chandigarh |author=Ronki Ram |page=20 |access-date=2013-04-23 |archive-date=2016-03-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304025335/http://www.global.ucsb.edu/punjab/journal/v16_1/articles/RonkiRam16_1.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>
The religion is also represented by a flag, with the insignia "Har" which, states Ronki Ram, includes:<ref name="ravidassiareligionsymbol"/> * A bigger circle with 40 rays of sunlight signifying forty hymns of Guru Ravidas; * Inside the big circle is a small circle, inside which is written "Har" in Gurmukhi language (ਹਰਿ) with a flame on top of it; * The flame represents the ''Naam'' (word) that would illuminate the entire world, and reaches the outer circle; * Between the two circles is written a couplet composed by Ravidas: ਨਾਮ ਤੇਰੇ ਕਿ ਜੋਤੀ ਲਗਾਈ, ਭੇਈਓ ਓ ਭਵਣ ਸਗਲਈ (''Naam tere kee jot lagayi, Bhaio Ujiaaro Bhawan saglaare'', "Your Name is the flame I light; it has illuminated the entire world")
The insignia Har, states Ram, represents the "very being of Ravidass and his teachings".<ref name="ravidassiareligionsymbol"/>
==Sects of Punjabi Chamar Community== "Ramdasia is a term used in general for Sikhs whose ancestors belonged Chamar caste. Originally they are followers of Guru Ravidass ji who belongs to Chamar community ".<ref name="Rajesh K. Chander">{{cite book |title=Combating Social Exclusion: Intersectionalities of Caste, Class, Gender and Regions |first=Rajesh K I. |last=Chander |publisher=Studera Press |year=2019 |isbn=978-93-85883-58-3|page=64 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8TvnDwAAQBAJ&dq=ramdasia+caste+in+jammu&pg=PA64}}</ref> Both the words Ramdasia and Ravidasia are also used interchangeably while these also have regional context. In Puadh and Malwa, largely Ramdasia in used while Ravidasia is predominantly used in Doaba.<ref name="toi">{{cite web|date=30 September 2021|title=Punjab's dalit conundrum: A look into Sikhs' caste identity|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/punjabs-dalit-conundrum-a-look-into-sikhs-caste-identity/articleshow/86607310.cms|work=The Times of India|accessdate=11 October 2021}}</ref>
Ramdasia Sikhs are enlisted as scheduled caste by Department of Social justice, Empowerment and Minorities- Government of Punjab. On Department's list of Scheduled Caste, this caste is listed on serial number 9 along with other Chamar caste synonymous such as Ravidasia, Ramdasia and so on.<ref>{{Cite web| title=Punjab | url=http://socialjustice.gov.in/writereaddata/UploadFile/Scan-0015.jpg | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220623232819/https://socialjustice.gov.in/writereaddata/UploadFile/Scan-0015.jpg | archive-date=2022-06-23}}</ref>
Ad-Dharmis of Chamar sect are followers of Guru Ravidas ,<ref name="Indian Express">{{cite web | title=Mention Ravidasia as religion: Dera Sachkhand to followers | website=Indian Express | url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/mention-ravidasia-as-religion-dera-sachkhand-to-followers/623842/ | accessdate=12 September 2022}}</ref> and incorporate elements of Sikhism<ref name="Google Books 2015">{{cite book | title=Like the other Sikh gurudwaras, Ad-Dharmis too keep the Guru Granth Sahib at their Ravidas Gurudwaras- Caste in Question | date=December 2, 2015 | isbn=9788132103455 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pviHAwAAQBAJ | accessdate= September 12, 2022| last1=Gupta | first1=Dipankar | publisher=SAGE Publications India }}</ref> as they regard Shri Guru Granth Sahib as their religious text.<ref name="Singh 2010">{{cite web | last=Singh | first=IP | title=Ravidassia leaders reject new religion | website=The Times of India | date=4 February 2010 | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Ravidassia-leaders-reject-new-religion/articleshow/5533100.cms | accessdate= September 12, 2022}}</ref>
