Information on the Ravi Dass, when the sect was formed, its leadership, and orientation [IND17389.E]

Information on when the Ravi Dass was formed, its leadership, and its orientation could not be found among the sources currently available to the DIRB. However, according to a representative of the Sikh American Information Centre (SAIC) in San Jose, California, Raidas was a member of the "untouchable" caste living in India who became a Sikh saint (6 May 1994). The source stated that the writings of Raidas are incorporated in the Adi-Granth, or Sikh holy book (6 May 1994).

The source stated that Sikhs do not adhere to the tenets of the caste system, and that largely because of this, many members of the untouchable caste in India have adopted Sikhism over the years (ibid.). According to a professor of political science at McGill University in Montreal, these individuals are referred to as "Mazhbi" (6 May 1994).

The representative of the SAIC stated that many "untouchables" were not fully assimilated into mainstream Sikh communities and that some groups of converts eventually established their own temples (ibid.). He said that the group also conferred Guru status upon Raidas thus creating a distinct sect known as Ravi Dass (6 May 1994). He stated that the main theological difference between the Ravi Dass and mainstream Sikhs is that the sect reveres eleven Gurus as opposed to the traditional ten (ibid.). The source said that to the best of his knowledge, the sect is "passive" and is not politically active (ibid.).

A representative of the Federation of Sikh Societies in Canada in Ottawa added that the Ravi Dass in Canada has been increasingly visible and that the group has recently bought television air-time (6 May 1994). The representative stated that main-stream Sikhs and officials generally ignore the sect as a matter of policy (ibid.). He was unaware of when the sect was originally formed, its leadership structure and its political orientation if any (ibid.).

Additional or corroborative information could not be found among the sources currently available to the DIRB.

This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

References

Federation of Sikh Societies in Canada, Ottawa. 6 May 1994. Telephone interview with representative.

Professor of political science, McGill University, Montreal. 6 May 1994. Telephone interview.

Sikh American Information Centre, San Jose, California. 6 May 1994. Telephone interview with representative.