Ravidassia Religiosity in the Modern Era: Perspectives in Theory and from the Field

Abstract

The social scientific study of religion, which has depended on the secularisation theory—the proposition that religion diminishes as a society modernises, fails to take cognisance of the complex nature of the modern religious expressions. Such is the case of the Ravidassias of Punjab, whose assertion of a separate, distinct and autonomous religion is not exclusively theological, but latches onto the notions of secular and egalitarian society. Ravidassia religion is a form of resistance to the religious dominance and control of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). According to the SGPC’s maryada, all the Sikhs ought to believe in one immortal being, ten gurus and the Guru Granth Sahib. The Ravidassia dharmic expression is a complex mix of the language of modern-secular values and equality as well as other-worldly aspirations. This article is an attempt to revisit the Ravidassia expression of faith with reference to the Dera Sachkhand Ballan proposing a new theoretical lens to study, understand and analyse faith based identities in the modern era.