==Festival==
right|thumb|Devotees at 635th Anniversary of Guru Ravidas at Sri Guru Ravidass Janamsthan Gurdwara, Varanasi The birthday of Ravidas is celebrated every year at the Seer Gowardhanpur village temple in Varanasi the state of Uttar Pradesh in January or February and the government of India has declared it a gazetted holiday.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/city-briefs-pgi-opds-to-be-closed-on-feb-7/908346/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130126032437/http://www.indianexpress.com/news/city-briefs-pgi-opds-to-be-closed-on-feb-7/908346/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 26, 2013 |title=City Briefs : PGI OPDs to be closed on Feb 7 |publisher=Indian Express |date=2012-02-06 |access-date=2012-07-17}}</ref> Other important festivals the Ravidasia community celebrates are Bandi Chhor Divas, Guru Gobind Singh's birthday and Guru Nanak's birthday.{{Need citation|date=January 2024}}
== Ravidasia diaspora ==
Ravidasia Sikh diaspora emigrated from India and Pakistan is significant. There are Ravidasia Sikh settlers in Europe, as well as a sizable Ravidasia Sikh population in North America, primarily in the United States and Canada. Mahiya Ram Mehmi and Mahey were the very first people who landed in British Columbia in 1906.<ref name="Iyengar 2022">{{cite web | last=Iyengar | first=Malathi | title=Punjabi, Sikh, and Dalit | website=South Asian American Digital Archive (SAADA) | date=2022-01-20 | url=https://www.saada.org/tides/article/punjabi-sikh-and-dalit | access-date=2022-09-14}}</ref> They were both also involved in the foundation of the first Canadian Gurdwara, the Khalsa Diwan Society, Vancouver. There is a sizeable population of Ravidasia Sikhs in Oceania too. Ravidassias from Doaba established the second gurdwara in the Oceania region in Nasinu on Fiji Island in 1939.<ref name="Kahlon 2016 p. 337">{{cite book | last=Kahlon | first=S.S. | title=Sikhs in Asia Pacific: Travels Among the Sikh Diaspora from Yangon to Kobe | publisher=Taylor & Francis | year=2016 | isbn=978-1-351-98741-7 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5TslDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA337 | access-date=2022-09-14 | page=337}}</ref> A Classical Study by W.H. Briggs in his book Punjabis in New Zealand, Briggs penned down the precise number of Ravidassias in New Zealand during the very first wave of immigration.<ref name="Google 2006">{{cite web | title=Punjabis in New Zealand: A History of Punjabi Migration, 1890-1940 | website=Google | date=2006-12-05 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NoMhAAAAMAAJ&q=punjabis%20in%20new%20zealand | access-date=2022-09-14 | last1=McLeod | first1=W. H. }}</ref>
Ravidassia community started immigrating from Punjab to Britain in 1950, and according to a book named 'Sikhs in Britain: An Annotated Bibliography' published in 1987, the population of the Ravidassia community in the West Midlands was around 30,000 during that period.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Tatla |first1=Darshan Singh |last2=Nesbitt |first2=Eleanor M |title=Sikhs in Britain An Annotated Bibliography |date=1987 |publisher=Centre for Research in Ethnic Relations, University of Warwick |isbn=9780948303067 |page=66 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rKPfAAAAMAAJ&q=Sikhs+in+Britain:+An+Annotated+Bibliography+ravidass |access-date=14 January 2024}}</ref> As of 2021, it is estimated that the Ravidasia population in Britain is around 70,000.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Kumar |first1=Pramod |title=The Idea of New India Essays in Defence of Critical Thought |date=2021 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=9781000485714 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y9s9EAAAQBAJ&dq=ravidasia+in+england&pg=PT164 |access-date=14 January 2024}}</ref>
