No matter how early it is he shows up. I walk in and his silence pervades the sanctuary. He sits alone praying until we get there. Like clockwork, everyday at 4am he comes to fulfill his service to God. They call him Master Ji.

I do not know much about him, but I do notice when he is not with us. He is a hardworking man and jovial in nature. His smile radiates acceptance. He is learning how to sing the morning hymns. Every evening when we come for prayers he is practicing on his broken harmonium. There is determination in his cracked and untrained voice.

He learned the few keys for this tune from one of us. This was the greatest gift anyone could have given him. I know he has a family. But I do not know of any other attachments. He always asks about any one of us who does not show-up for our prayer sessions. He knows us by personality and now I believe he is beginning to remember our names. Maybe he is attached to us.

I learned that he is from the Ravidasi community. This oppressed segment of the Sikhs is outcast from the mainstream community. He doesn't seem to bear any grudges. He clearly recognizes the Government's role in further imbedding this vestige of casteism. In a matter of fact tone he told us of the Indian Government's monetary incentives to those who claim to be of the low castes. I wonder when the Panth will learn to embrace all and give incentives to those who shed all caste consciousness. The Government needs to be beaten at its own game.

When I see Master Ji I feel the brahmanical yoke of this country's past. Master Ji has overcome it. Can everyone else? I see hope in him and the community he springs from. They have the revolutionary Sikh spirit embedded within them. From among them will spring the Bhai Dayala's and Bhai Mani Singh's of our glorious history. They know how to sacrifice and live in a state of Chardi Kala.

I know, even after we leave, Master Ji will show up every morning and evening to fulfill his commitment to the Guru. He does this service in the village Gurudwara not out of a sense of obligation, but because he has faith and love in the Guru. The small sanctuary will resonate with his voice and the voice of others who selflessly serve the Panth, even if they are not completely accepted by all those who claim to be Sikhs and members of the Khalsa.

Harvind Kaur is a bachelors in Journalism, a bachelors in Philosophy and a Masters in Liberal Arts. She is currently a Graduate Student at the University of Chicago pursuing a Ph.D.

In between academic pursuits, as a television producer Harvind premiered two series in Chicago for WYCC-TV called 'Educate!' and 'Knowledge +', receiving an Emmy nomination for 'Educate!'.

She has spent time living in Punjab helping to establish Fellowship of Activists to Embrace Humanity, FATEH. This article stems from her experiences of life in the Sikh homeland of Punjab.

Harvind welcomes comment.