-Avinash Rai Khanna
Guru Ravidas holds a distinguished and exalted place in the Indian spiritual tradition. He was not merely a saint or a poet but a social thinker who directly challenged the caste-based social order of medieval India. Guru Ravidas was born in 1433 CE in Kashi (Banaras), Uttar Pradesh. His father was Santokh Das Ji, and his mother was Kalsa (Kalsa Devi) Ji. His personal life was a remarkable blend of simplicity, honest labor, and devotion to God. He did not merely preach; he upheld the dignity of labor by personally engaging in the work of making shoes. In a 15th-century society plagued by untouchability, he accorded respect to the Shudras and the working class, proclaiming the message of human equality in these words: “Within every caste, there are further divisions, like the layers of a banana leaf; Oh Raidass, humanity cannot truly unite until the very concept of caste is eradicated.” These words of Guru Ravidas are not just a critique of the caste system but also embody a profound philosophy of social unity. He believed that as long as human beings remain divided by the walls of caste, equality and social justice cannot be established in society. To create a society based on truth, purity, and equality, he envisioned ‘Begumpura’. This is not merely an imaginary city but a profound principle of social justice. A key tenet of Guru Ravidas’s teachings is: “Begumpura is the name of the city; There is no sorrow or suffering in that place.” It is a vision of a society where there is neither ‘upper-caste’ nor Dalit; neither oppressor nor oppressed. There will be no fear nor injustice. The interesting thing is that just as there are struggles and movements for social justice and human rights in democratic systems today, Guru Ravidas had raised the voice of these values in the 15th century itself. Baba Saheb, the creator of the Indian Constitution. Bhimrao Ambedkar had described social democracy as the foundation of political democracy. He had said- “Political democracy cannot survive unless it has the basis of social democracy.” Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar had said this in the 20th century, but if seen, the roots of this principle are found in the words of Guru Ravi Das already five centuries ago. In fact, Begumpura is a spiritual interpretation of social democracy. One specialty of Guru Vidas ji’s speech is that it is not limited to any one religion or sect. In fact, no particular caste class can have a monopoly on truth, devotion and human equality. Perhaps this is the reason why Sikh Guru Sahibs have given a place to Guru Vid Das ji’s speech in Sri Guru Granth Sahib. 40 of his speeches The verses are recorded in Sri Guru Granth Sahib. According to the philosophy of Sikh Guru Sahibans, the basis of spiritual greatness is not birth, but the truth of life. The famous saying of Gurur Vidas prevalent in public life is – “If Mind is healthy the everything is fine.” Indian historian Dr. R. C. Majumdar regards the Bhakti movement as the beginning of religious democracy in Indian society. According to him, the saints of the Bhakti movement liberated religion from the confines of the priesthood and brought it to the common people. Guru Ravidas Ji’s contribution to this movement stands out because he did not merely speak of devotion; he also made social equality an integral part of religion. Renowned scholar of Bhakti literature, John Stratton Hawley, writes: “Saints like Guru Ravidas gave a voice to those sections of society that had remained on the margins for centuries. Their words represent not only spiritual experience but also a powerful language of social resistance.” Historian Romila Thapar writes: “By challenging birth-based privileges, the Bhakti tradition emphasized a direct relationship with the Divine. This idea lies at the core of Guru Ravidas Ji’s philosophy. For him, every human being is a child of the same Supreme Being, and therefore, all humans are equal.” A beautiful example of his social consciousness and vision for social reform is found in this verse: “I desire a realm where everyone finds sustenance, Where high and low dwell in equality, and Ravidas rejoices.” This verse is not merely a religious prayer but a vision of an ideal welfare state. In today’s world, as humanity grapples with challenges such as casteism, communalism, religious fanaticism, and economic inequality, the teachings of Guru Ravidas serve as a beacon of hope amidst the darkness, illuminating a new path for us all. The thoughts of Guru Vidas were not against any particular person or class, but were against the thinking which creates division in human society, exploits man by man and divides the society into the so-called upper and so-called untouchable classes. Guru Vidas ji’s life and his speech are not only a matter of history, Rather, it is a message giving direction to the present and future