Article by Rajveer Singh, Head of Khalsa Diary, funding and conflict none

Social media seems to be like a virus. At times it is the most helpful tool for finding a story or supporting a cause. But more often than not it’s a tool for degradation, humiliation and hatred. Forums also seem to hold a similar meaning as they fail to represent the true nature of gaining information and instead all you get is an argument or toxic conversation. 

On Quora (online forum), I recently saw a thread about Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj, titled “In this modern world, would Guru Gobind Singh have given the 5k’s to the Sikhs?”

Now many people spent their times answering and upvoting those answers they preferred. However, none of these answers satisfied me whatsoever. Many of them were more angering and it was saddening to see a response from a “Sikh” who said the following:

“The Sikh Guru’s brought modern thinking. I have no doubt that if Guru Sahib was here in the modern world then there would be no need for many of the 5k’s. Sikhs do not require hair and so neither would they need to keep a Kangha for its care. The Kara is something that is worn to identify Sikhs and so will still be needed, but the Kacherra and Kirpan are useless in this day and age. You can still be part of the Khalsa without these symbols”.

User on Quora- their exact statement!

Now, usually, I don’t partake in forums, but my answer to that person was simple; I left him my name and number and called him for a debate. He flat out refused to attend which was not surprising. You either have to have the guts to call the Guru wrong or you’re just incredibly stupid. Yet it is still important that this issue is addressed, not by calling out the person but through educating our own so that we know how to respond to this. This is a pretty long project to be honest and more than likely I will split it into separate articles for each Kakkar. 

The first thing that needs to be understood is the significant difference between modern and revolutionary. The thought process of the Gurus was not modern it was revolutionary. Modern is a thought which renounces traditional and conventional practices. Revolutionary is an idea that had never been considered to be possible being brought forwards. For example, the idea that women were equal to men was a concept that baffled the world for many thousands of years, and it still isn’t practised to the level it should be.  In fact, it took a great struggle called the suffrage movement within the UK in the “modern world” started in the 20th century just to get women the right to vote.

Yet Guru Nanak Sahib Ji discussed this idea back in the 15th century, in a Brahmanical society that to this day preaches that women fall under the class of the untouchables. The idea that everyone thought the world is equal and even a king would sit with paupers and eat. The concept of the Sikh religion itself, a politically aware religion where every Sikh is a born sovereign and continuously moves towards Guru Nanak’s mission as stated in Gurbani;

ਹੁਣਿ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਹੋਆ ਮਿਹਰਵਾਣ ਦਾ ॥

hun hukam hoaa miharavaan dhaa ||

Now, the Merciful Lord has issued His Command.

ਪੈ ਕੋਇ ਨ ਕਿਸੈ ਰਞਾਣਦਾ ॥

pai koi na kisai ran(j)aanadhaa ||

Let no one chase after and attack anyone else.

ਸਭ ਸੁਖਾਲੀ ਵੁਠੀਆ ਇਹੁ ਹੋਆ ਹਲੇਮੀ ਰਾਜੁ ਜੀਉ ॥੧੩॥

sabh sukhaalee vuTheeaa ih hoaa halemee raaj jeeau ||13||

Let all abide in peace, under this Benevolent Rule. ||13||

Now an important point to understand here is the implication that the Guru is not present in this world currently. As per Guru Granth sahib our living eternal Guru that is still here and present, that contains the same jot and power that Guru Gobind singh Ji Maharaj had;

ਗੁਰੁ ਪਰਮੇਸਰੁ ਏਕੋ ਜਾਣੁ ॥

gur paramesar eko jaan ||

Know that the Guru and the Transcendent Lord are One.

So the Guru and God should be considered as one. And what world do we currently live in, a “modern world”, but how is it modern? Has crime stopped? Has poverty ended? Is everyone able to live free? All colonialism has done is suppressed the voices of people and has brought uniformity to a world full of diversity to the point where fools such as his person do not understand the concept of divinity. If the Guru and God are one, then God has provided us with these Panj Kakars. The reason being that every single one of them holds a significant meaning that portrays certain values and aspects. And each one of them is more relevant in this modern society than they were before. 

Contrary to popular belief, every Kakkar has been mentioned within Guru Granth Sahib as well as its importance. However, you obviously have to have read Guru Granth sahib yourself to know that. For example, the mention of a Sikh having long hair has come up around 16 times within Guru Granth Sahib Ji. The words ਕੇਸ and ਕੇਸਉ have been used within Guru Granth Sahib Ji to describe long hair. 

Now, what is the Khalsa? The Khalsa isn’t just the elite of the Sikhs. The Khalsa is the embodiment of Akaal Purakh on this earth. And where 5 Rehatvaan Singhs are, Guru Gobind Singh Maharaj is also present, so Akaal Purakh is present. Now what does Guru Sahib say about the Sargun (physical) form of Akaal Purkh in their Bani;

ਤੇਰੇ ਬੰਕੇ ਲੋਇਣ ਦੰਤ ਰੀਸਾਲਾ ॥

tere ba(n)ke loin dha(n)t reesaalaa ||

Your eyes are so beautiful, and Your teeth are delightful.

ਸੋਹਣੇ ਨਕ ਜਿਨ ਲੰਮੜੇ ਵਾਲਾ ॥

sohane nak jin la(n)maRe vaalaa ||

Your nose is so graceful, and Your hair is so long.

