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Social cleavages, Deras and politics in Eastern Punjab: A study of Dera Sacha Sauda

Journal of Social and Administrative Sciences

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Title Social cleavages, Deras and politics in Eastern Punjab: A study of Dera Sacha Sauda
 
Creator SINGH, Surinder;

Assistant Professor of Political Science

Panjab University Rural Centre, Kauni

Sri Muktsar Sahib
 
Subject Dera, Sacha Sauda; Cleavage; Politics; Punjab; Sikh; Society.
Z12; Z13; Y40.
 
Description Abstract. The vicious conflicts erupted between the followers of Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh, the head of Dera Sacha Sauda, and fundamentalist Sikhs reveals that the violence not only deepen social cleavages but also enhances the cleavages in Sikh dominated society in Eastern Punjab. The paper’s argument is that the social cleavages in the political society of Punjab give birth to religious sects (Deras) which in turn feed on them in a vicious circle. Dera as an idea and institution is itself cleavages based which gives impetus to political articulation of a given subdued culture to come forth as a challenge to the mainstream socio-cultural and religious discourse. The Deras formed distinct religious symbols, cultural traits, daily code of conduct, rituals and prayers for their followers which dreaming them an egalitarian utopian society or social space. However, by doing so the Deras are enhancing the cleavages in the society instead the elimination of the cleavages. The Dera Sacha Sauda is taken as reference for the study.Keywords. Dera, Sacha Sauda, Cleavage, Politics, Punjab, Sikh, Society.JEL. Z12, Z13, Y40.
 
Publisher Journal of Social and Administrative Sciences
Journal of Social and Administrative Sciences
 
Contributor —
 
Date 2019-03-24
 
Type info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
—
 
Format application/pdf
 
Identifier http://www.kspjournals.org/index.php/JSAS/article/view/1839
10.1453/jsas.v6i1.1839
 
Source Journal of Social and Administrative Sciences; Vol 6, No 1 (2019): March; 47-65
Journal of Social and Administrative Sciences; Vol 6, No 1 (2019): March; 47-65
2149-0406
 
Language eng
 
Relation http://www.kspjournals.org/index.php/JSAS/article/view/1839/1859
 
Rights Copyright (c) 2019 Journal of Social and Administrative Sciences
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0