On Guru Ghasidas' Birth Anniversary, Villager Pays Heartwarming Tribute With Special Act

Guru Ghasidas, the visionary founder of the Satnam sect of Hinduism, played a pivotal role in providing a religious and social identity to a significant population from the Chamar caste in Chhattisgarh through his Satnam Pant, known as the Path of the True Name. Revered for his ability to allegedly revive the dead, Guru Ghasidas has become a central figure in myths and stories.

Recently, Satyendra Sonwani, a resident of Sendri village in Chhattisgarh, contributed to the folklore by participating in a street play during the birth anniversary celebration of Baba Ghasidas in Pahanda village. The performance involved wrapping Satyendra in a white sheet and burying him in a pit. A sage sprinkled water on the pit, and after an extended period, Satyendra emerged alive, garnering applause from the onlookers. The remarkable feat has left spectators in awe, although the details of how Satyendra accomplished this remain unclear.

Organising committee members believe that such programs contribute to societal unity and foster harmonious relations among people. This annual event, organised with the cooperation of villagers, includes celebrations like Panthi Nitya and Panthi Geet, accompanied by a grand procession.

According to The Ambedkarite Today, Guru Ghasidas was born on December 18, 1756, and passed away at the age of eighty in 1836. Born into an untouchable family in Girodhpuri, a village 130 km from Raipur, Chhattisgarh, Guru Ghasidas founded the Satnam Panth. The core tenets of this path assert that truth is God, and there exists only one formless and infinite God, known as Nirgun. Rejecting idol worship, Guru Ghasidas recognised the connection between Brahmin dominance and idolatry. His holistic vision emphasised that social injustice and inequality could only be eradicated by reforming both the system and individuals.

The teachings of Guru Ghasidas also deeply influenced Veer Narayan Singh, the first martyr from Chhattisgarh in the Indian War of Independence in 1857. His legacy endures through the Satnam Panth, which continues to advocate for truth, social reform, and the rejection of idol worship.