ABSTRACT
The present-day Indian state of Punjab has a unique pattern of caste hierarchy that differentiates it from the rest of the country. In the country at large, Brahmans are placed at the top of the Hindu caste hierarchy whereby they continue to enjoy special social privileges, such as being the custodians of the sacred and spiritual realms in the religious traditions now popularly called Hinduism or Hindu Dharma. It seems that Dalits are now no longer seeking equality in the otherwise unequal social space by asking for an equal share in the existing social structures in the society. The popular counter Dalit narrative was, however, originally developed by Jyotirao Phule of Maharashtra and later on Babu Mangu Ram Mugowalia, the founder of the Ad Dharm movement, made it popular in the region. The philosophy behind the emergence of Ravidassia Dharm began to evolve in Punjab during the 1920s.
