Ravidasia Community Seeks Separate Religious Recognition in Census 2027 at Phagwara Conference

Ashok Kaura

Jul 12, 2026 - 20:20

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PHAGWARA: A large-scale conference of the Ravidasia community was organised at Dana Mandi in Phagwara, Kapurthala district, under the banner of the Akhil Bhartiya Ravidasia Dharam Sangathan, with its Convenor Satish Suman leading the event. The conference brought together saints, religious leaders, public representatives and devotees from different parts of Punjab and neighbouring states to collectively press for the inclusion of "Ravidasia Religion" as a separate religious category in the forthcoming Population Census 2027.

The conference was attended by Sant Niranjan Das of Dera Sachkhand Ballan, Jalandhar, who participated as the Chief Guest, along with several prominent saints of the Ravidasia community. Addressing the gathering, the saints and community representatives unanimously reiterated their long-standing demand for official recognition of the Ravidasia religion through a separate religious column in the national census. They stated that such recognition would acknowledge the distinct religious identity of the community and safeguard its constitutional rights.

Speakers at the conference highlighted the life and teachings of Satguru Ravidas Maharaj Ji, describing him as a revered spiritual leader who propagated the values of humanity, equality, social justice, a caste-free society and spiritual freedom. They said that his teachings continue to inspire millions of followers not only across India but also in several countries around the world. According to the speakers, the Ravidasia community has evolved with its own distinct religious identity, traditions, places of worship, symbols and faith practices, making it deserving of separate recognition in official records.

The saints and community leaders maintained that the Constitution of India guarantees every citizen the fundamental right to profess, practise, propagate and express their religious beliefs freely. They stated that lakhs of members of the Ravidasia community have, for many years, identified themselves as Ravidasia in various official and social records. In this context, they argued that providing a separate religious column for "Ravidasia Religion" in Census 2027 would be consistent with the constitutional principles of equality, religious freedom and democratic justice.

During the conference, the community collectively appealed to the Government of India to include "Ravidasia Religion" as a separate category in the forthcoming Census 2027. They also urged the Centre to hold official discussions with representatives of the Ravidasia community regarding the demand and to ensure constitutional protection of the community's religious identity and associated rights.

Besides the census-related demand, the conference also focused on issues concerning the preservation and promotion of the legacy of Guru Ravidas. Community leaders called upon the Government to establish a Guru Ravidas University at Varanasi to commemorate the 650th birth anniversary of Guru Ravidas, stating that such an institution would serve as a centre for research and dissemination of his teachings and philosophy. Another significant demand raised during the conference was the installation of a statue of Guru Ravidas at Adampur Airport, which, according to the speakers, would honour the contribution of the great saint and reflect the sentiments of millions of his followers.

The event witnessed the participation of several political leaders and prominent personalities from across party lines. Among those present were Som Prakash Kainth, former Member of Parliament from Hoshiarpur; Vijay Sampla, former Chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes; Avinash Chander, BJP leader; Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal, Congress MLA from Phagwara Assembly Constituency; Sant Gurdeep Gir of Pathankot; Sant Krishan Nath of Dera Nanak Nagri; Sant Pritam Das of Sangatpur; along with numerous saints, social leaders and representatives of the Ravidasia community.

The conference concluded with a collective appeal to the Government of India to recognise the religious identity of the Ravidasia community through appropriate constitutional and administrative measures. The organisers described the gathering as a significant step in the community's ongoing campaign for official recognition, asserting that the demand reflects the aspirations of millions of Ravidasia followers in India and abroad.

The programme concluded peacefully with Langar Seva, attended by devotees and participants. The event passed off without any untoward incident, and law and order remained peaceful throughout the conference.