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

When studying Sikh history, it becomes apparent that the Sikhs have throughout history managed to pull off some of the most impressive feats. Whether that was in the 18th century, during the world wars, or the Khalistan movement during the 1980s and 1990s, each time Sikhs have managed to pull off the impossible. Withstanding merciless torture, inhumane conditions, and unwinnable battles, the Khalsa managed to stay ahead of everyone when it came to sacrifices and when it came to ruling as Kings.

But what many people still don’t understand is how? How did the Sikhs who originated from low caste people, who were sick and tired of the fascist Brahmanical system, who had accepted they were inferior without suffering, could hold power to topple the Mughal Raj, challenge the British forces, and keep three mighty armies guessing to defend their Guru’s throne?

Failing to understand this has led to many fools being able to provide “rationality” to Sikh history in an attempt to demoralise us. So what power guides the Sikhs through the darkness and gives them the strength to carry on through such hellish times. Well, if you want to put in in one word, its emotion or in Punjabi “ਜਜ਼ਬਾ” born out of Gurbani. 

This lack of emotion meant that 3% of people were able to rule over an 85% majority of natives. The manusimiriti, which had been the frontrunning factor for these people to remain under the boot of the “higher castes”, says;

“Those in power should use their strength to keep the Shudras in their place and complete the mission they were meant to do. If they fail to obey you, then they will caste the whole world into turmoil.”

Manusimirti (8/418)

And what was that mission? Well, when you continue to read the manusimirti, you find that their calling was slavery; they were born to serve the other three “castes”.

Now you may be wondering how emotion can drastically change a character so far that they can be born as a human and then hold the strength to fight sava lakh if needed. Well, to understand that, we have to go back 550 years to Guru Nanak Sahib Ji. 

Guru Nanak Sahib Ji established the foundations for the Khalsa Panth and the sovereignty that the Khalsa would eventually claim. 

ਮਾਰਿਆ ਸਿਕਾ ਜਗਤਿ ਵਿਚਿ ਨਾਨਕ ਨਿਰਮਲ ਪੰਥੁ ਚਲਾਇਆ।

maariaa sikaa jagat vich naanak niramal pa(n)th chalaiaa|

In the world, he established the authority (of his doctrines) and started a religion devoid of any impurity (Nirmal panth).

ਨਾਨਕਿ ਰਾਜੁ ਚਲਾਇਆ ਸਚੁ ਕੋਟੁ ਸਤਾਣੀ ਨੀਵ ਦੈ ॥

naanak raaj chalaiaa sach koT sataanee neev dhai ||

Nanak established the kingdom; He built the true fortress on the strongest foundations.

The Sikhs were given Charan Pahul, and until the Ninth Guru, those who chose to become Sikhs were given Charan Pahul. Once given Charan Pahul, the Sikhs were now separate from Hinduism and Islam. But they needed something to provide them with strength. And that was Gurbani. Gurbani was something that started to make them think differently. Remember, these people were not powerful; they had no standing in society. The Manusmriti had endured that these people only saw themselves as expendable. But Guru Nanak Sahib had spent so long challenging the Brahmins, Qazis, Sidhs, Yogis and other factions and proving their logic as flawed. This provided those people with a changed mindset. 

When it came time to place the next Guru on the Takht, the Guru gave their jot to the person who had grown as a Sikh, not to his own sons like most Dera’s and Kings do. And that happened to be Bhai Lehna, whose character had been completely changed from the deity worshipping lehna to a Gursikh who was now capable of handling the Gurus throne. 

ਤਿਨਿ ਲਹਣਾ ਥਾਪਿ ਜੋਤਿ ਜਗਿ ਧਾਰੀ ॥

tin lahanaa thaap jot jag dhaaree ||

He established Lehnaa as Guru, and enshrined His Light in the world.

The next move was to provide this Nirmal panth with their own language and writing format with the fundamental values established. So Gurmukhi was then formally taught to the Sikhs, giving them access to something they didn’t have before. The brahmins were the only ones who were allowed to learn Sanskrit and, in turn, were the only ones allowed to pray. 

ਭਗਤਿ ਕਰਤ ਨਾਮਾ ਪਕਰਿ ਉਠਾਇਆ ॥੧॥

bhagat karat naamaa pakar uThaiaa ||1||

While Naam Dayv was worshipping, he was grabbed and driven out. ||1||

This provided them with the option to educate themselves about the world and Gurbani. Guru Angad Sahib Ji also provided them with Mal Akharas, or wrestling which allowed them to learn how to defend themselves and keep healthy. Langar was formalised, allowing those who had to beg for morsels of food to come into the Gurdwara and eat with respect.

