Ravidassia Identity as a Marker of Distinct Socio-Religious Identity: From Autonomy to Accommodation

In 2010, the Dera Sachkhand Ballan, followed by the Ravidassia chamars, asserted a discourse of separation from all religions, as an autonomous faith distinct from Hinduism and Sikhism. However, there is a growing tendency among the dalits, to subscribe to accommodation within more syncretic self-definitions of Hindu. Dalit identity has either been posited in contradiction to, or in conformity with the syncretic Hindu identity. This paper discusses the emerging possibility of the Ravidassia Chamars, to assert an all-encompassing Hindu identity instead of a distinct, separate and autonomous identity.

Keywords:
Ravidas, Dera Sachkhand Ballan, Religion, Dalit Dissent, Caste Discrimination, Sikhism, Khals,Bhakt, Guru Granth Sahib, DalitAssertion, Ravidassia,Religion,Social Harmony; Chamars.