Caste
Caste or Caste systems are hereditary systems of social class in many parts of the world. This classification is based on social occupation, endogamy, social class, and social group. In Punjabi, caste is called Jaat.
Sikhism teaches one not to discriminate on basis of caste, sect, tribal background or Jaat. No importance is to be given to the person's tribal group or ancestry; all must be accepted as the same. The Guru says, Recognize the Lord's Light in all, don't ask their caste or race; there are no class or caste in the world hereafter. (1)(Pause). When the Panj Pyare were baptised in 1699, each of the five was from a different sect or caste. The Sikh Gurus did not allow any discrimination based on caste or sect or cults; everyone was treated the same irrespective of their jaat or caste.
Sikhism teaches the importance of having respect for yours and personal and family ancestral histories of others; this includes tribal, social and national heritages. However, it is with the condition that it should not be based on negative prejudices against others. People of all castes, sects or tribal groups are to be treated equally irrespective of their jaat or sect. Provided you show respect for your own personal and ancestral family history as well as other peoples, this is seen as spiritually positive in Sikhism.
Many Sikhs of many backgrounds hold this religious interpretation and value their tribal, national and ancestral family histories. For many Sikhs respecting everyone else's national and ancestral family histories is viewed as a very positive form of Multiculturalism [1][2].
Gurbani
Below are quotation from Guru Granth Sahib which highlight the advice given by the Sikh Gurus on this aspect of human living:
| ਜਾਣਹ ਜੋਤਿ ਨ ਪੂਛਹ ਜਾਤੀ ਆਗੈ ਜਾਤਿ ਨ ਹੇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ |
| Jĝṇhu joṯ na pūcẖẖahu jĝṯī ĝgai jĝṯ na hė. ॥1॥ rahĝo. |
| Recognize the Lord's Light within all, and do not consider social class or status; there are no classes or castes in the world hereafter. ॥1॥Pause॥ |
| ਖਤਰੀ ਬਰਾਹਮਣ ਸੂਦ ਵੈਸ ਉਪਦੇਸ ਚਹ ਵਰਨਾ ਕਉ ਸਾਝਾ ॥ |
| Kẖaṯrī barĝhmaṇ sūḝ vais upḝės cẖahu varnĝ kao sĝjẖĝ. |
| The four castes - the Kh'shaatriyas, Brahmins, Soodras and Vaishyas -are equal in respect to the teachings. |
| ਬਰਹਮਨ ਬੈਸ ਸੂਦ ਅਰ ਖਯਯਤਰੀ ਡੋਮ ਚੰਡਾਰ ਮਲੇਛ ਮਨ ਸੋਇ ॥ ਹੋਇ ਪਨੀਤ ਭਗਵੰਤ ਭਜਨ ਤੇ ਆਪ ਤਾਰਿ ਤਾਰੇ ਕਲ ਦੋਇ ॥੧॥ |
| Barahman bais sūḝ ar kẖayṯarī dom cẖandĝr malėcẖẖ man soė. Hoė punīṯ bẖagvanṯ bẖajan ṯė ĝp ṯĝr ṯĝrė kul ḝoė. ॥1॥ |
| Whether he is a Brahmin, a Vaishya, a Soodra, or a Kh'shaatriya; whether he is a poet, an outcaste, or a filthy-minded person, he becomes pure, by meditating on the Lord God. He saves himself, and the families of both his parents. ॥1॥ |
See also
| Social Groups |
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Rajput ♣♣ Khatri ♣♣ Lohar ♣♣ Kumhar ♣♣ Nai ♣♣ Chamar ♣♣ Arora ♣♣ Bhatra ♣♣ Agrawal ♣♣ Bania ♣♣ Sindhi ♣♣ Saini ♣♣ Julaha |