In the United States, an estimated 20,000 Ravidassia followers live in California.<ref>{{cite news |date=29 May 2023 |title=What California's Ravidassia community believes and why they want caste bias outlawed |url=https://apnews.com/article/california-caste-discrimination-bill-ravidassia-sikh-explainer-b0383d1583670fc6cedfeebf6c943d25 |access-date=21 September 2024 |work=AP News |language=en}}</ref>
[[File:Gurdwara Guru Ravidass, Nasinu, Fiji.jpg|thumb|Gurdwara Guru Ravidass, Nasinu, Fiji Established in 1939]] thumb|Gurdwara Guru Ravidass Bhavan, Birmingham [[File:Gurdwara Guru Ravidass Sabha,Southall .jpg|thumb|Gurdwara Guru Ravidass Sabha, Southall]] thumb|Gurdwara Guru Ravidass Temple, Auckland thumb|Shri Guru Ravidass Temple in the UK thumb|Gurdwara Guru Ravidass Temple, Pittsburg, California thumb|Gurdwara Guru Ravidass Sabha, Oostende thumb|Bangladesh Ravidassia Association, Dhaka
==Demographics==
<!-- Please maintain alphabetical order. --> {|class="wikitable sortable" |- ! State, U.T ! Population ! Population % ! Notes |- | Bihar<ref>SC-14: Scheduled caste population by religious community, Bihar - 2011 (2021) India. Available at: https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/2115 (Accessed: 11 January 2024). </ref> | 4,900,048 | 4.7% | Counted along Rabidas, Rohidas, Chamar, Charamakar |- | Chandigarh<ref>SC-14: Scheduled caste population by religious community, Chandigarh - 2011 (2021) India. Available at: https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/2109 (Accessed: 10 January 2024). </ref> | 59,957 | 5.68% | Counted along with other caste synonyms such as Chamars, Ramdasi, Ravidasi, Raigar and Jatia |- | Chhattisgarh<ref>SC-14: Scheduled caste population by religious community, Chhattisgarh - 2011 (2021) India. Available at: https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/2125 (Accessed: 11 January 2024). </ref> | 2,318,964 | 9.07% | Counted as Chamar, Satnami, Ahirwar, Raidas, Rohidas, Jatav, Bhambi and Surjyabanshi |- | NCT of Delhi<ref>SC-14: Scheduled caste population by religious community, NCT of Delhi - 2011 (2021) India. Available at: https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/2112 (Accessed: 10 January 2024). </ref> | 1,075,569 | 6.4 % | Counted along with other caste synonyms such as Jatav, Chamars, Ramdasia, Ravidasi, Raigar and Jatia |- | Gujarat<ref>SC-14: Scheduled caste population by religious community, Gujarat - 2011 (2021) India. Available at: https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/2127 (Accessed: 11 January 2024). </ref> | 1,032,128 | 1.7% | Counted along with other caste synonyms such as Chamar, Bhambi, Asadaru, Chambhar, Haralaya, Rohidas, Rohit, Samgar |- | Haryana<ref>SC-14: Scheduled caste population by religious community, Haryana - 2011 (2021) India. Available at: https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/2111 (Accessed: 10 January 2024). </ref> | 2,429,137 | 9.58% | Counted along with other caste synonyms such as Jatav, Chamars, Ramdasia, Ravidasi, Raigar and Jatia |- | Himachal Pradesh<ref>SC-14: Scheduled caste population by religious community, Himachal Pradesh - 2011 (2021) India. Available at: https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/2107 (Accessed: 10 January 2024). </ref> | 458,838 | 6.68% | Counted along with other caste synonyms such as Chamars, Ramdasia, Raigar and Jatia |- | Jammu and Kashmir<ref>SC-14: Scheduled caste population by religious community, Jammu & Kashmir - 2011 (2021) India. Available at: https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/2106 (Accessed: 10 January 2024). </ref> | 212,032 | 1.72% | Counted along with other caste synonyms such as Chamars, Ramdasia, Rohidas |- | Jharkhand<ref>SC-14: Scheduled caste population by religious community, Jharkhand - 2011 (2021) India. Available at: https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/2123 (Accessed: 11 January 2024). </ref> | 1,008,507 | 3.05% | Counted as Chamar, Mochi |- | Karnataka<ref>SC-14: Scheduled caste population by religious community, Karnataka - 2011 (2021) India. Available at: https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/2132 (Accessed: 11 January 2024). </ref> | 605,486 | 1% | Counted as Rohidas, Rohit, Samgar, Haralaya, Chambhar, Chamar, Bhambi |- | Madhya Pradesh<ref>SC-14: Scheduled caste population by religious community, Madhya Pradesh - 2011 (2021) India. Available at: https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/2126 (Accessed: 11 January 2024). </ref> | 5,368,217 | 7.39% | Counted as Chamar, Jatav, Bairwa, Bhambi, Rohidas, Raidas, Ahirwar,Satnami, Ramnami, Surjyabanshi |- | Maharashtra<ref>SC-14: Scheduled caste population by religious community, Maharashtra - 2011 (2021) India. Available at: https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/2130 (Accessed: 11 January 2024). </ref> | 1,411,072 | 1.25% | Counted as Rohidas, Chamar, Chambhar, Bhambi, Satnami, Ramnami, Haralaya, Rohit, Samagar, Bhambi |- | Punjab<ref>SC-14: Scheduled caste population by religious community, Punjab - 2011 (2021) India. Available at: https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/2108 (Accessed: 10 January 2024). </ref> | 3,095,324 | 11.15% | During the 2011 census in Punjab, 1017192 people were counted as addharmi in a separate caste cluster, which is another term for Ravidassias.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ashraf |first1=Ajaz |title=Why everyone in Punjab loves a Dalit C.M |url=https://www.newsclick.in/why-everyone-punjab-loves-dalit-cm |access-date=14 January 2024 |publisher=News Click |date=September 22, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Singh |first1=IP |title=Punjab ex-CM Charanjit Singh Channi's scheduled caste factor overlooked? |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ludhiana/punjab-ex-cm-charanjit-singh-channis-scheduled-caste-factor-overlooked/articleshow/90140806.cms |access-date=14 January 2024 |publisher=TOI |date=March 11, 2022}}</ref> In the same census, the Ravidassias cluster population was 2078132, and both clusters together made a population of 3095324 in Punjab, which is an 11.15% population of Punjab. |- | Rajasthan<ref>SC-14: Scheduled caste population by religious community, Rajasthan - 2011 (2021) India. Available at: https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/2113 (Accessed: 10 January 2024). </ref> | 2,491,551 | 3.63% | Counted along with other caste synonyms such as Chamars, Bhambi, Ramdasia, Ravidasi, Raigar, Haralaya, Chambhar and Jatia |- | Uttarakhand<ref>SC-14: Scheduled caste population by religious community, Uttarakhand - 2011 (2021) India. Available at: https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/2110 (Accessed: 11 January 2024). </ref> | 548,813 | 5.44% | Counted as Chamar, Jatava, Dhusia, Jhusia |- | Uttar Pradesh<ref>SC-14: Scheduled caste population by religious community, Uttar Pradesh - 2011 (2021) India. Available at: https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/2114 (Accessed: 11 January 2024). </ref> | 22,496,047 | 11.25% | Counted as Chamar, Jatava, Dhusia, Jhusia |- | West Bengal<ref>SC-14: Scheduled caste population by religious community, West Bengal - 2011 (2021) India. Available at: https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/2122 (Accessed: 11 January 2024). </ref> | 1,039,591 | 1.13% | Counted as Chamar, Rabidas, Charamakar, Rishi |- |}
== Notable Ravidassia ==
===Religious figures===