Bhagat Namdev Ji also says;

ਖੂਬੁ ਤੇਰੀ ਪਗਰੀ ਮੀਠੇ ਤੇਰੇ ਬੋਲ ॥

khoob teree pagaree meeThe tere bol ||

How handsome is your turban! And how sweet is your speech.

So Akaal Purakhs form is that of long hair, like the Sikh of the Guru, and in fact, all religions that discuss a physical form of God have described God as such. So the idea of maintaining Kes is that Sikhs take on the physical appearance of God as well as the qualities of God taught to them through Gurbani so that they can treat people as God would treat everyone with compassion, love, respect, honour and humility.  

In fact, the Kes are so important that Bhai Nand Lal Ji writes in the presence of Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj;

Nishan-e-Sikhi Ast In Panj Har Kaf

These five letters of K are emblems of Sikhism.

Hargiz Na Bashad Azin Panj Muaf

These five are most incumbent, 

Kara, Karad, Kacha, Kanga Bi Dan,

Steel Bangle, big knife, shorts and a comb;

Bina Kesh Hech Ast Jumla Nishan.

without unshorn hair, the other four are of no significance.

And those who then keep their hair and fail to take Amrit as per Sri Sarbloh Granth are fools;

Dhare Kes Pahul Bina Bhekhi Moora Sikh

If you keep your hair and you fail to take Amrit them you are a deceiving fool of a Sikh.

Further on Guru Gobind Singh Ji in Gurbilas Pathshahi 10 has said;

Bina Shastr Kesang Narang Bhed Jano

Without weapons and Kesh, you are nothing but a sheep 

Gahe Kaan Ta Ko Kitey Le Sidhano

who can be led anywhere by the ear

Ehe Mor Agiya Suno Sikh Piare

An order has come from the master

Bina Tegh Kesang Na Divo Didare

without un-cut hair and weapons you will never get my audience.”

Now, it this important here to mention that I not discrediting or abusing any Sikh who has cut their hair, however, it’s important to understand that the Guru has set particular rules in place for a reason. Being part of a religion is not that you reborn in a family that practises it. Being part of religion means you actively practise it and follows its rules. You do not pick and choose based on what suit you- you follow the direct orders of your Lord without further question. 

If without hair and weapons you are not considered worthy of the Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s Darshan, then how worthy are you to go to the Gurdwara and bow in front of Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaj? There are Sikhs who would give their head for their Guru and there are Sikhs who would go to the Gurdwara and then enter the pub a few minutes later. The question is which one do you choose to be?

So within all of this, it’s important to understand that the current situation within the modern world has made it so that keeping hair is impractical. Or at least that is what it’s made out to be. In fact, many studies into colonialism and orientalism have brought forwards this idea that when cultures were enslaved by the white man, the first thing they would do was shave their heads as a sign of slavery. In ancient Japan, shaving a clan masters head was considered a great dishonour and even the Greeks and Romans took pride in keeping their hair as a martial community just like the Sikhs. So were already the slaves of India, do you really want to be a slave to the British again as well? If you don’t start keeping your hair and follow the rehat that the Guru gave you. 

If Guru Sahib said;

ਖ਼ਾਲਸਾ ਅਕਾਲ ਪੁਰਖ ਕੀ ਫ਼ੌਜ ॥

khhaalasaa akaal purakh ki fauj ||

Khalsa is God’s Army

ਪ੍ਰਗਟਿਓ ਖ਼ਾਲਸਾ ਪ੍ਰਮਾਤਮ ਕੀ ਮੌਜ ॥

pragattiou khhaalasaa pramaatham kee mauj ||

It’s sustained by the Will of the Almighty

ਜਬ ਲਗ ਖ਼ਾਲਸਾ ਰਹੇ ਨਿਆਰਾ ॥

jab lag khhaalasaa rehae niaaraa ||

While the Khalsa remains pure

ਤਬ ਲਗ ਤੇਜ ਕੀਉ ਮੈਂ ਸਾਰਾ ॥

thab lag thaej keeo mai(n) saaraa ||

I will give it all my strength

ਜਬ ਇਹ ਗਹੈ ਬਿਪਰਨ ਕੀ ਰੀਤ ॥

jab eih gehai biparan kee reeth ||

When they mimic the habits of others

ਮੈਂ ਨ ਕਰੋਂ ਇਨ ਕੀ ਪ੍ਰਤੀਤ ॥

mai(n) n karo(n) ein kee pratheeth ||

I will not offer it my assistance.

Everyone’s complaining that the Panth is not where it used to be, but then every single person is just wasting time on social media, instead of actually doing something practical. So if you would rather lose all the power you had, then by all means leave the Panth. The Kaum doesn’t need numbers, our history proves that. Even at 2% in India, we’re their most feared adversary. And every single community knows our strength because it only takes one Baba Deep Singh, or one Akali Phula Singh, one Maharaja Ranjit Singh or one Sant Jarnail Singh Khalsa Bhindranwale, Rani Sada Kaur, Mata Sahib Kaur, Mata Bhag Kaur to inspire the Panth and create those heroes over and over again.

And look at what each one of them has in common. The true embodiments of the Khalsa Amritdhari Sikhs who made other Amritdharis and non-Amritdharis understand what was wrong and were the first to lead the charge against their oppressors. So what I’m saying isn’t just for Sikh men, but for Sikh women and children. It’s not about forcing people to adopt a religion, it’s the idea that if you choose to follow the religion, then follow it. You can’t be a non practising Sikh, you’re either a Sikh or you’re not. You can decide what you choose to be, the son of Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj, or a sheep that followers its master.