⟵ Back to videos

Caste & Race

State of the Panth

Wednesday
,
21
August
2024

Sikh Research Institute (SikhRI), a leading organization dedicated to promoting Sikh education and values, has published its tenth research report in the State of the Panth series titled Caste & Race.

Sikh Research Institute (SikhRI), a leading organization dedicated to promoting Sikh education and values, has published its tenth research report in the State of the Panth series titled Caste & Race. This report delves into the complexities of caste and race within a Sikh worldview, exploring their intertwined developments and the varied responses from dominant and marginalized groups.

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”?

The Sikh Research Institute recognizes its ethical responsibility to promptly correct any factual small or large errors. Please get in touch with us via email to request a correction if you have identified a mistake.

Suggest a correction →
No items found.
No items found.

In This Video

No items found.

Latest Videos

Monday
,
26
May
2025

Why do Sikhs cover their heads?

Sikhs cover their heads when they feel the presence of the Divine. The larger idea is that we feel the Divine is in every place, but we may not feel that presence all the time.

watch now ⟶
Thursday
,
22
May
2025

The Question That Went Viral

In April, Indian National Congress (INC) party member Rahul Gandhi stopped at Brown University for a speaking engagement. During the Q&A, Sidak Alumni Gurpartap Singh asked him what the INC is doing to reconcile with the Sikhs, and their interaction...

watch now ⟶
Thursday
,
22
May
2025

Explore Var Sat (Mahala 3) 2/2

In this composition, Guru Amardas Sahib emphasizes that IkOankar (the Divine) is the Creator of the entire creation. It illustrates how beings attached to transient things and relationships remain trapped in the cycle of birth and death.

watch now ⟶

Share on Social Media

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Stay informed with our weekly updates, important events and more at SikhRI.

Thank you! Your submission has been received.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.