* Guru Ravidas, was an Indian mystic poet-saint of the bhakti movement during the 15th to 16th century CE * Giani Ditt Singh - Co Founder - Singh Sabha Movement, First professor of Punjabi Language.<ref name="malhotra">{{cite journal |url=http://www.global.ucsb.edu/punjab/sites/secure.lsit.ucsb.edu.gisp.d7_sp/files/sitefiles/journals/volume20/8-Anshu%20Malhotra%2020.pdf |first=Anshu |last=Malhotra |title=Living and Defining Caste: The Life and Writing of Giani Ditt Singh / Sant Ditta Ram |journal=Journal of Punjab Studies |volume=20 |issue=1 |pages=159��192}}</ref>
===Politicians=== *Kanshi Ram - Founder of Bahujan Samaj Party.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dua |first1=Rohan |title=Will never vote for BSP, vow Kanshi Ram siblings |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/will-never-vote-for-bsp-vow-kanshi-ram-siblings/articleshow/34084694.cms |access-date=14 January 2024 |publisher=TOI |date=April 23, 2014}}</ref> *Babu Jagjivan Ram - Former Deputy Prime Minister of India.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Turadagi |first1=Dr Basavaraj M. |title=BABU JAGJIVAN RAM A story of struggle |date=6 January 2022 |publisher=Ashok Yakkaldevi |isbn=978-1-716-14756-2 |page=16 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y-9XEAAAQBAJ&dq=ravidas+jagjivan+ram&pg=PA16 |access-date=15 January 2024 |language=en}}</ref> *Meira Kumar - Former Diplomat and 15th Speaker of the Lok Sabha.<ref>{{cite news |title=In Bihar's Sasaram, Meira Kumar reworks social combination while Paswan relies on Modi |url=https://indianexpress.com/elections/in-bihars-sasaram-meira-kumar-reworks-social-combination-while-paswan-relies-on-pm-modi-5734590/ |work=The Indian Express |date=18 May 2019 |ref=Meira Kumar is likely to get an overwhelming support of her caste group — Ravidas |language=en}}</ref> *Som Parkash - Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Government of India.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dua |first1=Rohan |title=BJP tickets: Sampla meets Shah, denies resignation rumours |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/elections/assembly-elections/punjab/news/bjp-tickets-sampla-meets-shah-denies-resignation-rumours/articleshow/56636452.cms?from=mdr |access-date=14 January 2024 |issue=January 18, 2017 |publisher=TOI}}</ref> *Vijay Sampla - Former Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment in India.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dua |first1=Rohan |title=BJP tickets: Sampla meets Shah, denies resignation rumours |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/elections/assembly-elections/punjab/news/bjp-tickets-sampla-meets-shah-denies-resignation-rumours/articleshow/56636452.cms?from=mdr |access-date=14 January 2024 |issue=January 18, 2017 |publisher=TOI}}</ref> *Mohinder Singh Kaypee - Former Member Parliament , Jalandhar.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dua |first1=Rohan |title=Pre-poll maha Dalit wedlock in state |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/pre-poll-maha-dalit-wedlock-in-state/articleshow/54041849.cms |access-date=14 January 2024 |publisher=TOI |date=September 7, 2016}}</ref> *Santokh Singh Chaudhary - Former Member Parliament.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kaur |first1=Deepkamal |title=Sting' does no harm to sitting MP |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/jalandhar/%E2%80%98sting%E2%80%99-does-no-harm-to-sitting-mp-752537 |access-date=14 January 2024 |work=The Tribune}}</ref> *Sushil Kumar Rinku - Member Parliament, Jalandhar.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ex-Cong MLA Sushil Rinku joins AAP ahead of Jalandhar Lok Sabha bypoll |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/jalandhar/ex-cong-mla-sushil-rinku-joins-aap-ahead-of-jalandhar-lok-sabha-bypoll-494483 |access-date=14 January 2024 |agency=Tribune News Service |work=The Tribune}}</ref> *Selja Kumari - Former Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment and Tourism in the Government of India.