Premium

This is an archive article published on September 1, 2019

The Shrine

In Ballan village of Punjab, anger simmers below the surface.

Seer Goverdhanpur temple Varanasi, Dera Sachkhand Ballan, Sant Niranjan Das, Junagadh Gujarat

A matter of faith: Followers of Sant Ravidas at a dera at Ballan village in Punjab’s Doaba region. (Source: Manraj Grewal Sharma)

It’s Tuesday morning but the onion-pink temple in Ballan village, far from bustling Jalandhar, sees a steady stream of devotees, mostly women with infants, and NRI families. There are also two groups of mendicants, one from Sasaram in Bihar and the other from Junagadh in Gujarat, all followers of Sant Ravidas, the poet-saint who advocated a casteless society.

Overlooking emerald fields, with a tranquil canal behind it, Dera Sachkhand Ballan, the seat of Sant Niranjan Das, the present spiritual head of the Ravidassia community, exudes an old-world charm. Even the men in khaki seem to melt away though they are considerable in number and frisk every visitor to the temple.

It is, perhaps, because the dera was founded by Sant Pipal Das at the turn of the last century while the police presence is only 10 years old, dating to an attempt on Sant Niranjan Das’s life by Sikh extremists in Vienna in 2009.

The gentle peace at the dera is far removed from the rage that followed the demolition of a Ravidas temple in Delhi’s Tughlaqabad area last month. But scratch the surface and it bubbles over. “It was unfair,’’ bristles Navjyot, a young bride from Kapoor village who was accompanied by Gurbaksh Kaur, her mother-in-law. “How could they bring down such an old temple?’’

There is no one here or in the surrounding villages, who doesn’t know about the demolition, though no one is aware of the complete case. Office manager Pritam Kumar rues that the case wasn’t pleaded well. “It was over 600 years old. Delhi emperor Sikandar Lodi had himself allotted the land to Sant Ravidas,’’ argues Kumar.

In Jalandhar, GC Kaul, a retired professor of the DAV College who specialises in Ravidas studies, says there is no mention of this either in the court ruling or in the appeal. “There is a lot of awareness now and people are very emotional about their religion. This matter needs delicate handling.’’

At Sarmastpur village opposite Ballan, Baljinder Singh, in bicep-hugging gymwear, says, Delhi is yet to get a taste of the Ravidassia fury. “Barely 30 per cent people went from our villages. We would have flooded Delhi had we gone in full strength,’’ he says. Dalits form nearly 32 per cent of Punjab’s population, a large number of them Ravidassias.

Story continues below this ad

It was after the 2009 assassination attempt that the community carved out a separate religion, says Prof Ronki Ram of Panjab University. Dera Ballan spearheaded the move by declaring themselves followers of a separate religion with a holy book called Amrit Bani, a compilation of the works of Guru Ravidas. In place of the khanda used by the Sikhs and trishul by the Hindus, they adopted a sun-shaped hari.

Satpal Virdi, an advocate and legal counsel of the Akhil Bharatiya Ravidasiya Dharam, says they announced the formation of this new religion from Varanasi, the seer’s birthplace. “We have a community of 25 crore people, including the diaspora. Around seven crore have already registered with us,’’ he says, adding that they have petitioned the Centre to recognise them as a separate religion under Article 25 of the Constitution.

Even before 2009, the community has always been quite well-knit, partly due to the profusion of temples and deras in the north that not only provide spiritual succour to the community but medical and educational support as well. Dera Ballan, for instance, has a free dispensary and a charitable eye hospital within its compound. It also runs a senior secondary English-medium school at Hadiabad near Phagwara for 1,200 children, besides a 150-bed charitable hospital at Kuthar nearby. The langar runs around the clock and there is a dharamshala for pilgrims from afar.

Kaul claims there are around 350-odd deras in Punjab associated with the community. “They are the rallying point for the followers in times of personal distress as well,’’ he says.

