Editing Sikhs (section)

==Demographics==
{{Main|Sikhism by country|Punjabi Sikhs}}

[[File:Global Map of Sikh Population (Estimated 2023).png|thumb|Global map of Sikh population (estimated 2023)]] 
 
Sikhs number about 26–30&nbsp;million worldwide, of whom 24–28 million live in India, which thus represents around 90 percent of the total Sikh population.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.findeasy.in/sikh-population-in-india/|title=Sikh Population in World &#124; Sikh Population in India 2023|date=22 December 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Sikhism|title = Sikhism &#124; History, Doctrines, Practice, & Literature| date=30 November 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/europe/why-sikhism-as-registered-religion-in-austria-matters/articleshow/80021881.cms|title = Why Sikhism as registered religion in Austria matters |website = [[The Times of India]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/mind-the-gap/sikhs-and-hindus-at-the-crossroads/|title= The source state: Out of approximately 30 million Sikhs in the world, the majority of them, 22 million, live in India.|website=Times of India|date= 23 November 2019}}</ref><ref name="indianexpress.com">{{cite web|title=Why Sikhism As Registered Religion in Austria Matters |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-who-are-nanak-naam-lewa-and-why-kartarpur-corridor-cant-be-limited-to-sikhs-6100351/|website=Indian Express|date= 10 November 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/europe/why-sikhism-as-registered-religion-in-austria-matters/articleshow/80021881.cms|title=Why Sikhism as registered religion in Austria matters |website=The Times of India}}</ref> About 76 percent of all Indian Sikhs live in the northern [[Punjab, India|Indian state of Punjab]], forming a majority of about 58 per cent of the state's population, roughly around 16 million.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://scroll.in/article/807847/nearly-10-million-sikhs-have-lost-their-religion-because-of-this-organisation | title=Nearly 10 million Sikhs have lost their religion because of this organisation | date=12 May 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url = https://wap.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/pak-invites-sikh-community-to-invest-in-commercial-projects-along-nankana-kartarpur-corridor-119011300615_1.html|title = Pak invites Sikh community to invest in commercial projects along Nankana-Kartarpur Corridor|newspaper = Business Standard India|date = 13 January 2019}}{{Dead link|date=November 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Substantial communities of Sikhs live in the Indian states or union territories of [[Haryana]], where they number around 1.2 million and form 4.9 percent of the population, [[Rajasthan]] (872,000 or 1.3 percent of the population), [[Uttar Pradesh]] (643,000, 0.3 percent), [[Delhi]] (570,000, 3.4 percent), [[Uttarakhand]] (236,000, 2.3 percent), [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]] (234,000, 1.9 percent), [[Chandigarh]] (138,000, 13.1 percent) and [[Himachal Pradesh]] (86,000, 1.2 percent).

Canada is home to the largest national Sikh proportion (2.1&nbsp;percent of the total population) in the world.<ref name="canadareligion2021" /> A substantial community of Sikhs exist in the western province of [[British Columbia]], numbering nearly 300,000 persons and forming approximately 5.9&nbsp;percent of the total population. This represents the third-largest Sikh proportion amongst all global [[administrative divisions]], behind only [[Punjab, India|Punjab]] and Chandigarh in India. Furthermore, British Columbia,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://vancouversun.com/news/staff-blogs/b-c-breaks-records-when-it-comes-to-religion-and-the-lack-thereof|title=B.C. breaks records when it comes to religion and the lack thereof|website=vancouversun}}</ref> [[Manitoba]] and [[Yukon]] hold the distinction of being three of the only four [[administrative divisions]] in the world with Sikhism as the second most followed religion among the population.{{refn|Per the [[2021 Canadian census]], Sikhism is the second-largest religion in British Columbia, Manitoba, and Yukon.<ref name="canadareligion2021"/> Per the [[2011 Indian census]], Sikhism is the largest religion in Punjab and second in Chandigarh. These are the only two Indian states/UTs where Sikhism is one of the two most common religions.<ref>{{cite web |title=Population by religion community – 2011 |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01/DDW03C-01%20MDDS.XLS |publisher=The Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923230423/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01/DDW03C-01%20MDDS.XLS |archive-date=23 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/0401_PART_A_DCHB_CHANDIGARH.pdf |title=Census of India 2011 – Chandigarh |access-date=28 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170821191248/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/0401_PART_A_DCHB_CHANDIGARH.pdf |archive-date=21 August 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>|name="ProvincePopulation"}}