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sehgal |first1=Manjeet |title=Lok Sabha Elections 2019: In Ambala, it's Dalits vs Dalits |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/elections/lok-sabha-2019/story/ambala-lok-sabha-constituency-profile-dalits-kumari-selja-rattan-lal-kataria-1518790-2019-05-06 |access-date=14 January 2024 |publisher=India Today |date=May 7, 2019}}</ref> *Rattan Lal Kataria - Former Minister of State in the Ministry of Jal Shakti and Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sehgal |first1=Manjeet |title=Lok Sabha Elections 2019: In Ambala, it's Dalits vs Dalits |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/elections/lok-sabha-2019/story/ambala-lok-sabha-constituency-profile-dalits-kumari-selja-rattan-lal-kataria-1518790-2019-05-06 |access-date=14 January 2024 |publisher=India Today |date=May 7, 2019}}</ref>
===Britain=== *Chaman Lal - First British Indian Lord Mayor of Europe's largest council, Birmingham City Council.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Chaman Lal |url=https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/info/20158/lord_mayor/2563/lord_mayor_of_birmingham_councillor_chaman_lal |publisher=Birmingham City Council |access-date=14 January 2024 |archive-date=5 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240105234237/https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/info/20158/lord_mayor/2563/lord_mayor_of_birmingham_councillor_chaman_lal |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Hoshiarpur-born Chaman Lal becomes Birmingham's first British-Indian Lord Mayor |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/diaspora/hoshiarpur-born-chaman-lal-becomes-birminghams-first-british-indian-lord-mayor-512403 |access-date=14 January 2024 |agency=PTI |work=The Tribune |date=May 29, 2023}}</ref> *Ram Parkash Lakha - Former Lord Mayor of Coventry.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Jaoul |first1=Nicolas |title=Beyond Diaspora: Ambedkarism, Multiculturalism and Caste in the UK |journal=South Asia Multidisciplinary Academic Journal |date=15 December 2021 |issue=27 |doi=10.4000/samaj.7489 |url=https://journals.openedition.org/samaj/7489 |access-date=14 January 2024 |language=en |issn=1960-6060}}</ref> *Mohinder Kaur Midha - Former Mayor of the London Borough of Ealing.<ref>{{cite web |title=Councillor Mohinder Midha appointed Mayor of Ealing - Southall News |url=https://www.visitsouthall.co.uk/News/NewsDetails.php?recordID=1209 |website=www.visitsouthall.co.uk |access-date=14 January 2024 |language=en}}</ref> *Bishan Dass - Elected as first British Asian Lord Mayor of Wolverhampton in 1986.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rawat |first1=Vidya |title=How upper castes in UK tried to defeat me : Bishan Dass Bains, Former Mayor Wolverhampton |url=https://www.academia.edu/31002963 |access-date=15 January 2024}}</ref>
===Punjab State=== *Charanjit Singh Channi - Former Chief Minister of Punjab.<ref name="Ravidasia">{{cite news |title=Pre-poll maha Dalit wedlock in state |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/pre-poll-maha-dalit-wedlock-in-state/articleshow/54041849.cms |access-date=14 January 2024 |work=The Times of India |date=7 September 2016}}</ref> *Kulwant Singh - Member of Legislative Assembly from SAS Nagar and is the first Mayor of Mohali (Punjab).<ref>{{cite news |last1=Times |first1=Navhind |title=Kulwant Singh, down to earth, rooted in realty {{!}} The Navhind Times |url=https://www.navhindtimes.in/2014/04/26/nationalnews/kulwant-singh-down-earth-rooted-realty/ |access-date=20 January 2024 |date=26 April 2014}}</ref> *Vikramjit Singh Chaudhary - M.L.A from Phillaur Assembly constituency in the Punjab Legislative Assembly.