SPECIAL | Sant Niranjan Das honoured with Padma Shri; focus shifts to Ravidassia influence in Punjab politics

The conferment of the Padma Shri on Sant Niranjan Das, head of Dera Sachkhand Ballan in Jalandhar, has sparked discussions not only about his social and spiritual contributions but also about the political significance of the recognition in Punjab ahead of the next Assembly elections.

President Droupadi Murmu presented the Padma Shri to Sant Niranjan Das during the Padma Awards 2026 investiture ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also present on the occasion. The award has been widely viewed as recognition of the services rendered by the Dera Sachkhand Ballan chief and the institution’s influence among the Ravidassia community in Punjab and abroad.

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Apart from Sant Niranjan Das, Indian women’s cricket team captain Harmanpreet Kaur, veteran hockey coach Baldev Singh, and Chandigarh-based Inderjit Singh Sidhu were also among this year’s Padma Shri awardees.

However, the honour conferred on Sant Niranjan Das is being seen by many as significant beyond the social and religious sphere. Dera Sachkhand Ballan is regarded as one of the most influential religious institutions among the Ravidassia community, particularly in Punjab’s Doaba region, which has a sizeable Scheduled Caste population and often plays a crucial role in electoral outcomes.

The development comes months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Dera Sachkhand Ballan during Guru Ravidas Jayanti celebrations, a move that had drawn considerable political attention. The Padma Shri recognition is also being viewed as an acknowledgement of the social and cultural contribution of the Ravidassia community at the national level.

The honour has renewed focus on the community’s visibility in public discourse and its influence in Punjab, especially in constituencies where the Ravidassia population has a substantial presence. The Doaba belt, comprising Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar districts, is considered politically significant due to its large Dalit population.

Sant Niranjan Das has been associated with several social, educational and community welfare initiatives through Dera Sachkhand Ballan. Under his leadership, the institution has expanded its outreach among followers in India and overseas, particularly in Europe, North America and the United Kingdom.

Meanwhile, Harmanpreet Kaur was honoured for her outstanding contribution to Indian cricket and her leadership in women’s cricket, while veteran coach Baldev Singh was recognised for his decades-long service to Indian hockey and his role in nurturing several international players. Chandigarh resident Inderjit Singh Sidhu was also conferred the Padma Shri for his contributions in his field.

While the Padma Awards are civilian honours meant to recognise exceptional service and achievement, the recognition accorded to Sant Niranjan Das has added a new dimension to discussions around the social influence of religious institutions and community leadership in Punjab. The development has drawn attention from political circles as the state moves closer to the next Assembly elections.