Dera Sachkhand Ballan

Dera Sachkhand Ballan is the leading religious centre of the Ravidassia community, which follows Guru Ravidass. It stands in Ballan village, about eight kilometres from Jalandhar, and was founded in the early twentieth century by Sant Pipal Das. Its own site says it is guided by the Amritbani of Guru Ravidass and by Begampura, a vision of a society of dignity and equality. It runs a hospital, an eye hospital, a model school and a free langar.

Its heads, in order

• Sant Pipal Das, the founder.
• Sant Sarwan Dass, who led from 1928 until 11 June 1972.
• Sant Hari Dass, 1972 to 1982.
• Sant Garib Dass, from February 1982.
• Sant Niranjan Dass, who has led since 1994.

The dates before 1994 come from Wikipedia; the dera's own site names the heads without dates.

Why it matters here

The dera's following is concentrated in Doaba, where it is reported to influence 19 of the 23 Assembly seats, and Punjab's Scheduled Castes are about 32 per cent of its people. Leaders of the Congress, AAP, BJP and Akali Dal have all visited it.

On 24 May 2009 armed men attacked a Ravidass temple in Vienna. Sant Ramanand, 57, the dera's deputy head, was killed, and Sant Niranjan Dass was wounded. Three days of unrest followed in Punjab, with troops and paramilitary units called in, a curfew, and at least 58 policemen injured. The Khalistan Zindabad Force, which reports had linked to the attack, denied involvement in an emailed note to The Tribune, in which it said it "begs pardon from the entire Sikh panth." On 28 September 2010 an Austrian court convicted six Indian men. The main suspect was given life, four others 17 to 18 years, and one six months. Prosecutors said the motive was a religious dispute.

In January 2010, disciples led by Sant Niranjan Dass declared Ravidass Dharm a separate religion at Seer Goverdhanpur in Banaras. It has its own book, Amrit Bani Guru Ravidass, and a symbol called Hari. The Tribune reported that the decision followed the Vienna firing.

Key moments

• Early 1900s: founded by Sant Pipal Das.
• 24 May 2009: Vienna attack.
• January 2010: Ravidass Dharm declared.
• 25 January 2026: the Union government announced a Padma Shri for Sant Niranjan Dass.
• 1 February 2026: Narendra Modi visited the dera on Guru Ravidass Jayanti, which The Week called the first visit by a sitting Prime Minister.

Where it stands today

The dera remains a major centre for Ravidassias and a focus of political attention ahead of the 2027 Punjab elections.