=== Census data and official statistics ===
As a religious minority, Sikhs have fought long and hard to get official status and to be counted in many countries across the world. Through the efforts of Sikh organisations and communities in their respective countries, there is now readily available population data on Sikhs as part of the census or official statistics in the following territories:

{| class="wikitable"
|+Census data / official statistics:
!Territory
! colspan="2" |Latest data
|-
|{{Flag|India}} ([[Punjab, India|Punjab]])
|16,004,754
| rowspan="2" |2011<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01.html|title=Census of India Website : Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India|website=[[censusindia.gov.in]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401023703/https://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01.html|archive-date=1 April 2022}}</ref>
|-
|{{Flag|India}} (Rest of India)
|4,828,362
|-
|{{Flag|Canada}}
|771,790
|2021<ref name="canadareligion20213">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2022-10-26 |title=Religion by visible minority and generation status: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts |url=https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810034201 |access-date=2022-10-26 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref>
|-
|{{Flag|England}}
|520,092
|2021<ref name="SikhEngland20212">{{Cite web |title=Religion, England and Wales – Office for National Statistics |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/culturalidentity/religion/bulletins/religionenglandandwales/census2021 |access-date=2022-11-29 |website=www.ons.gov.uk}}</ref>
|-
|{{Flag|Australia}}
|210,400
|2021<ref name=":12">{{cite web |title=Australian Bureau of Statistics : 2021 Census of Population and Housing : General Community Profile |url=https://www.abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/community-profiles/2021/AUS/download/GCP_AUS.xlsx |access-date=2 July 2022 |website=Abs.gov.au |format=XLSX}}</ref>
|-
|{{Flag|New Zealand}}
|53,406
|2023<ref name="New Zealand Sikh population" />
|-
|{{Flag|Singapore}}
|12,051
|2020<ref name=":42">{{Cite web |title="Religion by Ethnic in Singapore 2020" |url=https://www.singstat.gov.sg/publications/reference/cop2020/cop2020-sr1/census20_stat_release1 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210617123031/https://www.singstat.gov.sg/publications/reference/cop2020/cop2020-sr1/census20_stat_release1 |archive-date=2021-06-17 |access-date=2021-06-18}}</ref>
|-
|{{Flag|Thailand}}
|11,124
|2010<ref>"Population by religion, region and area, 2010" (PDF). NSO. Retrieved 10 January 2018.</ref>
|-
|{{Flag|Norway}}
|4,318
|2021<ref>{{Cite web |title=06326: Members of congregations in religious and philosophical communities outside the Church of Norway, by religion/philosophy 2006–2023. Statbank Norway |url=https://www.ssb.no/en/system/ |access-date=2023-07-19 |website=SSB |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|{{Flag|Wales}}
|4,048
|2021<ref name="SikhEngland20212" />
|-
|{{Flag|Fiji}}
|2,577
|2007<ref name=":22">{{cite web |title=Religion – Fiji Bureau of Statistics |url=http://www.statsfiji.gov.fj/statistics/social-statistics/religion |website=www.statsfiji.gov.fj |access-date=20 July 2023 |archive-date=17 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417193329/http://www.statsfiji.gov.fj/statistics/social-statistics/religion |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
|{{Flag|Ireland}}
|2,183
|2022<ref name=":32">{{cite web |title=Irish census |url=https://data.cso.ie/table/FY030 |access-date=31 May 2023 |website=Irish census}}</ref>
|-
|{{Flag|Nepal}}
|1,496
|2021<ref name=":62">{{Cite web|url=https://censusnepal.cbs.gov.np/results/files/caste/Religion_NPHC_2021.xlsx|title=Table − 1: Population by Religion and sex, NPHC 2021|website=censusnepal.cbs.gov.np}}</ref>
|-
|{{Flag|Northern Ireland}}
|389
|2021<ref>"MS-B21: Religion – full detail". ''Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency''.</ref>
|-
|{{Flag|Scotland}}
|10,988
|2022
|-
|{{Flag|Pakistan}}
|Pending
|2023
|}
[[File:2011-2021 Change in Sikh %.png|thumb|2011–2021 change in Sikh %]]
Note: Official statistics do not count unregistered arrivals or those who have not completed the census or surveys. However, they do provide for a much more accurate depiction of Sikh communities as opposed to estimates from various Sikh organisations whose estimates can vary vastly with no statistically valuable source. Thus, official statistics and census data is highly important and Sikh communities continue to push for census inclusion in many countries where they are still not counted.