<ref name="Ravidassia">{{cite news |title=Punjab Congress MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary Dies of Heart Attack During Bharat Jodo Yatra |url=https://thewire.in/politics/punjab-congress-mp-collapses-dies-of-heart-attack-during-bharat-jodo-yatra |access-date=14 January 2024 |work=The Wire}}</ref> *Sheetal Angural - M.L.A from Jalandhar West Assembly constituency in the Punjab Legislative Assembly.<ref name="Ad-dharmi/Ravidasia">{{cite news |title=In Jalandhar West, BJP gets help from two who left AAP |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/in-jalandhar-west-bjp-gets-help-from-two-who-left-aap/articleshow/89082050.cms |access-date=14 January 2024 |work=The Times of India |date=24 January 2022}}</ref> *Gurdev Singh Mann - M.L.A from Nabha Assembly constituency in the Punjab Legislative Assembly.<ref>{{cite news |title=Battle ballot: Outsiders fighting for Nabha Royalty in Punjab elections |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/assembly-elections/battle-balot-outsiders-fighting-for-nabha-royalty-in-punjab-elections/story-bYFHRILZF1pZFCaZRctq9M.html |access-date=14 January 2024 |work=Hindustan Times |date=23 January 2017 |language=en}}</ref> *Raj Kumar Chabbewal - M.L.A from Chabbewal Assembly constituency in the Punjab Legislative Assembly.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ex-bureaucrats, doctors to lock horns in Hoshiarpur |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/ex-bureaucrats-doctors-to-lock-horns-in-hoshiarpur/articleshow/69065624.cms |access-date=14 January 2024 |work=The Times of India |date=27 April 2019}}</ref> *Ravjot Singh - M.L.A from Sham Chaurasi Assembly constituency in the Punjab Legislative Assembly.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ex-bureaucrats, doctors to lock horns in Hoshiarpur |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/ex-bureaucrats-doctors-to-lock-horns-in-hoshiarpur/articleshow/69065624.cms |access-date=14 January 2024 |work=The Times of India |date=27 April 2019}}</ref> *Nachhatar Pal - M.L.A from Nawan Shahr Assembly constituency in the Punjab Legislative Assembly.<ref>{{cite news |title=Former SGPC General Secretary Sukhdev Bhaur arrested for hurting religious sentiments |url=https://www.babushahi.com/full-news.php?id=78580&headline=Former-SGPC-General-Secretary-Bhaur-arrested-,-booked-for-blasphemy |access-date=20 January 2024 |work=www.babushahi.com}}</ref> *Sukhwinder Singh Kotli - M.L.A from Adampur, Punjab Assembly constituency in the Punjab Legislative Assembly.<ref>{{cite news |title=Jalandhar likely to see contest between Atwal, Chaudhary |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/jalandhar/jalandhar-likely-to-see-contest-between-atwal-chaudhary-735057 |access-date=20 January 2024 |agency=Tribune News Service |work=The Tribune}}</ref> *Sarwan Singh Phillaur - Former Minister for Jails, Tourism, Cultural Affairs and Printing and Stationery in the Punjab Government and 6 time M.L.A.<ref>{{cite news |title=Phillaur 3rd MLA to quit SAD |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/phillaur-3rd-mla-to-quit-sad/articleshow/55485259.cms |access-date=14 January 2024 |work=The Times of India |date=18 November 2016}}</ref> *Pawan Kumar Tinu - Former member of Punjab Legislative Assembly from Adampur.<ref>{{cite news |title=AAP pits 'safai karamchari's' daughter from Jalandhar against seasoned hands |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/aap-pits-safai-karamcharis-daughter-from-jalandhar-against-seasoned-hands/articleshow/33254243.cms?from=mdr |access-date=14 January 2024 |work=The Times of India |date=5 April 2014}}</ref> *Chaudhary Jagjit Singh - Former Cabinet Minister of Punjab for Labour and Employment and also Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development.