UNPACKING CASTE DISCOURSES IN THE SIKH SCRIPTURE: INSIGHTS FROM THE ADI GRANTH

Background: In this paper, first, we briefly reckon with the presence of caste in present-day Sikhism and acknowledge the massive corpus of literature highlighting the difference between the ritual sanction (or lack thereof) for caste and actual practice today. However, this paper focuses on the former of these two aspects by analyzing the Adi Granth and inferring the attitude of the writers towards the Brahmanical caste hierarchy. It argues that broadly, Sikhism recognizes the existence of caste in society but seeks to subvert it by critiquing its existence and repeatedly asserting the tenets of egalitarianism. However, none of the Gurus mention their own caste in any of these verses. References to the castes of the writers themselves are only seen in the additional verses by Ravidas, Kabir, and others through the stories highlighted in the writings of these authors. These writers assert their stances against caste by recognizing their own lower status and using it to critique the apparent intrinsic superiority of Brahmins in the varna hierarchy. Thus, Sikhism promotes equality irrespective of caste and class and is progressive, at least with respect to its scripture. The Adi Granth is a valuable text in this regard, by helping construct an early history of caste and untouchability in the Sikh context.