Dera Sachh Khand sect was established 70 years ago
May 26th, 2009 - 12:29 am ICT by IANSJalandhar, May 25 (IANS) The violent unrest that has gripped Punjab after a leader of the Dera Sachh Khand was killed following a clash in a gurdwara in faraway Austria has brought the sect into limelight.
The sect headquarters is located at Ballan near Jalandhar, 150 km from Chandigarh.
It is in the Doaba belt (the area between rivers Sutlej and Beas) where the sect has the maximum number of followers comprising Dalit Sikhs and people from other communities. Since followers of the sect are mainly from the lower castes, they have been subjugated by the dominant Jat-Sikh community of Punjab.
The sect was established by Sant Pipal Dass over 70 years back in village Ballan.
The basic purpose of the sect is to propagate the teachings and principles of 14th century social preacher, Guru Ravidass, across the world. Followers of the sect are spread in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and in various countries of Europe and also the United States.
The sect is known for involvement in social causes.
Presently Sant Niranjan Dass, 68, is the fifth head of the sect. He was also injured in the clash in Vienna Sunday.
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Tags: ballan, beas, castes, chandigarh, clash, countries of europe, dalit, followers, gurdwara, guru ravidass, haryana, jat, limelight, maharashtra, maximum number, niranjan, preacher, sect, sikhs, sutlej