Who are the Ravidassias and why do they want a separate religion category in Census?

Prelims-testable facts

• 01The Ravidassias are a community that originated in Punjab and follow the teachings of Guru Ravidas.
• 02Guru Ravidas is believed to have lived in the 14th-15th century and was a prominent figure in the Bhakti movement.
• 03The Ravidassia religion is based on the principles of equality, justice, and compassion.
• 04The community has been demanding recognition as a separate religion since 2001.
• 05In 2020, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) approved the inclusion of 'Ravidasia' in the Census category.
• 06The Ravidassias have been recognized by the Indian government as a distinct religious group under the Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925.

Trap alerts

• Most people think that the Ravidassia community is a sub-sect of Sikhism, but actually they are a distinct religious group.
• Most people believe that the demand for separate religion category was made in response to violence against the community, but actually it was due to their long-standing efforts to get recognized as a separate entity.