Punjab Polls Over: Leaders, Care About Sant Ravidas Event Much?

Devotion Or Bowing For Votes?

The followers of Saint Ravidas, the North Indian mystic poet-sant of the bhakti movement during the 15th to 16th century feel they have been taken for a ride by politicians like PM Narendra Modi and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.

Last year, on 20 February – during the 639th birth anniversary celebrations of the saint poet who has mostly Punjabi following, Kejriwal and Modi made it a point to participate in the function. But that was when the Punjab elections were due. This year none of them were seen or heard of at the village site that resembles a mini-Kumbh mela.

This Year, Ravidas Jayanti Falls on 10 February

We have no connection with any party. People come here to seek Guru Ravidas’ blessings. Last year, PM Modi and Delhi CM Kejriwal were here... What these politicians think, only they know. This year none of them are set to visit.

Gyanchand, Official of Sant Ravidas Janamsthan Trust

Several other devotees too expressed their disappointment.

Bobby, a volunteer at the function at the Seer Gowardhanpur village in Varanasi said: “Most of them come to such functions to woo voters. After their purpose is served, they do not return.”

Another volunteer Tej Singh echoed his opinion.

“They arrive only for votes. They should stay connected after the polling too,”he said.

Venerated as a Guru (teacher) in the region of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Maharashtra, the devotional songs of Ravidas made a lasting impact upon the bhakti movement. He was a poet-saint, social reformer and a spiritual figure. He is considered as the founder of 21st-century Ravidassia religion, by a group who previously were associated with Sikhism.

Ravidas belonged to the community of skinners of dead cattle, a work then assigned to the Chamar community, which is a category under the Schedule of Castes.

Punjab Polls Completed on 4 February

Polling was held on 4 February to elect the 117-member Punjab Assembly in a three-cornered contest with the Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP combine, which is battling anti-incumbency after a 10-year rule, locked in a tough contest with the Congress and the new entrant Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Around 1.98 crore people were eligible to vote in the high-stake election.

(With inputs from Vikrant Dubey in Varanasi)