Surprising explanations for why Shikhs in the Punjab have become Christians
When injustice has been done to Dalits and backward classes in any religion or sect, then a new sect or religion is born, whether it is Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, or many other religions.
And this is happening inside Punjab where Dalit Sikhs and Hindus are constantly changing their religion. There are many reasons behind this.
– Christianity is growing in Panjab mirroring state like Tamil Nadu experienced in 1980 to 1990.
– In Panjab small churches are springing up on the rooftops of many villages in Gurdaspur.
– Tired of centuries of Casteism and systems of oppression many Dalits belonging to the Mazhabi Shikh and Valmiki Hindu. Most mass conversions are nearby the Pakistan-Panjab border belt.
– Have adopted Christianity in search of a more dignified life and higher education. – Kamal Bakshi is the state president of the United Christion Front, a group that has committed in 8000 of Panjab’s 12000 villages.
He estimates that there are 600-700 churches in the Amritsar and Gurdaspur areas. . /
That belongs to four Christian denominations. He says 60-70 % of these have sprung up in the last five years.
Co-Opting the Change
Change
– The Christian faith has co-opted many of the cultural markers of Panjab from turban to “Teppe.”
– Some convert from Sikhism do not discard their turban.
– While the majority of Christians in the state use the surname “Massih” to identify themselves to churches, many do not change their previous names
– Most of the converted people not changes their names to take advantage of reservations for Dalits which aren’t available if they convert.
– Most conversions happened in the Panjab border area like Amritsar, Gurdaspur, frozpur, and Jalandhar. Dujowal, a village two KM from the Pakistan border, about 30 % of the voters are Christian.
Anger from Sheikh Authorities Authorities
– This conversion to Christianity has irked the “Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee”, the organization responsible for managing Gurudwara across Panjab and several other states.
– Giani Harpreet Singh (Jathedar of Aakhal Takht), alleged that Christians were converting sheikhs in border villages through force and by money.
What data Said
– As per to the 2011 census, Amritsar has 2% of the overall population while Gurdaspur has 7.68%..
– Now some media report pegs that Christion vote share in Gurdaspur and Amritsar district at 17 to 20%.