The Padma Shri conferred on Sant Niranjan Das and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s proposed visit to Dera Sachkhand Ballan have renewed national attention on the Dera’s pivotal role in shaping Ravidassia identity and Dalit assertion in Punjab.
About The Author
Dr. Ronki Ram is currently Shaheed Bhagat Singh Chair Professor of Political Science at Panjab University (PU), Chandigarh, member State Higher Education Council, UT Chandigarh, and Visiting Prof Uni. of Ladakh. He also served as Dean (Faculty of Arts) , Honorary Director, ICSSR, Chandigarh, member Indian National Commission for Cooperation with UNESCO, visiting Prof Uni. of Wolverhampton (UK), and taught at Goa Uni, Leiden Uni, the Netherlands, and Ryukoku Uni. Kyoto, Japan as ICCR Chair Professor of India Studies.
A reflection on selfless service as worship, ethical practice, and the foundation of egalitarian community life in Sikh tradition
A symbol of sacrifice, loyalty, and spiritual dedication, Bhai Jaita’s heroic legacy and the deep-rooted service of his illustrious lineage stand as timeless reminders of the Sikh tradition of steadfast faith and selfless seva
Trump’s attempts to impose tariff barriers on China allude less towards economic rivalries and more towards the emerging trajectories of the new world order
Trump’s executive order to recognise only two sexes—male and female—has triggered a tragic dilemma of revealing less and concealing more
Guru Ravidass, one of the most famous so-called untouchable sages of the 15th-16th century, articulated an alternative genre of bhakti that challenged caste-based social exclusion.
Excerpted from the book 'Pagrhi Sambhāl Lehar to Samyukt Kisan Morcha: A Century of Punjab Kisan Struggle 1907-2021' by Ronki Ram, this article draws parallels between the 1984 Chandigarh morcha and the ongoing farmers' protests.
Pagrhi Sambhal O’ Jatta was the original peasant movement in the pre-colonial period that has energised farmers’ protests even today
A major attribute of deras is their capacity to provide succour to those tossed aside by the mainstream
Moosewala had returned to his roots at a time when Punjab was set to become a graveyard for the hopes and aspirations amid an exploding crisis fueled by farm distress, drug menace and dwindling public education.
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