Who was Guru Ghasidas?

Guru Ghasidas was the founder of the Satnam sect, the Guru of the Satnam Dharma, a Satnami saint, a great scholar, and a social reformer from Chhattisgarh in the early 19th century. He began preaching in the deeply forested regions of Chhattisgarh. A firm believer in social equality, he was a vocal critic of the repressive caste system and a monotheist who opposed idol worship. The Indian Postal Department issued a commemorative stamp in his honour on September 1, 1987.

Guru Ghasidas was born on December 18, 1756, in the village of Giroudpuri, Nagpur Kingdom, which is now in the Baloda Bazar district of Chhattisgarh. He was born into a lower-caste Satnami family and was the son of Mahangu Das and Amrautin Mata. From an early age, Guru Ghasidas experienced the harsh realities of the caste system. He married Safura Mata and had several children, including Guru Balak Das, Guru Amar Das, Guru Agar Das, Guru Adgadhiya Das, and Mata Sahodra.

Guru Ghasidas preached Satnam, particularly to the people of Chhattisgarh. He established the Satnami community in Chhattisgarh, based on the principles of "Satnam" (meaning "Truth") and equality. Guru Ghasidas created a symbol of truth called Jai Stambh—a white-painted log of wood with a white flag on top. The structure symbolizes that a person who follows the truth, "Satnam," is always steadfast and serves as the Pillar of Truth (Satya Stambh). The white flag represents peace.

Honours and Recognitions

Guru Ghasidas Jayanti is indeed celebrated on December 18th each year in Chhattisgarh to honour the birth anniversary of Guru Ghasidas.

The Government of Chhattisgarh renamed a part of the Sanjay-Dubri Tiger Reserve after Guru Ghasidas in 2001, which is now known as Guru Ghasidas National Park.

Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya (GGV) was established in honour of Guru Ghasidas in 1983. It was later designated as a central university under the Central Universities Act of 2009.

The Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve was indeed named to honour Guru Ghasidas and was officially designated in November 2024.

The Indian Postal Department issued the Guru Ghasidas commemorative stamp on September 1, 1987, to honour Guru Ghasidas.