When it came to pass on the throne to the next Guru, Guru Sahib picked someone who had ups and downs in their lives. Bhai Amru, also known as Amru Nithavaan (Amru the homeless), was born into a well-known family. He went from fame to the bottom of the barrel, where many people thought of him as crazy and unhinged. But then he was transformed by the Sangat and the Guru, showing the Sikhs the importance of humility and selfless service. So Bhai Amru went on to become Guru Amar Das Ji.

Guru Amar Das Ji spent time establishing Sikh Parcharaks or Manjhis, who were to go around and preach Sikhi. This gave those forgotten people a place to now prove their intellect and spiritual prowess to those who had subjugated them for so long. As a result, the langars flourished, and complete equality was established, to the point where even Emperor Akbar was forced to sit amongst the paupers and have langar if he sought the Guru’s counsel.

Bhai Jetha Ji became the next successor to the Guru’s Throne due to his dedication to Sewa and the Gurughar. Bhai Jetha Ji was also a well-versed scholar who represented Guru Amar Das Ji in Akbar’s court. When the Guru’s throne was passed on, Bhai Jetha became Guru Ram Das Ji, who then established a centre for the Sikhs. This was the formalising of the benevolent rule:

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||

Amritsar then became the town of the Sikhs. Now that we had an official town, those subjugated low caste people now had a place to live freely. Next, Guru Sahib went to work establishing an official place of worship for the Sikhs. The building of the Sarovar started the official establishment of the Sikhs religious capital.

ਬੈਠਾ ਸੋਢੀ ਪਾਤਿਸਾਹੁ ਰਾਮਦਾਸੁ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੂ ਕਹਾਵੈ।

baiThaa soddee paatisaahu raamadhaas satiguroo kahaavai|

Now Guru Ram Das, a Sodhi emperor, seated on the Guru-seat is called the true Guru.

ਪੂਰਨੁ ਤਾਲੁ ਖਟਾਇਆ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਸਰਿ ਵਿਚਿ ਜੋਤਿ ਜਗਾਵੈ।

pooran taal khaTaiaa a(n)mritasar vich jot jagaavai|

He got dug the complete holy tank, and here settling down at Amritsar, he spread his light.

Most of the time, the heir to a monarchy is usually the eldest child of that family. However, once again, Guru Sahib showed the importance of Sikhi rather than worldly ties. So when it came to the 5th Guru, Guru Arjan Dev Ji was selected to sit on the Guru’s Throne. Guru Sahib first ensured that the Sikhs had a place of worship, finishing the endeavour started by their father by building Darbar Sahib. The Sikhs were provided with a physical Granth, the Aadh Granth Sahib, which empowered the lower castes who could now read a religious Granth, which the Brahmins had ultimately denied them. And then, to prove the importance of that Bani and the Sikhs’ path, Guru Sahib becomes the first martyr of the Sikh religion. 

The Sixth Guru sits on the throne and establishes a Sikh state by building the Akal Takht opposite Darbar sahib. This way, the separate identity was clear. Despite Darbar Sahib having four entrances which meant it was open to everyone, Sri Akal Takht Sahib was the supreme seat for the Sikhs only. Not only this but the establishment of temporal and spiritual power (Miri and Piri) ensured that those lower castes now had a way of combating the tyrannical brahmin and Mughal system that had kept them under their feet. 

ਪੰਜਿ ਪਿਆਲੇ ਪੰਜ ਪੀਰ ਛਠਮੁ ਪੀਰੁ ਬੈਠਾ ਗੁਰੁ ਭਾਰੀ।

pa(n)j piaale pa(n)j peer chhaTham peer baiThaa gur bhaaree|

(From Guru Nanak to Guru Arjan Dev) Five pirs were there who drank from the five cups(of truth, contentment, compassion, dharama, discerning wisdom), and now the sixth great pir is holding the Guruship.

ਅਰਜਨੁ ਕਾਇਆ ਪਲਟਿ ਕੈ ਮੂਰਤਿ ਹਰਿਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਵਾਰੀ।

arajan kaiaa palaT kai moorat harigobi(n)dh savaaree|

Arjan (Dev) transformed himself into Harigobind and sat majestically.

ਚਲੀ ਪੀੜੀ ਸੋਢੀਆ ਰੂਪੁ ਦਿਖਾਵਣਿ ਵਾਰੋ ਵਾਰੀ।

chalee peeRee soddeeaa roop dhikhaavan vaaro vaaree|

Now the Sodhi lineage has started, and they all will show themselves turn by turn.

