Sikh teaching regards the caste system as fundamentally incompatible with its vision of devotion to one God and service to all humanity. Since there is one Creator whose light pervades every being, no person can be considered higher or lower by birth, lineage, or social status. The measure of a human being is not caste, but devotion, moral conduct, and inner purity. Distinctions based on caste, ritual purity, or family background are treated as forms of spiritual ignorance that obscure the underlying unity of all.

This theological stance is woven into Sikh scripture and practice. The Guru Granth Sahib contains verses that condemn caste discrimination and emphasizes spiritual merit over birth, and it incorporates the writings of individuals from a wide range of social backgrounds, including those historically labeled “low caste.” In this way, the very composition of the scripture becomes a living testimony to the rejection of caste hierarchy. Gurdwaras, as places of worship, are open to all without distinction, embodying the same principle of universal equality.

Sikh history and communal life translate these ideals into concrete forms. The institution of langar, the community kitchen, requires all to sit together and share the same food, regardless of caste, wealth, or background, dramatizing the equality that flows from the oneness of God. The initiation into the Khalsa, with shared surnames such as Singh and Kaur, weakens caste and clan identity and affirms a common spiritual family. Sikh marriage rites are traditionally understood to disregard caste considerations, and the Gurus are remembered for welcoming followers from every social stratum and elevating those from marginalized groups to positions of honor.

From this perspective, a Sikh is called to see every person as a brother or sister, to refuse caste-based discrimination in any sphere of life, and to work actively for the welfare of all. The ideal is a casteless, egalitarian community rooted in the remembrance of the One and expressed through selfless service. Where remnants of caste consciousness persist in some social settings, they are recognized as departures from authentic Sikh teaching rather than its fulfillment.