<ref>{{cite news |title=Dalit icons of Punjab: The all-powerful Chaudharys of Doaba |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/dalit-icons-the-all-powerful-chaudharys-of-doaba/story-Zb5pms2aKYj0Ut7C31HybK.html |access-date=14 January 2024 |work=Hindustan Times |date=23 December 2016 |language=en}}</ref> *Des Raj Dhugga - Former M.L.A in Punjab Legislative Assembly.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hans shift exposes Dalit politics fault lines again |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/hans-shift-exposes-dalit-politics-fault-lines-again/articleshow/55917499.cms |access-date=14 January 2024 |work=The Times of India |date=11 December 2016}}</ref> *Baldev Singh Khaira - Former M.L.A from Phillaur Assembly constituency.<ref>{{cite news |title=Shiromani Akali Dal's first list of 69 candidates |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/features/shiromani-akali-dals-first-list-of-69-candidates-324451 |access-date=16 June 2024 |work=The Tribune |ref=Baldev Singh Khaira (37)}}</ref>
===Art and Literature=== *Amar Singh Chamkila - Punjabi Singer.<ref>{{cite web |title=The unsolved assassination of Amar Singh Chamkila |url=https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/unsolved-assassination-of-amar-singh-chamkila-elvis-of-punjab/ |website=faroutmagazine.co.uk |access-date=14 January 2024 |date=6 September 2023}}</ref> *Miss Pooja - Punjabi Singer.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Singh |first1=Pashaura |last2=Fenech |first2=Louis E. |title=The Oxford Handbook of Sikh Studies |date=March 2014 |publisher=OUP Oxford |isbn=978-0-19-969930-8 |page=357 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8I0NAwAAQBAJ&dq=ravidassia&pg=PA357 |access-date=14 January 2024 |language=en}}</ref> *Niharika Singh Indian actress, producer and beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss Earth India 2005 and represented her country at Miss Earth 2005.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Soni |first1=V.B |title=Kishan Devi : Agra-The maternal connect |url=https://www.ambedkartimes.com/AT-22-June%207,%202023.pdf |access-date=15 January 2024 |issue=13 |publisher=ambedkartimes.com |date=June 7, 2023}}</ref>
===Civil Servants=== *Lahori Ram - First Indo-American to be appointed as the Economic Development Commissioner of California.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bhog Akhand Path |url=https://www.ambedkartimes.com/Satguru%20Ravidass%20Societies.htm |website=ambedkartimes.com |access-date=13 June 2024}}</ref> *Satnam Rattu - Indian origin judge of the Superior Court of Sacramento County in California.<ref>{{cite news |title=Many Congratulations |url=https://ww.ambedkartimes.com/AT-42-October%2019,%202022.pdf |access-date=13 June 2024 |issue=32 |publisher=Ambedkartimes |date=19 Oct 2022}}</ref> *Neetu Badhan Smith - First Sikh woman judge in the United States.<ref>{{cite news |title=Neetu S Badhan Judge Supreme Courts of California Special Notes on Congratulations |url=https://www.ambedkartimes.com/AT-2019-1-2-3-March%2027,%202019.pdf |access-date=13 June 2024 |issue=1–3 |publisher=Ambedkartimes |date=27 March 2019}}</ref>
== Locations associated with the Ravidassia ==
* Shri Guru Ravidas Janam Asthan * Shri Khuralgarh Sahib * Shri Guru Ravidas Gurughar, Tughlakabad * Sant Ravidas Ghat
==See also== * Dera Sach Khand * Sant Mat * Bhakti movement * Ramdasia * Jatav * Ravived * Chambhar
== References == === Footnotes === {{notelist}}
=== Citations === {{Reflist|2}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Ravidasi}}
{{Sant Mat}} {{Ethnic and social groups of the Punjab |state=expanded}} {{Religion topics}}
Category:Ravidassia Category:Bhakti movement Category:Bhakti-era Hindu sects Category:Contemporary Sant Mat Category:Nirguna worship traditions Category:Sant Mat Category:Dalit communities Category:Indian religions Category:Social groups of Punjab, India Category:Leatherworking castes