Context: Recently, a huge mob from the Satnami community in Chhattisgarh’s Baloda Bazar district torched dozens of vehicles, pelted stones at police personnel, and set fire to the Superintendent of Police office building. 

• The protesters, dissatisfied with the police’s handling of a case involving the desecration of a sacred ‘Jaitkhamb’, demanded a CBI probe.

About Satnamis Community

• The term “Satnamis” means those who believe in a God whose name is ‘truth’.

• The Satnamis are a predominant group within the 11% Scheduled Caste (SC) population in Chhattisgarh, believed to be an offshoot of the Ravidassia community.

• The community was founded on April 21, 1657, by Bir Bhan in Narnaul, Haryana. Udhodas who was a disciple of Saint Ravidas was the first priest or spiritual guru of the community.

• The Satnamis inhabit the plains of central Chhattisgarh, mainly in the old districts of Bilaspur, Durg, Rajnandgaon, and Raipur.

Principles and Influence:  The Satnamis emphasize three main principles:

• i) Adorning the attire of a Satnami devotee

• ii) Earning money through proper means

• iii) Not tolerating any injustice or oppression in any form

• The community is believed to exert political influence by voting collectively, and representatives occupy most of the 10 assembly segments allotted for SCs.

• The community reveres Mini Mata, the first female Member of Parliament from Chhattisgarh, who entered the Lok Sabha by winning the 1955 by-election. Political parties often invoke her legacy to appeal to the Satnamis for votes.

About Satnami Revolt of 1672

• The Satnami revolt occurred during the reign of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, in today’s Mahendragarh district of Haryana.

• Cause: The revolt began when a Mughal soldier killed a Satnami, leading about 5,000 Satnamis to take up arms.

• The Satnamis routed the Mughal troops, drove away the administrators, and set up their own administration.

• The revolt gained support from Hindus in Agra and Ajmer, who were discontent with Aurangzeb’s strict Islamic policies, including the revival of the Jizya tax, banning of music and art, and destruction of Hindu temples.

• Aurangzeb took personal command and sent troops with artillery to suppress the revolt, resulting in an attempt to annihilate the Satnamis. The remnants fled and remained disorganized and leaderless for a long time.

About New Movement

• The most significant Satnami group was founded in 1820 in the Chhattisgarh region by Saint Ghasidas, a farm servant and member of the lower (Chamar) caste.

• Saint Ghasidas established the Satnam Panth (“Sect of the True Name”), providing a religious and social identity for many Satnamis.

• He preached a code of ethical and dietary self-restraint and social equality, and authored Nirvan Gyan to propagate his teachings.

• Throughout history, Satnamis have navigated their position within a larger Hindu hierarchy, influenced by connections with the Kabir Panth at different points.

The key principles laid down by Guru Ghasidas for his Satnami followers are:

1. Worship the formless God through Satnam chanting and rejecting idol worship and ritualism.

2. Abstain from flesh and intoxicants and to use brass utensils.

3. Stop working with leather and carcasses.

4. Drop caste surnames in favor of common 'Satnami' identity.

By the time of his death, Guru Ghasidas had gathered nearly 250,000 followers who embraced these principles and his teachings.