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Summary of Question:	Is Being A Chamaar Being A Sikh?
Category:	General Sikhism
Date Posted:	Sunday, 10/26/2003 5:04 PM MDT

I am confused about this certain point. I am a Chamaar and look up to Guru Ravidass Ji, as well as the other Das Guru Ji's, and live by the Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Many Chamaar see themselves as Hindu, some see themselves as Sikh, some call themselves Ravidassia, which technically is what they are. So what is being a Chamaar about? Some Chamaar may not believe themselves to be Sikh as their Guru is not featured with the other Das Guru Ji's, yet 40 Shabads and one shaloka of Guru Ravidass Ji are enshrined in the Holy Guru Granth. I believe that all of this bewilderment could have been caused by the caste system, and we Chamaar being subjected as 'Untouchables.' There should not have been a caste system in the beginning, and even thought there has been, Sikhs shouldn't class their fellow Sikhs as being of low or high castes. In the Guru Ji's days, His opinions of equal rights between all Believers was also supported by Guru Nanak Dev Ji, yet followers of Sikhism today still bring into effect the caste system and judge others by it.

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REPLY
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Sat Siri Akaal. I had not heard of Chamaar before your query, since I was born in the USA. A Sikh bows to Siri Guru Granth Sahib and ONLY Siri Guru Granth Sahib as his/her Guru. While being a Chamaar has elements of Sikhi, it is not Sikh from what you describe. That said, if you self-identify as Sikh, that's your choice. Bani of Ravidas was included in SGGS by Guru Arjan (5th Guru) because it is in alignment with the teachings of the Sikh Gurus concerning Shabd Guru. Study Ravidas' bani, and ask yourself this: is he asking or telling you/the reader to follow Ravidas or to follow the Guru through Shabd Guru and meditation on the Naam?


There have been other queries and posts on this web site about caste, if you search 'caste' on the Youth Forum you will see that many are plagued by it. You are correct that Sikhs should not be observing caste at all.
Guru ang sang,
-DKK