THE RAVIDASIS

Former chamars – leather workers Bani (41 hymns) of Ravidas in GGS (bhagat bani) Guru Ravidas lived 15 th – 16 th centuries He also believed to be from the chamar zat Converted to Sikh faith, working with leather considered by Hindus as highly polluting Also called mazhabis Did not achieve equality, hence sought equal status through distinct identity from both as followers of Guru Ravidas

Guru Ravidas

Use GGS in worship but only 41 hymns Some adamant on complete distinction Others “within” Sikh faith – issues of identity Not Gurdwara but Bhawan – large community in Wolverhampton, Birmingham and Southall. Keshdharis that present issues in identity Some more Hindu than Sikh practices Punjabi community – shared culture and traditions

Was Ravidas also an heir to the Northern Sant tradition – similarities in teachings:  Emphasis on Nam  No brahmanic rituals  No idols  bhakti  See his bani in GGS  Highlight in all Ravidasi centres is the birthday of Guru Ravidas  Only some celebrate and change nishan sahib on baisakhi  Emphasis on Ravidas, not Sikh Gurus

Issue of identity: It is interesting to note a Ravid1s2 child’s description of her identity: “I know what culture I am, Hindu, but it’s not as if we’re restricted to Hindu because we believe in Sikhism as well. It’s just one thing really.” Jackson, R. and Nesbitt, E. (1993) Hindu Children in Britain, Staffordshire: Trentham Books, p. 28.

The Open University in England has produced a video about the Ravidasis, in which one speaker has voiced that, as a low-caste person, he was refused karah prasad in both India and Britain: thus by distributing karah prasad, the Ravidasis exclude no one from the sabha. Open University Video: ‘Man’s Religious Quest – The Ravidasias Birmingham’.