Deciphering Deras

•How many deras are there in Punjab?

Estimates vary but it is generally believed that there are about 300 major deras across the state and the neighbouring state of Haryana. Out of these,about a dozen have substantial following — over one lakh devotees each. There are hundreds of others which are restricted to a few villages each.

•Are only Sikhs members of these deras?

No,membership of deras is not restricted to Sikhs. A number of Hindus are also members of these deras. In fact,some of the deras even have Muslim and Christian followers.

•Who are the main followers of the deras?

Although these deras generally have members from various castes and creeds,the majority of the members belong to the so-called “lower castes”,that is,members of Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes.

•How are these different from mainstream Sikhism?

Most of these deras teach respect and reverence for Guru Granth Sahib,the holy book of Sikhs,and other religious scriptures. However,they either provide their own interpretation or add to what is there in the Guru Granth Sahib.

•Why is the mainstream Sikh clergy opposed to deras?

It believes that the deras are the most serious threat to the 500-year-old religion. It is of the view that the deras do not follow the tenets laid down by the Sikh gurus,including the one that there cannot be a living guru. The clergy also believes that the deras were bent upon distorting the teachings and were trying to wean away the faithfuls from Gurdwaras.

•Why do people flock to deras in such large numbers?

The members of Scheduled Castes and other “lower castes” nurse the grouse that they are discriminated against by the “higher caste” Sikhs. They also hold the view that the “higher caste” Sikhs,that is Jats,do not allow those from other castes to hold responsible positions in gurdwara management committees. Also,these deras go beyond spiritualism to campaign against drug and liquor menace and take up social projects.

•How do the deras get power and their legitimacy?

Since the followers of these deras go by the diktat of their living guru,they constitute solid vote banks. The visits and obeisance paid by top politicians give them legitimacy. Dera Sacha Sauda followers,for instance,are considered to be a force to reckon with in the Malwa region of Punjab.

•Have there been conflicts in the past?

Quite a few but most are sorted out at village levels. Some of the major ones include clashes involving Sant Nirankari Samagam,Dera Sacha Sauda and followers of Baba Bhaniarewala and Sant Ashutosh in the recent past.

•Why Vienna in this particular case?

Vienna is known to be the refuge of Sikh hardliners,many of them former militants or their ideologues. They had settled down there during the days of terrorism in Punjab and continue to stoke divisive fires. Some of them still carry on with their propaganda through websites and even transfer of funds to their sympathisers in Punjab.

• What is Dera Sachkhand Ballan?

The dera was established about 70 years ago by Sant Pipal Singh at Ballan village near Jalandhar. Its founder believed in the teachings of the 15th century saint philosopher,Guru Ravi Dass,who was one of the pioneers of the Bhakti Movement. He was born in a “lower caste” but had launched a movement against discrimination on the basis of caste and creed. About 40 hymns and a couplet by him is incorporated in the Guru Granth Sahib. He presented a middle path between assimilation and radical separatism for a separate Dalit identity.

•Does the dera have branches?

Yes,the dera has several branches in Punjab. It also has branches in Varanasi and Bhopal. Dalits constitute a majority of its members and they are spread all across Punjab.

•Why is this dera being targeted?

Several deras and their followers have been targeted in the recent past in Punjab. These include the followers of Sant Ram Rahim Singh of Dera Sacha Sauda and followers of Baba Bhaniarewala and Sant Ashutosh. There was no recent instance of attack against followers of Dera Sachkhand Ballan in India. However,an attempt was made on the life of its chief Sant Niranjan Dass in Spain last week. Since Vienna and some other European cities had sheltered former militants and ideologues of Sikh militancy,the Baba and his followers became a target at Vienna. Those who attacked them were objecting to the use of word ‘Guru’ with their spiritual leader Ravi Dass inside the gurdwara.