Examining the Etymology of ‘Deras’ in Punjab

A product of religious pluralism in Punjab, the origin of the deras is closely intermeshed with the history of the Sikh panth itself. This paper is an attempt to explore the etymology of the term “dera,” by looking at its historical context, contemporary understanding and the sociopolitical and economic factors leading to a cardinal shift in its meaning. This is done in order to comprehend the currency the usage of the term “dera” holds for what are called the “non-Sikh deras.” The question the paper raises, and seeks to find an answer to, is whether the non-Sikh organisations qualify to be referred to as “dera.” It traces the conceptual history of the term, and draws from the fieldwork among the members of what is generally referred to as “non-Sikh deras.”

^“_Dera” is a term used to refer to the guru-led religious organisations in Punjab, while in rest of the country such organisations could be called an “ashram” or a “foundation.” A product of religious pluralism in Punjab, the origin of the deras is closely intermeshed with the history of the Sikh panth (or the Sikh religious community) itself. The first group to be identified as a “dera” was that of the Udasis, the religious deviants who attached their faith to Siri Chand, the eldest son of Guru Nanak, instead of Nanak himself. From the perspective of sociology of religion, deras could be classified as sects, that is an offshoot of a parent religion, Sikhism.