=== Migration ===
Sikh migration from [[British India]] began in earnest during the second half of the 19th century, when the British completed their annexation of the Punjab, which led to Sikh migration throughout India and the [[British Empire]]. During the Raj, semiskilled Sikh artisans were transported from the Punjab to [[British East Africa]] to help build railroads. Sikhs emigrated from India after World War II, most going to the [[Sikhism in United Kingdom|United Kingdom]] but many also to North America. Some Sikhs who had settled in eastern Africa were expelled by Ugandan dictator [[Idi Amin]] in 1972.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia
| title = Sikhism
| encyclopedia = Encyclopædia Britannica
| year = 2007
| id = http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-253167/Sikhism }}</ref> Economics is a major factor in Sikh migration and significant communities exist in the United Kingdom, the United States, [[Malaysia]], [[East Africa]], [[Sikhism in Australia|Australia]], [[Singapore]] and [[Thailand]].{{Citation needed|date=June 2024}}

After the [[Partition of India]] in 1947, many Sikhs from what would become the [[Punjab of Pakistan]] migrated to India as well as to [[Afghanistan]] due to fear of persecution. Afghanistan was home to hundreds of thousands of Sikhs and Hindus as of the 1970s, but due to the wars in Afghanistan in the 2010s, the vast majority of Afghan Sikhs had migrated to India, Pakistan or the west.<ref>{{cite web|title=Afghan Sikhs are targeted by the Taliban and unable to even bury their dead |publisher=The Week|date=12 November 2019|url=https://www.theweek.in/theweek/cover/2019/11/02/afghan-sikhs-are-targeted-by-the-taliban-and-unable-to-even-bury-their-dead.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Nearly 99% Of Hindus, Sikhs Left Afghanistan in Last Three decades  |publisher=TOLOnews|date=20 June 2016|url=https://tolonews.com/afghanistan/nearly-99-hindus-sikhs-left-afghanistan-last-three-decades}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Little reason to migrate to India, say Afghan Sikhs|publisher=AA|date=17 December 2019|url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/little-reason-to-migrate-to-india-say-afghan-sikhs/1675903}}</ref>

Although the rate of Sikh migration from the Punjab has remained high, traditional patterns of Sikh migration favouring English-speaking countries (particularly the United Kingdom) have changed during the past decade due to stricter immigration laws. Moliner (2006) wrote that as a consequence of Sikh migration to the UK becoming "virtually impossible since the late 1970s," migration patterns evolved to continental Europe.<ref name="Moliner">{{Cite book|last=Moliner|first=Christine|url=http://www.ivry.cnrs.fr/lau/IMG/rtf/Abstracts.rtf|title=Migration Patterns – Workshop on Indian Migration|publisher=Laboratoire d'Anthropologie Urbaine/CNRS|year=2006|place=Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales (EHESS)|pages=abstract|no-pp=true|contribution=Sikhs in France|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061117150414/http://www.ivry.cnrs.fr/lau/IMG/rtf/Abstracts.rtf|archive-date=17 November 2006|url-status=dead}}</ref> Italy is a rapidly growing destination for Sikh migration,<ref>{{cite journal
 |last    = Ciprani
 |first   = Ralph
 |title   = Sikh Storia e immigrazione – The Sikhs: History and Immigration
 |journal = International Sociology
 |volume  = 21
 |pages   = 474–476
 |date    = 14 May 2006
 |doi     = 10.1177/026858090602100331
 |issue   = 3
 |s2cid = 144768462
 |df      = dmy-all
}}</ref> with [[Reggio Emilia]] and [[Vicenza]] having significant Sikh population clusters.<ref name="Italy">{{cite news
| last = IANS
| title = Now, Sikhs Do a Canada in Italy
| publisher = NRIinternet
| date = 15 September 2004
| url = http://www.nriinternet.com/EUROPE/ITALY/2004/111604Gurdwara.htm
| access-date = 4 April 2008}}</ref> Italian Sikhs are generally involved in [[agriculture]], agricultural processing, the manufacture of machine tools and [[horticulture]].<ref>{{cite news
| last = Singh
| first = Kulwinder
| title = Italy may open VISA office in Chandigarh very soon
| publisher = NRIinternet
| date = 11 August 2007
| url = http://www.nriinternet.com/EUROPE/ITALY/2007/0701_Visa_office_in_Chandigarh.htm
| access-date = 4 April 2008
}}</ref>

===Growth===
[[File:Sikh people.jpg|thumb|A group of Sikh people]]

