Redistributive Justice in Sikh Philosophy: Langar, Seva, and the Metaphysics of Food

DOI

10.2991/978-2-38476-583-6_31How to use a DOI?

Keywords

Langar; Seva; Justice; Oneness of Existence; Social Justice; Redistributive Justice

Abstract

This paper aims to develop a distinctive food philosophy that represents an indigenous concept of ontological unity and social justice by examining the Sikh traditions of Seva (selfless service) and Langar (community kitchen). The study argues that Sikh food practices offer a non-Western framework for reinterpreting justice and collective nourishment by drawing upon textual analysis of Sikh scriptures - Guru Granth Sahib or the Adi Granth and Sikh Rahit Maryada - and a Langar case study conducted at Guru Ram Das Langar situated at Golden Temple, Amritsar. Langar serves as a ritualized act of resistance against social hierarchies of caste, class, and gender and is not merely a charitable activity. Understanding food labour from the fundamental Sikh metaphysical principle of Oneness of Existence moves to dissolve the binaries of giver/receiver, sacred/profane, labour/ritual, and essentially the ontological binaries of self and other. Seva undermines the transactional paradigms of service and hospitality that are common in capitalist systems by redefining labour as sacred and selfless. Instead of Rawlsian distributive justice from the perspective of a “veil of ignorance,” this ritualized setting enacts what could be called a “redistributive justice” based on an awareness of oneness. The absence of differentiated treatment—no special lines, portions, or privileges—creates an egalitarian social space while maintaining sensitivity to specific needs, such as providing seating accommodations for those unable to sit on the floor. Rooted in simplicity, oneness and shared resources, Langar emerges as a model of equitable consumption through this paradigm. This study advocates rethinking food as a tool for ontological, social, and spiritual change rather than only as a tangible good or cultural symbol. Therefore, food metaphysics, as articulated in Sikh scriptures and as embodied communal practice, offers a critical philosophical contribution to emerging food studies. Therefore, the study offers a unique viewpoint based on Sikh philosophy and religion by placing itself at the nexus of food metaphysics and justice.

Copyright

© 2026 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Satwant Kaur
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/06/30
TI  - Redistributive Justice in Sikh Philosophy: Langar, Seva, and the Metaphysics of Food
BT  - Proceedings of the International Conference on Emerging Food Studies: Intersections of Culture, Science and Sustainability (ICEFS 2026)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 341
EP  - 351
SN  - 2352-5398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-583-6_31
DO  - 10.2991/978-2-38476-583-6_31
ID  - Kaur2026
ER  -