New Forms of Religious Transnationalism and Development Initiatives: A Case Study of Dera Sant Sarwan Dass, Ballan, Punjab, India

Abstract

This case study focuses on the Dera Sant Sarwan Dass (DSSDB) in Ballan, Punjab, and its leadership of the Ravidassia religious movement. The study evaluated the activities of the DSSDB in depth. It reviewed the historical literature on the role of religion in transforming the lives of marginalised and socially excluded castes in Punjab and the origins of the DSSDB itself. The study illustrates how religious transnational practices have aided community formation among a marginalized and socially excluded group from the South, and have enabled it to transform its status in both its homeland and overseas settings