Johnson and Barrett (2004) estimate that the global Sikh population increases annually by 392,633 (1.7% per year, based on 2004 figures); this percentage includes births, deaths and conversions. Primarily for [[socio-economic]] reasons, [[Sikhism in India|Indian Sikhs]] have the lowest adjusted growth rate of any major religious group in India, at 16.9 percent per decade (estimated from 1991 to 2001) and it has further declined to just 8.4 per cent in 2011 census report.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dailyo.in/politics/census-2011-sikhs-giani-gurbachan-singh-akal-takht-family-planning-migration-nris-dera-sacha-sauda/story/1/5911.html |title=We need to worry about the decline in Sikh numbers |publisher=Dailyo.in |date=2015-08-27 |access-date=2022-05-25}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{cite web|title=Proportion and growth rate of population by religious communities, India, 1961–2001 |work=Office of the Registrar General, India |publisher=CensusIndia |date=6 September 2004 |url=http://www.censusindia.net/religiondata/statement.pdf |access-date=4 April 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927201349/http://www.censusindia.net/religiondata/statement.pdf |archive-date=27 September 2007 }}{{cbignore}}</ref> Sikhs in the world have the lowest fertility rate of 1.6 children per women as per (2019–20) estimation research.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/india-witnesses-decline-population-growth-rate-and-fertility-across-religious-groups-156058 |title=India witnesses decline in population growth rate and fertility across religious groups |publisher=The News Minute |date=2021-10-04 |access-date=2022-05-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Krishna Veera Vanamali |url=https://wap.business-standard.com/podcast/current-affairs/india-s-fertility-rate-dips-below-replacement-level-what-does-it-mean-122051800062_1.html |title=India's fertility rate dips below replacement level: What does it mean? &#124; Business Standard News |newspaper=Business Standard India |publisher=Wap.business-standard.com |date=18 May 2022 |access-date=2022-05-25 }}{{Dead link|date=November 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The Sikh population has the lowest gender balance in India, with only 903 women per 1,000 men according to the 2011 Indian census.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/census-shocker-sikhs-report-lowest-sex-ratio/125040.html|title=Census shocker: Sikhs report lowest sex ratio|last=Tandon|first=Aditi|date=27 August 2015|website=Tribune India|access-date=5 May 2017|archive-date=21 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170221225348/http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/census-shocker-sikhs-report-lowest-sex-ratio/125040.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The estimated world's Sikh population was over 30 million in 2020 and it will reach 42&nbsp;million by 2050. It is expected to increase up to 62&nbsp;million by 2100, given that the anticipated growth rate of 1.7% per year and adding at least 400,000 followers annually.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://americanturban.com/2016/01/28/there-might-be-more-sikhs-in-the-future-maybe/|title=There could be more Sikhs in the future – maybe.|first=Rupinder Mohan|last=Singh|date=28 January 2016|website=American Turban}}</ref><ref name="auto" />

Since the Sikh growth rate dropped from 1.7% (16.9% in 1991 to 2001 estimate) to 0.8% (8.4% in 2001–2011) in 2011 report, hence based on their growth rate, their population in India will increase 196,316 (0.8% based on 2011 figures) per year and will reach 36 million in 2050, it expected to reach 52 million in 2100 given that the anticipated growth rate of 0.8% and adding at least 200,000 followers annually.<ref>{{cite web |title=Behind the decline |url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/cover-story/behind-the-decline/article7654960.ece |website=frontline.thehindu.com |language=en |date=16 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=We need to worry about the decline in Sikh numbers |url=https://www.dailyo.in/politics/census-2011-sikhs-giani-gurbachan-singh-akal-takht-family-planning-migration-nris-dera-sacha-sauda-5911 |website=www.dailyo.in |language=en}}</ref>

[[File:A caucasian Sikh learning Santhiya, or the elocution of Sikh Scripture.png|thumb|222x222px|A Sikh of European descent learning [[Santhiya]] or elocution of Sikh Scripture]]

