Where It All Began

The Beginning

Our Origins

During the late fifties and early sixties, a challenge was birthed that carried an onerous weight. A group of young community members, who migrated to U.K in their twenties, pursued a journey to spread the sacred teachings of Satguru Ravidass Ji across the globe. The idea was the continuation of the revolutionary Ad-Dharam movement led by the formidable Babu Mangoo Ram Ji Mugowalia from Hoshiarpur District, Punjab India with his colleagues in 1925/26.

The regular meetings were used to brainstorm ideas amongst educated members as well as well informed sources and out of that was born a committee namely “Indian Welfare Association” that had its own hierarchy system to function in the most efficient manner.

The organisation was later changed to “Shri Guru Ravidass Dharmik Sabha” in 1964 with the sole intention to uplift and act as a voice of the oppressed Ad-Dharmi/Ravidassia community and support those who were a victim of the so called higher castes’s oppressions in India by creating an awareness in the Indian political system.

As the venues were difficult to hire the members used to gather in Public places and discuss the community issues which then extended to their households in turns.

To ensure the growing community was well informed on the life, teachings and the philosophy of Shri Guru Ravidass ji, who in the fourteen century (1377AD) in the northern state of Uttar Pardes(U.P) India championed the cause of civil and political liberty.

In very dark and dismal days of oppression and tyranny Shri Guru Ravidass Ji was instrumental in shaking the foundations of oppression by the so called high class priesthood. It was a breath of fresh air for the suffocating masses who were denied all basic human rights.

The Committee

Founding Members

The first founding committee members of Shri Guru Ravidass Dharmik Sabha Wolverhampton who made great sacrifices, and the community is humbly indebted to them were:-

Mr. Gurdev Chand Matfalluan, Mr Chanan Ram Rattu, Mr Harblas Lal Jakhu Kanha Dhesian, Mr Naseeb Chand, Mr Gurdial Mangra, Mr Tarsem Chand Matfalluan, Mr Nirmal Chand Chander Tajpur, Mr Amar Chand Mahay Ghurka, Mr Swaran Chand Sandhwa, Mr Harcharan Dass Soochi pind, Mr Sham Chand Kartar Pur, Mr Daulat Ram Reroo.

Additional support at every commemoration of the birthday celebration of Sat Guru Ravidass ji was provided by Mr Mathera Dass ji of village Bhagala who did hours of video recordings and photography of the whole events very patiently.

In a nutshell, many have given moral and financial support, Mr Harbans Lal Mahay and Mr Lal Chand Mahay of village Ghurka who assisted the committee in many ways, regardless of being on the committee or not in some challenging times in its formation and establishment.

This small introductory preamble is not sufficient enough to mention all the people individually, however the support and contributions offered by the community as a whole is unforgettable and is imbedded in the hearts of the community in U.K.

The growing population of the community demanded that we have a centre of our own where the young and old can come together and pay their homage to the teachings of Satguru Ravidass Ji.

This was initiated due to in incidence where one of the founding member who was blessed with a son and visited another Gurdwara and he was not acknowledged.

Since the funding came from most generous community members, there was not enough to buy a permanent centre, so an assembly hall was hired in a primary school on Sundays in Red Cross Street, Wolverhampton (where now is Molineux stadium) purely funded from the contributions made by the members.

The Adi Granth was installed on a pedestal and the teachings of all Saints and Gurus were shared and the flame for the mission was ignited.

The regular meetings continued at 8, Dawson Street, and later on at 170, Merridale Street West, but the weekly Sunday gatherings continued at Red Cross Street.

There were times when a room Y.M.C.A. building was hired too. The first Gurpurab of Satguru Ravidass Ji was commemorated on a grand scale with the utmost zest and zeal in March 1965 at the Wulfrun Hall, where more than one thousand people of all communities attended it was a widely covered affair in the local news paper “Express & Star” (photographs were printed in the press).

It was attended by many prominent dignitaries of the time to honour the most iconic and historic moment in the history of the organisation and Wolverhampton. This was an achievement of an unprecedented magnitude by the community in Europe or probably the world.

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