There is little information on Ramgariha Sikhs among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

A History of the Sikhs states that Ram Singh, a Ramgarhia Sikh born in 1816 in the village of Bhaini, Ludhiana district, introduced changes to Sikhism that separated his followers from other Sikhs (1966, 128). Singh's followers came to be known as Kukas and came from the poorer Sikh classes of Ramgarhias, Jats, cobblers and Mazhabis (ibid., 129). In 1966, Kukas, a religious sub-sect of Sikhism to which many Ramgariha Sikhs belong, were concentrated in the districts of Hissar, Amritsar and Ludhiana (ibid., 134).

A 31 December 1994 India Worldwide report states that Ramgharia Sikhs have adopted a Hindu-like caste system of their own, which includes separate temples for worship and the prohibition of inter-marriage.

In a 24 June 1998 e-mail message sent to the Research Directorate, a professor of Political Science specializing in Sikhs and Punjabis at the University of Missouri in Columbia stated that the Ramgarihas are a Sikh carpenter caste in the Punjab who have "done well" for themselves. He further stated, however, that there are many lawyers and other professionals who are Ramgariha today. This is the only reference to the current situation which the Research Directorate can find at this time. The professor did not provide additional information.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate 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. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

India Worldwide. 31 December 1994. Rasna Warah. "Asians Should Take Courage From Their Historical Legacy: Indians in Africa." (The Ethnic NewsWatch/NEXIS)

Professor of Political Science, University of Missouri, Columbia. 24 June 1998. E-mail message sent to the Research Directorate.

Singh, Khushwant. 1966. A History of the Sikhs. Volume 2: 1839-1964. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

The Encyclopedia of Religion. 1987.

India: The Status of the Sikhs. April 1992.

Mahmood, Cynthia Keepley. 1996. Fighting for Faith and Nation.

Mulgrew, Ian. 1988. Unholy Terror: The Sikhs and International Terrorism..

New Encyclopedia Britannica. 1989.

Pettigrew, Joyce. The Sikhs and the Punjab. 1995.

Electronic sources: IRB Databases, Global News Bank, Internet, REFWORLD (UNHCR database), World News Connection (WNC).