Caste & Race – Report

State of the Panth, Report 10

Caste and race have been linked together since the inception of the word “caste.” In the 17th century, Portuguese colonials coined the term “caste” — deriving from “casta,” which means “race, lineage, or breed” — to refer to the system of social codification witnessed during their exploration of South Asia.

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Caste & Race

Caste and race have been linked together since the inception of the word “caste.” In the 17th century, Portuguese colonials coined the term “caste” — deriving from “casta,” which means “race, lineage, or breed” — to refer to the system of social codification witnessed during their exploration of South Asia.

Historically and currently, social prescriptions and categorizations deriving from caste and race have been used to wield power over groups of people deemed as the “other.” Though the caste system stems from ancient Hindu scripture, codified in the Manusmriti, or Laws of Manu, caste-based discrimination has taken on plural and varied forms in social and cultural practices across space and time.

How did the Sikh Gurus address injustices stemming from caste and race?
How does IkOankar (One Universal Integrative Force, 1Force, the One) transcend and subvert this notion of the “other”?

Historically and currently, social prescriptions and categorizations deriving from caste and race have been used to wield power over groups of people deemed as the “other.” Though the caste system stems from ancient Hindu scripture, codified in the Manusmriti, or Laws of Manu, caste-based discrimination has taken on plural and varied forms in social and cultural practices across space and time.

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Caste & Race

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Report Breakdown

Bani (Wisdom)

Bani is the Wisdom, and the Wisdom is the Guru. One builds one’s understanding of the Wisdom on the Sabad (word-sounds of the Wisdom). Sabads are also verses; the collection of Sabads is the Bani (utterances or teachings). We actively engage with and learn about the Bani in the Guru Granth Sahib.

Tavarikh (History)

Although caste is subverted and the caste system is rejected in Bani on multiple levels and is clearly irrelevant in the realm of IkOankar, where IkOankar operates and has authority (everywhere), it is necessary to contextualize how caste and race are understood within the context of Tavarikh to grapple with the complexities of how they shape socio-cultural landscapes across time, from the period of the ten founder Gurus (1469-1708) to the present. We must continue to question how we relate to caste history and the claims of pride and hierarchy that Bani denounces and transcends, as systems of inequality, such as caste and race, are still active oppressive forces today.

Rahit (Lifestyle)

Rahit, or lifestyle, refers not only to historical rahitname (writings on the code of conduct or lifestyle of a Sikh) and the Sikh Rahit Maryada (Sikh code of conduct) sanctioned by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), but also to current realities in the legal systems Sikhs are living under globally.

Reflect

Why is it important for Sikhs, today, to remember Maharani Jind Kaur?

What oppression did Rani Jind Kaur have to overcome in order to lead the Sikh Kingdom?

You decide… Was Rani Jind Kaur on the side of the Sikhs or the British?

How did Rani Jind Kaur cross boundaries to resist British control?

What influence did Rani Jind Kaur have on those who came after her?

Caste & Race – Report

State of the Panth, Report 10

Caste & Race

How did the Sikh Gurus address injustices stemming from caste and race?
How does IkOankar (One Universal Integrative Force, 1Force, the One) transcend and subvert this notion of the “other”?

Watch the Video

Listen to the Podcasts

Caste & Race

Watch the Video

Listen to the Podcasts