This lesser known aspect of contemporary Sikh history needs to be retold more than ever before as the Sikhs struggle to come to terms with growing casteism and Brahmanical rites in their way of life. Social large-heartedness and not political short-sightedness has to be our call for survival and growth.

In 1935, the British brought-up “ The Communal Award” as an appeasement for the minorities living in India like Christians, Muslims and Sikhs, as they were considered as oppressed by the Hindu majority. Seeing this mischief, Dr Ambedkar lodged his protest, that Harijans -sons of God, should also be included in this award as they were the most oppressed class living in India among the Hindu majority. The British Rulers, however, did not agree and argued that Harijans were part of the Hindu religion and therefore cannot be included in the Communal Award.

Dr Ambedkar clearly understood the exploitative ideology of “Manusmriti” which vertically divided Indian society into four –Brahmins, Khatri, Vaishyas and Shudras. The Brahmin took over Education, Religion and State Power. The Khatris were defined as farmers, land-holders and warriors to protect the State and the Brahmins. The Vaishyas took over the entire business of sale and purchase of all kinds of goods and commodities. The Shudras were entrusted with jobs of the lowest category to act as servants and slaves of the upper castes, having no ownership of lands and no access to education and business.

“Today we see that all ill-effects of the caste-system of “Manusmriti” have crept into Sikhism and the Sikh way of life during the last century. The so-called low caste Sikhs are called as Mazhbi Sikhs. There are separate Gurdwara buildings in the villages of Punjab for the so-called upper caste Jatt Sikhs and the so-called low caste Mazhbi Sikhs. There are even separate cremation grounds in some villages.”

These Shudras, their women and children were the most exploited sections in society but were still categorised as part of Hindus. They were labelled Untouchables and not allowed to chant Shlokas in Sanskrit. Their tongues were cut-off if caught uttering one. They were not allowed to listen to Shlokas of Vedas in Sanskrit. Their ears were filled with molten lead if caught listening to them.  Sanskrit was declared as a language of the Gods. No one, except Brahmins, was allowed to learn it.

This regressive system went on for centuries. It gradually weakened the citizenry and ultimately external forces like Mughals and Mongols took over the Indian State.

On the issue of injustice in the Communal Award, Dr Ambedkar decided to adopt the Sikh religion along with 50 million of his followers. Dr Ambedkar respected the Sikh ethics of equality. He was an admirer of the Sikh Gurus who used to call these Dalits as “Rangrete Guru Ke Bete” i.e. Dalits are the Sons of the Guru. As this news filtered to Mahatma Gandhi, he was very upset and to protest this, he started a fast unto death. He conveyed to Dr Ambedkar through Nehru and Patel that it would be acceptable to convert as a Christian or Muslim, but no adoption of the Sikh faith, not at any cost.

History tells us that Dr Ambedkar remained adamant to opt Sikhism as his religion, as there was no caste system amongst the Sikhs.  It may be mentioned that the Sikh leadership took the first steps. The SGPC took steps to establish the Mumbai-based Guru Nanak Khalsa College which was meant to serve as a centre for Dr. Ambedkar to teach the ideals of Sikhism to his followers.

Alas this was another “if” in history. This was not to be. Sensing the situation going out of hands, Pandit Nehru and Sardar Patel played a treacherous game. They took the then Sikh leaders (Master Tara Singh, Giani Kartar Singh and industrialist Baldev Singh) into their confidence. The population of the Sikhs at that time was below 20 million, whereas the population of Harijans was more than 70 million.

A treacherous game-plan of brainwashing was hatched and played out with the myopic and foolish Sikh leaders. Their minds were poisoned in such a manner that if 50 million Harijans are converted as Sikhs, who will be the leaders of the Sikhs?

“Neechan andar neech jaat, neechi hoon att neech
Nanak tinke sang saath vadhyan syon kya rees.

Guru Nanak befriends and associates with the lowliest of the lowliest, there is no need to imitate those considered mighty, big and powerful.
”

They were fooled that by sheer numbers, Dr Ambedkar will have the majority and he will become the leader of the Sikhs. This was not acceptable to the then Sikh leaders. In connivance with Pandit Nehru and Sardar Patel, the Sikh leaders called the ‘Sarbat Khalsa’ at Amritsar, in order to diffuse Dr Ambedkar’s Sikh conversion plans. Some henchmen were prepared, motivated and planted in the ‘Sarbat Khalsa’ to raise objections and to shout anti-Ambedkar slogans. The inevitable happened and the plan was scuttled.

In this manner, the then Sikh leaders refused and ditched Baba Sahib to convert to the Sikh faith. As a consequence, the hunger strike of Mahatma Gandhi was brought to an end by Nehru and Patel. This refusal to Dr Ambedkar was against Sikh tenets. Baba Sahib Dr Ambedkar and his followers adopted Buddhism in 1956. Dr Ambedkar was heart-broken and remarked in his book that “if such is the present-day leaders of the Sikhs, whose Gurus called Dalits as “Rangrete Guru he Bete” -then this religion is endangered.”

Today we see that all ill-effects of the caste-system of “Manusmriti” have crept into Sikhism and the Sikh way of life during the last century.  The so-called low caste Sikhs are called as Mazhbi Sikhs. There are separate Gurdwara buildings in the villages of Punjab for the so-called upper caste Jatt Sikhs and the so-called low caste Mazhbi Sikhs. There are even separate cremation grounds in some villages. Short-sighted petty politicians have divided the Sikh community like never before. The Indian political system which sees the overwhelming participation of the Sikhs has ruined the socio-religious base of the Sikhs.

The Sikh people of all shades and hues have to make a by shunning all Brahmanical rituals that have crept into the lives of Sikhs. They have to go to the roots. Lest the Sikhs forget that the Khalsa Panth was created by Guru Gobind Singh for the welfare and dignity of the downtrodden. Ideologically and fraternally, Sikhs need to be closer to the so-called lower castes and Dalits, more than ever before.  The Sikh ideology requires us to start a reform movement for social, educational, religious, cultural and political upliftment of all sections of society, especially the under-resourced and under-privileged. My Guru was crystal clear. He said,

Neechan andar neech jaat, neechi hoon att neech

Nanak tinke sang saath vadhyan syon kya rees.

Guru Nanak befriends and associates with the lowliest of the lowliest, there is no need to imitate those considered mighty, big and powerful.