Life and Mission of Saint Raidas (Ravidas) and his Transformative Concept of Begumpura
S.R. Darapuri
Life and Mission of Saint Raidas (Ravidas) and his Transformative Concept of Begumpura
SR Darapuri I.P.S.(Retd)
1. Historical Background
Saint Raidas, popularly known as Ravidas, was a prominent 15th–16th century Bhakti saint, social reformer, and poet. He was born around 1450 CE in Seer Govardhanpur near Varanasi in present-day Uttar Pradesh. Ravidas was born into a Chamar (leather-working) community, which was treated as “untouchable” within the rigid Brahmanical caste hierarchy.
His social location deeply shaped his worldview and his lifelong struggle against caste oppression and religious exclusion.
2. Spiritual Philosophy
Ravidas belonged to the Nirguna Bhakti tradition, which believed in devotion to a formless, universal God, rejecting idol worship, ritualism, and priestly mediation. His teachings emphasized: Inner purity over external rituals, Equality of all human beings, Rejection of caste-based hierarchy and Moral conduct as the basis of religion.
He strongly opposed the idea that birth determines spiritual worth. For Ravidas, devotion (bhakti) was inseparable from social justice.
A famous saying attributed to him summarizes this philosophy:
“Man changa to kathoti mein Ganga”
(If the mind is pure, even a small bowl contains the Ganga)
3. Social Mission
Ravidas’s mission extended far beyond spiritual salvation. His core objectives were: Annihilation of caste consciousness, Restoration of human dignity to oppressed communities, Opposition to Brahmanical domination and untouchability and Affirmation of labour and productive work as noble.
By composing verses in vernacular language, he made spiritual knowledge accessible to the common people, especially Dalits and marginalized groups.
His hymns were so influential that several were later included in the Guru Granth Sahib, reflecting his wide inter-religious appeal.
4. Ravidas as a Radical Bhakti Saint
Unlike conservative Bhakti saints who accommodated caste hierarchy, Ravidas belonged to the radical, anti-caste stream of Bhakti, alongside Kabir and Chokhamela. His poetry openly questioned social inequality and religious hypocrisy, making him an early voice of resistance against Brahmanism.
The Concept of Begumpura
1. Meaning of Begumpura
Begumpura literally means “the city without sorrow” (begam = sorrowless, pura = city). It is Ravidas’s most powerful socio-political vision, articulated in his celebrated hymn:
“Begumpura shehar ko nao,
Dukh andoh nahi tihi thao”
(The city is called Begumpura,
Where there is no suffering or fear.)
2. Characteristics of Begumpura
Begumpura represents an ideal society free from oppression, characterized by: Absence of caste and social hierarchy, no poverty, exploitation, or forced labour, no discrimination based on birth or occupation, freedom of movement and livelihood and equality and dignity for all citizens.
Importantly, Begumpura is not a heavenly afterlife, but a vision of a just society on earth.
3. Political and Social Significance
Though expressed in devotional language, Begumpura is essentially a radical social and political utopia. It directly challenges: Feudal exploitation, Caste-based citizenship and religious justification of inequality.
Ravidas imagined a society where social equality precedes spiritual fulfilment, a principle later echoed by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in his concept of social democracy based on liberty, equality, and fraternity.
4. Begumpura and Dalit Consciousness
Begumpura has become a foundational symbol in Dalit–Bahujan thought. It represents: Aspiration for a casteless society, Moral resistance against humiliation, Hope for collective liberation rather than individual salvation
For many, Begumpura is a blueprint of social justice, not merely a spiritual metaphor.
Conclusion
Saint Raidas (Ravidas) was not only a Bhakti saint but a pioneering social revolutionary. His life and mission challenged the moral foundations of caste society, while his vision of Begumpura articulated one of the earliest formulations of a casteless, egalitarian social order in India.
Ravidas’s legacy continues to inspire struggles for dignity, equality, and justice, making him a timeless figure in India’s anti-caste and democratic traditions.
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National President,
All India Peoples Front
Madan Lal Hind
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Socialist Party (India)
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Singh Harikesh
Dept. of Education
Banaras Hindu University,
Varanasi.
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Singh Harikesh
Dept. of Education
Banaras Hindu University,
Varanasi.