(CASTE HATE) MURDER IN VIENNA (Austria) of innocent Dalit Sikh priest in 2009 that ruptured Sikh society & laid bare exposed,radical anti-Dalit & intolerant side of dominant Jat/Jutt Sikh caste that continues to treat Dalit, OBC (& even Upper Caste Khatri) Sikhs as "lesser Sikhs"
Sant RAMA NAND was an ever smiling Dalit priest from Ramdassia Dalit Sikh community. He was affiliated with DERA SACH KHAND (Sikh religious congregation) at Ballan in DOABA sub-region of Punjab between Satluj & Beas rivers, where Dalits constitute 45% of total population.
Ravidassia are sub caste of Punjabi Dalits, who like Jatavs of Hindi heartland, hail from former "untouchable" caste that used to work with leather/animal hide, considered "unclean". GURU (called "Bhagat" among Sikhs) RAVI DAS is sub-patron saint of Punjabi Ravisassia Dalit Sikhs
GURU/BHAGAT RAVI DAS was not a Punjabi. He was from Kashi (Varanasi) in present day Uttar Pradesh. A poet par excellence, he was part of anti-caste "Bhakti Movement", which began in South & spread to North. His poetic work critiquing much hated Brahminism became hugely popular.
GURU RAVI DAS was contemporary of GURU NANAK DEV, whom he met several times. Upon request of Guru Nanak Dev, he bequeathed his 41 anti-caste hyms to him, which were later composed in 16 (Punjabi) raagas by 5th Sikh Guru Arjan Dev into "Gurbani" & made part of Guru Granth Sahib.
PURIST (UC) versus
DALIT RAVIDASSIAS
Despite prominence of GURU RAVI DAS in evolution of Sikhi & his presence in Sikhi's guiding scripture, there has been "disagreement"between purist UC Sikhs & Dalit Ravisassia Sikhs on how much of reverence should be accorded to Guru Ravidas
10 SIKH GURUS plus
GURU RAVIDAS
Dalit Sikh Ravidassia community was the ONLY Punjabi community that was drawn sentimentally, emotionally & most devotionally to Guru Ravidas as compared to other Punjabi Sikh castes.This was largely due to pride in commonality of caste backgrounds
DERA SACH KHAND
Dera Sach Khand was congregation of Dalit Ravisassia Sikhs started by Sant PIPAL DASS in 20th century in British India that comprised mostly of Dalits from Punjabi tanning castes (Ravisassias & Ad Dharmis). Dera soon grew in huge popularity among Punjabi Dalits.
Dera Sach Khand became social, cultural and religious outlet for Ravisassia & Ad Dharmi Punjabi Dalit communities to combine their mainstream ("Khalsa Panth") Sikh traditions with their separate love & devotion to GURU RAVIDAS, who hailed from their own sub caste.
Upper Caste Sikh communities, especially Jat/Jutt Sikhs, who think themselves as self appointed sole custodians of puritan "Khalsa Panth" have been mostly dismissive of these Dalit Sikh specific Deras as "heretical deviations" and have grudgingly accepted their existence.
SANT RAMA NAND was Dalit Ravisassia priest associated with Dera Sach Khand.
With spread of Sikh diaspora, Ravisassia Sikh community had also spread to Western countries.
Many Guru Ravisassia Gurudwaras had sprung up all over Europe, North America & Australia.
In 2009, current head of DERA SACH KHAND, Sant Niranjan Dass along with his deputy Sant Rama Nand visited AUSTRIA in Europe to take part in religious function of Vienna's diaspora Ravisassia & Ad Dharmi Punjabi Dalit communities in city's sole Guru Ravidas Gurudwara.
Vienna's larger Jutt Sikh community was already unhappy that smaller
community of Ravisassia Sikhs had dared to open their own "un-Sikh deviant" Guru Ravidas Gurudwara in far off land. When they heard that head of Dera Sach Khand was visiting Vienna, this enraged them further.
"SIROPA" is "Sikh robe of honor" presented to visiting dignitaries in "mainstream" (Upper Caste) Gurudwaras.
Some local young radical Jutt Sikhs in Vienna sneaked in the function organized by local Ravisassia community to present Siropa to visiting Sants of DERA SACH KHAND.
How can "non-Sikh religious temple" (Guru Ravidas Gurudwara) dare to present "SIROPA" (Sikh tradition) in front of Guru Granth Sahib ? Angry young Jutt Sikh goons attacked Sant Niranjan Das with knives & swords. It was Sant RAMA NAND who took all blows to save Sant Niranjan Das.
There were about 300 Ravisassia men, women & children who had gathered to welcome Sant Niranjan Das in Vienna Guru Ravidas Gurudwara. Upper Caste Jutt Sikh assailants opened fire on both Sant Niranjan Das & Sant Rama Nand. Many devotees including women & children were injured.
There were massive riots in Punjab, especially in Doaba region, where much of Ravisassia population is centered.
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