Editing Sikhs (section)

===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>