ਦਲਿ ਭੰਜਨ ਗੁਰੁ ਸੂਰਮਾ ਵਡ ਜੋਧਾ ਬਹੁ ਪਰਉਪਕਾਰੀ।

dhal bha(n)jan gur sooramaa vadd jodhaa bahu paraupakaaree|

This Guru, the vanquisher of armies, is very brave and benevolent.

Guru Har Rai Ji taught us to care for nature, the environment and our natural being. But as well as the Piri side, Guru Sahib kept 2200 Sikh soldiers with them at all times and ensured that the formal teachings of martial arts and Gurmat continued. We all know that Sakhi where Aurangzeb asked to meet with Guru Har Rai Ji, who refused to do so and then sent their son Ram Rai to who was supposed to answer the questions he asked correctly. However, falling into worldly Maya, he changed a Pangti of Gurbani, which made Guru Sahib disown him. This showed two things; the importance of Gurbani and its pronunciation, and second the fact that nothing is more significant than Gursikhi. 

After the Gurgaddi was passed onto Guru Harkishan Sahib Ji, Guru Sahib taught us that age did not mean wisdom. The youngest guru also refused to meet with Aurangzeb despite his many attempts to do so. Despite that, Guru Sahib still went to Delhi on the Sangat’s request and gave the Sangat darshan. According to Principal Satbir Singh’s writings, Guru Harkrishan Sahib Ji gave the Gurgaddi to Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji whilst they were alive and then sent them to Bakala. They said “Baba Bakala,” and we know the rest of the Sakhi from that point during their final moments. 

Next, the 9th Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, fought in battles, continued to teach Shastar Vidhya and Gurmat Vidhya’s importance. They established the city of Anandpur, which would later become the home of the Khalsa. Similarly like their father, Guru Sahib also referred to the Sikh Sangat as “ਸ੍ਰੀ ਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਦਾ ਖਾਲਸਾ”. Fast forward, and we have the Shaheedi of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. Well, coming back to Sri Gur Sobha by Kavi Sainapat, he said in 1710;

ਪ੍ਰਗਟ ਭਏ ਗੁਰ ਤੇਗ ਬਹਾਦਰ ਸਗਲ ਸ੍ਰਿਸਟਿ ਪੈ ਢਾਪੀ ਚਾਦਰ 

Then appeared Guru Tegh Bahadur, who placed their protection across the whole world.

So our definition of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji’s Shaheedi was about the freedom of all, not just the Hindus of India. The miraculous nature of Gurmat was that by the time of Guru Sahibs shaheedi, Sikhs were martyred, and the Guru watched. The character of the Sikhs had been elevated to that level where they were able to give their heads for the Guru. 

Now that the Sikhs were capable of giving their lives up for the Guru, which previously would have been impossible for those lower caste people, now had the strength to live up to Guru Nanak Sahib’s challenge to his Sikhs which Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj then tested practically:

ਜਉ ਤਉ ਪ੍ਰੇਮ ਖੇਲਣ ਕਾ ਚਾਉ ॥

jau tau prem khelan kaa chaau ||

If you desire to play this game of love with Me,

ਸਿਰੁ ਧਰਿ ਤਲੀ ਗਲੀ ਮੇਰੀ ਆਉ ॥

sir dhar talee galee meree aau ||

then step onto My Path with your head in hand.

ਇਤੁ ਮਾਰਗਿ ਪੈਰੁ ਧਰੀਜੈ ॥

eit maarag pair dhareejai ||

When you place your feet on this Path,

ਸਿਰੁ ਦੀਜੈ ਕਾਣਿ ਨ ਕੀਜੈ ॥੨੦॥

sir dheejai kaan na keejai ||20||

give Me your head, and do not pay any attention to public opinion. ||20||

And following this, it was these same Shudars who then went on to become the Khalsa Panth, those lower castes who were outcasts in society by the Brahmins, were now challenging the Mughals, overtaking land and then creating the greatest empire in the world known as the Sarkar-E-Khalsa. This was only possible if their character could be evolved to such a level, which the Sikh Gurus then were able to do and provide power to those people and establish the true path that protected all and destroyed tyranny.

In fact, a movie was also going to be made on this same issue. Unfortunately, however, the current fascist regime of India banned its production. So the only conclusion you can come to is that they’re clearly trying to hide something. 

Even today, the constant turmoil the Shudras or Dalits face today could be resolved if they entered the Khalsa panth and became equal human beings instead of being the feet of a deity who raped his own daughter. If they wish to leave their slavery behind, they need to rise up against the current fascist regime and leave their controlling overlords who see them as nothing but vote banks and join the Panth, allowing them to live free and hopefully one day reign free once again.