[[Sikhism]] is the fastest growing religion in [[Sikhism in Canada|Canada]], [[Sikhism in Australia|Australia]] and [[Sikhism in New Zealand|New Zealand]]. The growth is mainly contributed by the immigration of [[Sikhism in India|Indian Sikhs]] there over the decades. Sikhism is fourth-largest religion in [[Canada]], fifth-largest religion in [[Australia]] and [[New Zealand]]. The decadal growth of Sikhs is more in those countries as compared to the decadal growth of Sikh population in India, thus making them the fastest-growing religion there.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2019-01-23 |title=2011 National Household Survey: Data tables Religion (108), Immigrant Status and Period of Immigration (11), Age Groups (10) and Sex (3) for the Population in Private Households of Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2011 National Household Survey |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/dp-pd/dt-td/Rp-eng.cfm?LANG=E&APATH=3&DETAIL=0&DIM=0&FL=A&FREE=0&GC=0&GID=0&GK=0&GRP=1&PID=105399&PRID=0&PTYPE=105277&S=0&SHOWALL=0&SUB=0&Temporal=2013&THEME=95&VID=0&VNAMEE=&VNAMEF= |access-date=2022-09-08 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref><ref name="canadareligion2021" /><ref name="worldatlas1">{{cite news | url=https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-is-the-fastest-growing-religion-in-australia.html | title=What is the Fastest Growing Religion in Australia? | newspaper=Worldatlas | date=10 June 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/punjab/sikhs-fastest-growing-minority-in-nz-census-837571 | title=Sikhs fastest-growing minority in NZ: Census }}</ref> [[Canada]] has the highest proportion of Sikhs in the globe, which stands at 2.1% as of 2021, as compared to [[India]] which stands at 1.7% as of 2011 respectively.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/features/why-sikhs-ought-to-be-happy-not-worried-126229|title=Why Sikhs ought to be happy, not worried : The Tribune India}}</ref><ref name="canadareligion2021" />

===Castes===
Sikhs have remained a relatively homogeneous ethnic group with exceptions. [[Caste system in India|Caste]] may still be practiced by some Sikhs, despite Guru Nanak's calls for treating everyone equally in Guru Granth Sahib.<ref name="The Wire" />{{efn|Guru Nanak has mentioned in his first composition of Jap Ji Sahib, which is recited daily by all practicing Sikhs that all souls are to be treated with care and respect as Waheguru is the Giver of all souls.
<poem>"The Guru has given me this one understanding: there is only the One, '''the Giver of all souls'''. May I never forget Him!", Guru Granth Sahib, 2<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?Action=Page&Param=2 |title=Sri Guru Granth Sahib Translation, p. 2 |last=Singh Khalsa|first=Sant |publisher=Srigranth.org|access-date=10 January 2017 }}</ref>

Guru Nanak said that blessings are rained down when the lowly person, regardless of any background are cared for.

"In that place where'' the '''''lowly are cared for-there''', the Blessings of Your Glance of Grace rain down.", Guru Granth Sahib, 15<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?Action=Page&Param=15|title=Sri Guru Granth Sahib Translation, p. 15|last=Singh Khalsa|first=Sant |publisher=Srigranth.org|access-date=10 January 2017}}</ref>

Guru Nanak had spoken we need to prize humility above all and thus caste is not an issue.

"One who takes pride in wealth and lands is a fool, blind and ignorant.
'''''One whose heart is mercifully blessed with abiding humility,'''''
'''''O Nanak, is liberated here, and obtains peace hereafter'''." Granth Sahib, 278.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?Action=Page&Param=278|title=Sri Guru Granth Sahib Translation, p. 278|last=Singh Khalsa|first=Sant|publisher=Srigranth.org|access-date=10 January 2017}}</ref></poem>}}

Along with Guru Nanak, other Sikh gurus had also denounced the hierarchy of the caste system, however, they all belonged to the same caste, the [[Khatri]]s.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Oberoi|first1=Harjot|title=The Construction of Religious Boundaries: Culture, Identity, and Diversity in the Sikh Tradition|date=1994|publisher=Oxford|location=Chicago|isbn=978-0226615936|page=109|url=https://books.google.com/?=1NKC9g2ayJEC&pg=PR10&dq=%22sikh+guru%22+caste+khatri+nanak+gobind+singh#v=snippet&q=%22khatri%20guru&f=false|access-date=15 January 2017}}id</ref> Most Sikhs belong to the [[Jat Sikh|Jat]] (Jatt), traditionally Agriculturist class<ref name="Khanna">{{cite book |last=Khanna |first=Sunil K. |editor1-last=Ember |editor1-first=Carol R. |editor2-last=Ember |editor2-first=Melvin |editor1-link=Carol R. Ember |editor2-link=Melvin Ember |title=Encyclopedia of Medical Anthropology: Health and Illness in the World's Cultures |volume=2 |year=2004 |publisher=[[Springer Science+Business Media|Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers]] |page=777 |isbn=978-0-306-47754-6 |entry-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nrMRezmNrPcC&pg=PA777 |entry=Jat |quote=Notwithstanding social, linguistic, and religious diversity, the Jats are one of the major landowning agriculturalist communities in South Asia.}}</ref> in occupation.<ref>{{cite book |author1=Don |title=South Asian Politics and Religion |date=2015 |publisher=Princeton University Press |page=155}}</ref> Despite being very small in numbers, the [[Khatri]] and [[Arora]] castes wield considerable influence within the Sikh community. Other common Sikh castes include [[Ahluwalia (caste)|Ahluwalias]] (Brewers), [[Kamboj|''Kambojs'']] or ''Kambos'' (Rural caste), [[Ramgarhia|''Ramgarhias'']] (Carpenters), [[Brahmins]] (Priestly class), [[Rajput]]s (Kshatriyas – Warriors), [[Saini|''Sainis'']], [[Rai Sikh|''Rai'' Sikh]] (Ironsmiths), [[Labana|''Labanas'']] (Merchants), [[Kumhar|''Kumhars'']] (Potters), ''[[Mazhabi]]'' (Cleaners) and the [[Ramdasia]]/[[Ravidasia|''Ravidasias'']](Chamar – Tanners).<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/543916/Sikhism/253170/The-rejection-of-caste|title=Sikhism {{!}} History, Doctrines, Practice, & Literature|encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica|access-date=2017-12-26|language=en}}</ref>

