Ravidas a word itself not need any explanation what is it means. He is the next person who took birth same as we all born from our parents in the 15th century at Varanasi in a family whose profession was associated with leather processing. Now, in the modern state of India, Ravidas is faith and God by its virtue for the Ravidasia community. His denouncing to the Brahminical thoughts in India is a one most prominent and historical episode in the socio-cultural history of Indian society. Now in the 21st century, his teachings are as much as relevant as they were during his lifetime.

During his life, Guru Ravidas visited the place Chamarwala Johar, Tughlaqabad, New Delhi. Since then, people from the community built faith and constructed the small memorial structure.  The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) demolishes the structure on the name of encroachment on the public land. In the various part of country people from the Chamar caste and sub-castes building their faith actively and throwing away the Hindu deities. This is a new challenge by the Dalits and Marginal to the Brahminical society. So the Brahminical ideologues are finding Guru Ravidas teachings against the idea of Hindu-Rashtra. This is one of the main reason to demolish the 500 years old structure from the premises from the DDA land at the Tughalqabad Extention in New Delhi on 10^th August 2019.   The construction of Tughlaqabad Ravidas temple is not on Road or creating any obstruction to the general masses. Still, local politicians from the right-wing got success in dismantling the structure.

This particular structure was a historical place, and people from the Ravidasia community have faith, that the Guru Ravidas himself visited the site and took rest since then it’s another name/identity is Guru Ravidas Vishramsthal. During the demolition exercise by DDA under the heavy presence of Police and Paramilitary forces people including Saint-community from various part of the country like Punjab, Haryana, Uttrakhand, Himanchal. Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra protested the demolition. Bhim Army Chief along with the team also opposed on the spot.

Few things are clear about the BJP government at centre and Delhi state government which also backed by the RSS. Guru Ravidas Mandir, Tughalqabad Extention structure demolition is third such structure where DDA has done demolition. Earlier Buddha Vihar at Devli hill at New Delhi also dismantled by DDA and another Bhagwan Valmiki Mandir, Seemapuri, New Delhi demolished. No support by the Delhi State government headed by Arvind Kejriwal to save these historic structures provided. What is the meaning of all these activities by the BJP and the similar right-wing forces at the various levels? First, Right-wing continuously is attacking on the historic faith of the people from the marginal communities particular on the people who are supporting to the idea of the Ambedkar and constitutional morality in true sense. They know that Ambedkar and its Constitution is a big challenge for the whole right-wing community i.e. Hindutva. Precisely, Ambedkar is a most significant threat to the Hindu- Rashtra, in the real sense, people who are following to the Buddha in the way the Dr Ambedkar adhered in 1956 are outrightly rejecting to the Brahminical propaganda. And the communities, groups or the people in an individual from scheduled castes have faith in Guru Ravidas, they have equal confidence in the teaching of Ambedkar. So, Ravidasia community have full faith in Baba Shaheb Ambedkar. However, few people who believe in Baba Shaheb Ambedkar in an absolute sense and adopted Buddhism, somehow alleged that the Guru Ravidas is a part of Hindutva-culture. What I am arguing here, if Guru Ravidas is a part of Hindutva then, why the right-wing people did support the dismantling of these structures? What happened two years ago at Sabbirpur in Sharanpur District in western Uttar Pradesh when the Bhim Army and Great Chamar came into the headlines, the starting point of objection by the Rajput communities against Jatavs or Chamar’s is because of their acceptance to the teachings of Guru Ravidas and closeness to the Guru Ravidas and Dr. Ambedkar. The images are playing important roles; at the Sabbirpur village, there were both Guru Ravidas and Dr Ambedkar statues.

Second, As many scholars from the Dalits believes that the systematic cultural revolution within the marginal communities can counter the system of Brahminical thoughts, then such structures like the Guru Ravidas temple, Ambedkar Bhawan, Bhagwan Valmiki Mandir and many such structures on the name of Dalit icons are the place where systematic cultural activities are taking place on different occasions, which is another threat to the Hindutva. These places are also creating political space for marginal leaders. So in a way, Right-wing never can accept these spaces.