Story continues below this ad

Virdi says PM Narendra Modi has visited the opulent seven-storey Seer Goverdhanpur temple in Varanasi twice. “He has promised to give us more land and beautify the temple which has gold-plated domes,’’ says Virdi, calling it the Mecca of Ravidassias. “We have a yearly Kumbh mela there with separate tents for devotees from 17 states of India.’’

But not everyone is comfortable with the deepening divisions. “We don’t face discrimination any longer, it is just that as long as I can remember we have always had a separate gurdwara,’’ says Baljinder Singh at Sarmastpur village. The 2009 assassination, he says, united the community and made it defiant. “This demolition is another watershed.’’

This article appeared in the print edition with the headline ‘The Shrine’

Manraj Grewal Sharma

Manraj Grewal Sharma is a senior journalist and the Resident Editor of The Indian Express in Chandigarh, where she leads the newspaper’s coverage of north India’s most politically and institutionally significant regions. From Punjab and Haryana to Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Chandigarh, she oversees reporting at the intersection of governance, law, politics and society. She also reports on the diaspora, especially in Canada and the US. With a career spanning journalism across several countries, academia and international development, Manraj brings a rare depth of perspective to regional reporting. She is widely regarded as a leading chronicler of Punjab’s contemporary history and socio-political evolution, particularly its long shadow of militancy, federal tensions and identity politics. Her book, Dreams after Darkness, remains a definitive account of the militancy years and their enduring aftermath. Professional Background & Expertise A gold medalist in mass communication and a post-graduate in English literature, Manraj has a multifaceted career spanning journalism, academia, and international development. She was also awarded a fellowship by National Foundation of India and did several in-depth pieces on Manipur. Internationally, she has reported from Israel, US, UK, Myanmar, and Mauritius Her key focus areas include: Regional Politics, History, Agriculture, Diaspora, and Security. Of late, she has started focusing on Legal & Judicial Affairs: Much of her recent work involves reporting on high-stakes cases in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, ranging from environmental policy to civil rights. International Consulting: She previously served as a consulting editor for the Asia Pacific Adaptation Network and a publishing consultant for the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Manila. Academia: For five years, she was the managing editor of Gender, Technology and Development, a peer-reviewed international journal at the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reportage focuses heavily on judicial interventions and regional governance: 1. Environment & Governance "‘NGT can’t test legality of policy’: HC hears challenge to Punjab’s ‘Green Habitat’ plan" (Dec 22, 2025): Covering a critical legal battle over whether the National Green Tribunal has the authority to strike down a state policy regularizing farmhouses on delisted forest land. "High court pulls up Punjab poll panel over audio clip probe" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on judicial concerns regarding the transparency and fairness of local body elections. 2. Legal Rights & Social Welfare "HC issues notice to Punjab, Haryana over delay in building old age homes" (Dec 22, 2025): Reporting on a contempt petition against top officials for failing to establish government-run homes for the elderly as promised in 2019. "Victims can appeal acquittals in sessions court without seeking special leave" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant procedural shift in criminal law following a Supreme Court ruling. "HC upholds benefits for Punjab FCI officer acquitted in 20-year-old bribery case" (Dec 19, 2025): A report on the concept of "honourable acquittal" and its impact on employee benefits. 3. Human Rights & Identity "As Punjab denies parole to MP Amritpal Singh, HC asks it to submit ‘foundational material’" (Dec 1, 2025): Covering the legal proceedings regarding the radical preacher and sitting MP's request to attend Parliament. "Protecting life paramount: HC backs Muslim woman in live-in after verbal divorce" (Nov 6, 2025): Analyzing judicial protections for personal liberty in the context of traditional practices. Signature Beats Manraj is recognized for her ability to decode complex judicial rulings and relate them to the everyday lives of citizens. Whether it is a 30-year-old land battle in Fazilka or the political implications of Kangana Ranaut’s candidacy in Mandi, her writing provides deep historical and regional context. Contact @grewal_sharma on X manrajgrewalsharma on Instagram ... Read More

Tags:
Eye 2019

Live Blog

PHOTOS

In pics: From concept supercars to electronic SUV's: Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025 was all about innovation

In Pics: From Concept Supercars to Electric SUVs – Innovation at Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025