RELIGIOUS TRANSNATIONALISM, RAVIDASI IDENTITY AND THE DERA SANT SARWAN DASS, BALLAN

摘要

This paper examines the general assumption that for caste-based social movements transnationalism is creating new divisions and iniquitous social hierarchies. By drawing on a detailed case study of the Dera Sant Sarwan Dass, Ballan (DSSDB), Punjab, it argues that for these organisations transnationalism can be a powerful agent of religious and social change. By cultivating its transnational links, especially in the UK, the DSSDB has now emerged as the main driver of Ravidas identity in Punjab. This achievement would not have been possible without the material support of overseas followers for whom the building of social and religious institutions in Punjab has been intimately interlinked with the search for a separate Ravidas identity. Transnationalism has, thus, been central to the process of differentiation between the followers of the DSSDB and the Sikhism and has accelerated this trend since the Vienna incident.View full textDownload full textRelated var addthis_config = { ui_cobrand: "Taylor & Francis Online", services_compact: "citeulike,netvibes,twitter,technorati,delicious,linkedin,facebook,stumbleupon,digg,google,more", pubid: "ra-4dff56cd6bb1830b" }; Add to shortlist Link Permalink http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17448727.2012.671036