Some Sikhs, especially those belonging to the landowning dominant castes, have not shed all their prejudices against the Dalit castes such as the Mazhabi and Ravidasia. While Dalits were allowed entry into the village [[gurdwara]]s, in some gurdwaras, they were not permitted to cook or serve [[Langar (Sikhism)|''langar'']] (communal meal). Therefore, wherever they could mobilize resources, the Sikh Dalits of Punjab have tried to construct their own gurdwara and other local level institutions in order to attain a certain degree of cultural autonomy.<ref name="The Wire">{{cite journal|last1=Jodhka|first1=Surinder S|title=Caste and Untouchability in Rural Punjab|journal=Economic and Political Weekly|date=11–17 May 2002|volume= 37|issue=19|page=1822|jstor=4412102}}</ref> In 1953, Sikh leader and activist Master Tara Singh succeeded in persuading the Indian government to include Sikh castes of the converted untouchables in the list of [[scheduled castes]].<ref name="The Economic Times-2018">Puri, Harish K. (2003). "[http://apnaorg.com/research-papers/harish-puri/ The Scheduled Castes in the Sikh Community: A Historical Perspective]". ''Economic & Political Weekly''  38(26):2693–2701. {{JSTOR|4413731}}.

Republished in ''Dalits in Regional Context'' (2004). {{ISBN|978-81-7033-871-0}}.</ref> In the [[Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee]], 20 of the 140 seats are reserved for low-caste Sikhs.<ref name="The Economic Times-2018" />

Other castes (over 1,000 members) include the [[Arain]], [[Bhatra Sikhs|Bhatra]], [[Bairagi]], [[Vanika|Bania]], [[Basith]], Bawaria, [[Bazigar]], [[Bhabra]], [[Chamar]], [[Chhimba|Chhimba (cotton farmers)]], Darzi, [[Dhobi]], [[Gujjar|Gujar]], [[Jhinwar]], [[Kahar]], [[Kalwar, Rajasthan|Kalal]], [[Kumhar]], [[Lohar (caste)|Lohar]], [[Mahtam]], [[Meghwal|Megh]], [[Mirasi]], [[Mochi (Sikh)|Mochi]], [[Nai (caste)|Nai]], [[Ramgarhia|Ramgharia]], [[Sansi people|Sansi]], [[Sood (surname)|Sudh]], [[Tarkhan (Punjab)|Tarkhan]] and [[Kashyap (caste)|Kashyap]]{{Citation needed|date=August 2022}}

Karnail Singh Panjoli, member of the [[Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee|Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee]], says that there are several communities within the term [[Nanakpanthi]]s too. Apart from [[Sindhi Hindus]], "There are groups like Sikhligarh, Vanjaarey, [[Nirmala (sect)|Nirmaley]], Lubaney, Johri, Satnamiye, Udaasiyas, [[Punjabi Hindus]], etc. who call themselves Nanakpanthis despite being Hindus.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-who-are-nanak-naam-lewa-and-why-kartarpur-corridor-cant-be-limited-to-sikhs-6100351/ | title=Explained: Who are Nanak Naam Lewa, and why Kartarpur Corridor can't be limited to Sikhs | date=10 November 2019 }}</ref>