Ad-Dharmi

The Ad-Dharmi is a sect in the state of Punjab, in India and is an alternative term for the Ravidasia religion, meaning Primal Spiritual Path.[1][2][3] The term Ad-Dharm came into popular usage in the early part of the 20th century, when many followers of Guru Ravidas converted to Sikhism and were severely discriminated against due to their low caste status (even though the Sikh religion is strictly against the caste system). Many of these converts stopped attending Sikh Gurdwaras controlled by Jat Sikhs and built their own shrines upon arrival in the UK, Canada, and Fiji Island.[4][5] Ad-Dharmis comprise 11.48% of the total of Scheduled Caste communities in Punjab.[6][7][8]

  1. ^ "Ad Dharm - SikhiWiki, free Sikh encyclopedia".
  2. ^ "Deras and Dalit Consciousness". Mainstream Weekly. 13 June 2009. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  3. ^ "'Ad-Dharm Movement was the Revolt Against the Hinduism' – Saheb Kanshi Ram's Speech at Sikri, Punjab, 12th February 2001 | Velivada". velivada.com. 3 November 2017. Retrieved 2021-06-27.
  4. ^ Judge, Paramjit S. (2002). "Punjabis in England: The Ad-Dharmi Experience". Economic and Political Weekly. 37 (31): 3244–3250. JSTOR 4412439.
  5. ^ "Ad Dharm - SikhiWiki, free Sikh encyclopedia".
  6. ^ "Punjab Data Highlights: The Scheduled Castes" (PDF).
  7. ^ Singh, IP (July 13, 2020). "Give 'Adi-dharmi' as religion in 2021 census: Ravidassia leaders". The Times of India. Retrieved 2022-09-12.
  8. ^ "Why Everyone in Punjab loves a Dalit CM". NewsClick. 2021-09-22. Retrieved 2022-09-12.