Third, As quite visible in North India, the young generation mainly the youth started paying attention to their heritage and rich culture, they started visiting such sites occasionally, youth from the marginal communities are begun taking part in annual Jayanti celebration of Guru Ravidas, Valmiki Ji, Dr Ambedkar Jayanti and all such celebration events happening at these places. It means the young generation is serious about their culture, and they do not want to be part of Hindutva. That is why these places are irritant to the right-wing. Since the Bhim Army started working nationwide, primarily, youth are motivated to identify their ancestors and they are getting proud of it.

But the problematic part of the story behind the demolition of the structure of Guru Ravidas Mandir, Chamarwala Johar at Tughlqawad extension, New Delhi happened through the Supreme Court order of Castiest Judges Justice Arun Mishra and Justice M R Shah. As we know in many such cases, Justice Arun Mishra is against the Justice to the people from Schedule castes and Schedule tribes. It happened in the Judgement of 15th March 2018 when the SC/ST Atrocities (PoA) Act 1989 weakens by the same Judges. It happened in the 200 point roster case, which is related to the reservation among the teaching posts in the public educational institutions of higher education. At the courts, particularly at the highest level, Castiest Judges are the biggest challenge for social Justice.

Guru Ravidas is a one of a prominent figure in the Sikhism when any incident by the motivated right-wing actors including state i.e., government doing against him, why the Sikh community is silent. I don’t have an answer to it.

Another, people who believe in the teachings of Guru Ravidas and obeying his path in a real sense also paying equal respect to the teachings of Mahatama Buddha. But what happening in many a time the Buddhist community is not extending their support to all these incidents.

Guru Ravidas is not only limited to the specific regions of North India but, he is now part of an international list of religious cum spiritual path ladder to the masses. Because the people of the same faith who follow Ravidas ideology to live their lives are living around the world, including Europe, America, and Australia continents. His fundamental principles of rights of equality, justice, freedom, and liberty are a great inspiration to the many leaders since his contemporary to the modern Indian nation from Queen Mirabai to Queen Jhhaali. Then, Indian constitution founding father Dr. B R Ambedkar and the Bahujan Samaj Party founder Kanshi Ram etc. followed teachings and dedicated their work to Guru Ravidas.

Guru Ravidas not only denounced the Brahminical structures but he draws another big line by his practice of Nirguna to achieve nirvana. His way of teachings is simple; you need not go to offer anything to the deity. No matter who is the deity, In the Guru Ravidas’s own words, he uses the ‘NAAM’ and somewhere ‘Rama’ word equating to Nirguna form of Bhakti, later he clarified Rama is not the Ram of Dashratha Son.

After the sad incident of demolition of historical structure of Guru Ravidas temple, Chamarwal Johar, Tughalqabad extension, New Delhi, people from the Ravidasia community in various parts of the country are showing anger in the form of band and protest. United, Saint-community of Ravidasia faith across the country, All India Ravidasia Dharm Sagthan and Bhim Army called a nationwide protest on 21^st August 2019 at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi and appealed peopled to take part in large numbers with the demand from the government to not to hurt the faith and sentiments of the Ravidasia community in particular and Dalits in general. Also, demand for building the Guru Ravidas temple at the same spot where DDA did demolition on 10^th August.

Author – Ram Dayal Ahirwar

Ram Dayal Ahirwar completed MA in International Relations from South Asian University, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi. (University Established by SAARC countries). Also did Bachelor of Engineering from RGPV Bhopal, then worked as Project Engineer, at Wipro Technologies Pvt. Ltd. Pune and Hyderabad location (2013-2015). Interested in subaltern political thoughts, inspired by the Dalit – Bahujan philosophy. Associated with the Ravidasia ideological movement across the countries. Originally native of Rampura Village in Chhatarpur (Bundelkhand) District of Madhya Pradesh and from first-generation learner family.

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