Talhan incident

The Talhan incident, also known as the Talhan crisis or Talhan clash, refers to an event in 2003 where the village of Talhan in Jalandhar district, Punjab, India experienced a caste-related conflict between Jatt Sikhs and members of the scheduled-caste over the management of a gurdwara in the village. The Dalits fought for an equal share of the economic resources associated with the shrine and asserted their social equality with the dominant castes of the area. The conflict began as local Dalits pushed for representation in the management body of a samadh dedicated to a local Sikh saint, leading to conflict with the dominant Jats of the village. The Jatts attempted to socially boycott the Dalits to challenge the demand but failed to stop the movement due to the Dalits' mobilization and organization in the village. Eventually, the Dalits of Talhan were successful in obtaining representation at the shrine's management committee, which emboldened other Dalit movement across the state of Punjab. The incident is an example of the existence of the caste-system being practiced amongst contemporary Sikhs. It is an example of Dalits asserting for caste equality, equal share in resources, balanced power-structures, improved social-dignity, and maintaining their religious traditions.

Local Dalits pushed for representation in the management body of a samadh dedicated to a local Sikh saint, leading to conflict with the dominant Jats of the village. The Dalits demanded representation on the committee managing the gurdwara. The Chamars came out in force and confronted the Randhawa and Bains Jat Sikh landlords, who refused to give the Chamars a share on the governing committee of a shrine dedicated to Shaheed Baba Nihal Singh. Chamars fought a four-year court battle with the landlords and their allies, including the Punjab Police. In that time Jats conducted several boycotts against the Chamars. The Jat Sikhs and their allies cut off the power supply to their homes. In addition, various scuffles and fights set Chamar youths armed with lathis, rocks, bricks, soda bottles and anything they could find fought Jat Sikh landlords, youths and the Punjab police.