the caste & sikhism

[Rajwinder Singh]

10061...@COMPUSERVE.COM wrote:

>can some body please assist me with the following questions?
>1. what is the position of the GGS on caste?does it condemn, condone or
remain
>indifferent to the issue of caste?
>2. what was the opinion of the 10 gurus did the condemn, condone or remain
>indifferent to the issue?

The bani of the Guru(s) makes clear the Sikh view of caste system. Caste
system is unambiguously, categorically and strongly rejected. Guru
Granth Sahib ji is the proof. [Please see another post of mine following
this one.]

>3. why do sikhs around the world still refer to them selves using their hindu
>caste label & then as sikh eg. Jat sikh, Ramgaria Sikh, Khatri sikh ?

They CLAIM to be Sikhs. As their strong affinity towards their "castes"
shows, they are all pretenders. They are not honest with themselves and
vaaheguru and other people, unless they are ignorant. Many are indeed
ignorant since there have always been incessant attempts to pollute
the message of the Guru by vested interests with their own agendas.
The powers that be control what should be available to people, and
what should not be (since some of the stuff religion says is harmful to
the social/political/personal//... agendas of many people).

Thus, many who have allegiance to the Guru are mistaken about some things.
More often, however, it is dishonesty and vested interests.

>4. who & what are the Nirankaris?

I will try to answer that later.

>5. who was Guru Ravidass of the chammars?

Please see another post of mine.

>6. are the chammars regarded as hindu or sikh ?

"chamiar" (or chamaar) is a profession-- a shoemaker is called a chamiar.
("Chamm"==leather). There are many Sikhs who are in such business. In
Hindu society, chamiars are a separate 'caste' and are one of the 'lower'
castes, the untouchables. They are not supposed to read the scriptures,
they are supposed to do menial leatherwork, worship and pay money to
the brahmins and in general suffer subjugation, misery, humiliation
and discrimination like a multitude of other 'untouchables'.

In Sikhism, they are as much Sikh as anyone, since they are humans like
anyone else. In Sikhism, the categorization on the basis of any factor
like race, 'caste' (lineage), profession etc is not recognized.
Of course Sikh society is far from perfect, since individuals and groups
are prejudiced, sometimes highly so.

>7. why do different sikh castes have different gurudwaras? despite all the
>excuses I have heard ie. sikhs don't have caste only class & communities?

There are no 'castes' in Sikhism. yes, some groups and individuals who
claim to be Sikhs also claim to have some other features like caste,
community (their versions), lineage, professions etc on the basis of
which they think they are different than others. They are either ignorant
or prejudiced idiots. And that includes a HUGE majority of "Sikhs".
Gurdwaras are different for different groups because due to the imagined
castes etc, people are intolerant to others. This is not a feature of
Sikhism, but a characteristic of those who are holding Sikhism hostage.

Please see the other posts for the rest of the answers (except nirankaris).

Rajwinder Singh

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