Dalit - Dalits and International Comparative Sociology - Dalits in The United Kingdom - The Sikh Diaspora in The United Kingdom

The Sikh Diaspora in The United Kingdom

Although caste is presented as a Hindu concept, caste has and continues to influence Sikhs, Muslims and Christians. Caste divisions exist among Sikhs, Muslims and Christians whose families came from the sub-continent, as well as Hindus. The Sikh diaspora in the United kingdom is highly affected by caste, with Sikh Gurdwaras being built along caste lines. The Ramgarhia Sikh Gurdwaras are an example of caste-based Gurdwaras in Britain. Caste-based Gurdwaras exist all over Britain and most Gurdwaras in Britain are controlled by members of a single caste Caste remains a vitally important factor in Sikh religious organisations Caste factors are so acute that Sikhs of different caste are not able to share one Gurdwara. In most British towns and cities with a significant Sikh population, rival Gurdwaras can be found with caste specific management committees. The Sikh diaspora has maintained the same social structure of caste as in their homeland of Punjab. The caste system and Caste identity is very entrenched and reinforced among Sikhs in Britain. The main divisions among Sikhs in the United Kingdom are the Jatt Sikhs, Ramgarhia sikhs and the Dalit diaspora among the sikhs being the Mazhabi Sikhs and Ramdassi Sikhs. The Dalit Sikh diaspora have largely been segregated into Valmiki and ravidassia temples.

As Sikh Dalits worship in segregated temples they have formed umbrella groups consisting of a network of lower caste temples throughout the UK. Caste tensions erupt between higher caste Jatt Sikhs and lower caste Sikhs. Physical violence is also known to erupt between the two communities when an inter caste marriage takes place between the two communities. In the city of Wolverhampton incidents of Jatt Sikhs refusing to share water taps and avoidance of making any physical contact with lower castes has been reported. At a sports competition in Birmingham in 1999, Jatt Sikhs refused to eat food that had been cooked and prepared by the Chamar community.

Many upper-caste Sikhs hardly ever refer to Chamar places of worship with respectable terms. Many simply refer to them as the "Chamar Gurdwara". The majority of higher caste Sikhs would not eat in a Ravidassi house or in the Ravidassi temples Many Chamars have stated that they are made to feel unwelcome in Sikh Gurdwaras and Hindu temples it has also been found that many Sikhs do not wish to give Chamars equal status among their own Gurdwaras and communities. Consequently this has resulted in the Sikh Chamars (Ramdassi Sikhs) uniting with fellow Chamars, not necessarily of the same Sikh religion. Together they moved off and formed the Ravidassi Temples.

Like the Chamars, the Mazhabi sikhs too were subjected to the same forms of inequality and discrimination in Gurdwaras from Upper caste Sikhs; and The Mazhabi Sikhs unified with the Hindu Churas and formed the Valmiki Temples that exist around Britain.

The caste social structure and segregation among Sikhs in Britain can also be seen beyond and outside Gurdwaras. A pub in Bedford, a town in the east of England is known as "The Chamar pub" due to perceptions about its clientele. The former mayor of Coventry, a person of Dalit origin, felt it necessary to shift his campaign from a mostly Indian ward to a non-Southasian constituency in order to get elected to that post.

Social segregation and caste boundaries are well defined and maintained among British Sikhs through marriages. Inter-Caste marriages are highly frowned upon if not prohibited between Sikhs of different castes especially with Dalit Sikhs, and are very rare. There was great opposition and fury when a Ramgarhia groom desired to marry a Jatt Sikh bride. The bride's kin even threatened to kill the Ramgarhia groom. Despite the Jatt Sikhs and Ramgarhia Sikhs, both traditionally considered "Upper caste Sikhs" in Britain; fierce opposition occurred as the Jatt Sikhs viewed themselves to be superior in caste rank, in the traditional Sikh caste Hierarchy. Sikh marriages in Britain are highly caste endogenous and this forms a basic requirement among Sikh marriages. The social segregation of Sikh Dalits is well maintained through clear prohibition and discouragement of Inter-caste marriages with them.

Sikh Gurdwaras in Britain generally do not accept inter-caste marriages. A tiny minority of Sikh Gurdwaras may perform marriage ceremonies for inter-caste marriages but generally they are grudgingly accepted and solemnised in some gurdwaras, however they are not welcomed outright. Gurdwaras may place hurdles in the way of solemnising such marriages, for example, insisting on the presence of the words Singh and Kaur in the names of the bridegroom and bride, or deny such couples open access to Gurdwara-based religious services and community centres associated with Gurdwaras.

Theoretically the position of Sikhism is that it is an inclusive, casteless, classless and egalitarian faith which implies an acceptance of inter-caste marriages. However in practice this is not the case. Caste should have no place in Sikh marriages but in practice it is influential.