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

Since 2015 there has been a plan put in place to reduce the stature of Guru Granth Sahib Ji through sacrialige (ਬੇਅਦਬੀ) carried out by India’s black state. It started way back in 1978 when the Narakdharis challenged Guru Granth Sahib Ji’s Takht, which led to the Shaheedi of 13 Singhs. This was avenged by Ex Jathedar Bhai Ranjit Singh. However in this so-called “modern era”, sacrilege has become a frequent incident and no one is prepared to challenge it or do what needs to be done? 

Now I’m not saying that violence is the answer, but there is something that needs to be learned. Fact of the matter is that we have moved too far away from our historical Singhs and Kaurs. As a result, we have lost the spirit, emotion, and trust of our Gurbani and Amrit. 

Allow me to provide an example from the Shaheedi of Bhai Bota Singh and Bhai Garja Singh. This was when Zakariya Khan outlawed the Khalsa Panth and had been placed bounties on our heads. As a result, the majority of the Singhs had been killed and the few survivors had resorted to living in the jungles. During that time these two Singhs had only just taken Amrit, and on their way back, they decided to sneak through bushes and forests to make their way back to their jatha. On their way back a few mughal soldiers saw them. One of them said that we’re going past them, and another one responded by saying, “The Singhs are all dead. They’re probably imposters. The Khalsa doesn’t hide in jungles, they come out and fight”. 

Both Singh’s were enraged by this, and after they left they immediately set up a Nishan Sahib and a toll, in short they had established their own kingdom. Those who passed were charged a toll tax, and Bhai Bota Singh wrote a letter to Zakariya Khan to let him know that the Khalsa is still alive. The letter said:

ਚਿੱਠੀ ਲਿਖੈ ਯੌ ਸਿੰਘ ਬੋਤਾ, ਹਥ ਹੈ ਸੋਟਾ, ਵਿਚ ਰਾਹ ਖੜੋਤਾ

Bota Singh writes a letter to convey that he has a staff in hand and has blocked the main road. 

ਆਨਾ ਲਾਯਾ ਗੱਡੇ ਨੂੰ, ਪੈਸਾ ਲਾਯਾ ਖੋਤਾ,

I have levied four paisa tax for a bullock cart and two for a donkey

ਆਖ ਭਾਬੀ ਖਾਨੋ ਨੂੰ, ਯੌ ਆਖੈ ਸਿੰਘ ਬੋਤਾ

Let my brothers wife, Khano know that this is the declaration of Bota Singh

Reading this, Zakariya Khan sent a small army. Seeing only two Singhs, they first send 4 soldiers to deal with them. However they were quickly dispatched. Next came eight and then twelve. However, each time Bhai Bota Singh and Bhai Garja Singh, armed only with sticks, killed every single soldier. So, in the end, the whole brigade attacked the two lions and they attained martyrdom. 

Now you may be wondering where this is going? Bhai Bota Singh and Bhai Garja Singh proved one thing that we have seemed to forgotten: Guru Granth Sahib will only be respected as long as the Panth follows in its footsteps and remains unique in the world. 

ਲੜੈ ਸਿੰਘ ਪਰਸ਼੍ਵਰਥ ਜਾਨ ਟਲੈ ਨ ਮਰਨੋ ਸਿੰਘ ਸੁਜਾਨ

The Singhs fought for a common cause, removing all fear of death.

ਪੰਥ ਗੁਰੂ ਕੀ ਸਮਝੈ ਲਾਜ ਦੀਨ ਮਜ਼ਬ ਕੇ ਜੁਧੇ ਕਾਜ 

They considered it a battle for the honour of the Guru’s Panth in the cause of the faith and the deprived. 

This was how Singhs used to fight for the sake of the Guru Granth and Guru Panth. Now the Guru Granth has been challenged and reduced to a book that can be ripped without repercussions. The Panth has split up into so many different sections that they all have their own selfish desires to fulfil instead of following the true meaning of the Khalsa panth. 

After the larger holocaust Sultan-e-kaum Sardar Jassa Singh Ahluwalia did an ardas in which he said; 

ਪੰਥ ਜੋ ਰਹਾ ਤੋਂ ਤੇਰਾ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਭੀ ਰਹੇਗਾ ਨਾਥ, ਪੰਥ ਨਾ ਰਹਾ ਤੋਂ ਤੇਰਾ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਕੋਹਣ ਮਾਨੈਗੋ

So here, Sardar Jassa Singh Ahluwalia proved the importance of the Khalsa panth even though people respect Guru Granth sahib; it will only be respected if the Panth remains alive.

Jathedar Mohinder Singh also writes that;

ਧੜੇਆਂ ‘ਚ ਵੰਡੀ ਗਈ ਗੁਰਿਆਈ ਪੰਥ ਦੀ

The Gurugaddi of the panth has been separated into sections.

ਤਾਹੀਓਂ ਨਹੀਂ ਰੁੱਕਦੀ ਬੇਅਦਬੀ ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਦੀ

That’s why the sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib has still not stopped

It’s this unfortunate turn of events that has led us to this pathetic state. The Panth that was known for its warriors and scholars is now known for its dancing, drinking and film industry; the three of which do not reflect the panth in any sort of way. So how can we break out of this siege that we are stuck in? Well, Sardar Ajmer Singh said in the 6th episode of ਸਿੱਖਾਂ ਦੀ ਸਿਧਾਂਤਕ ਘੇਰਾਬੰਦੀ that to break out of this siege we have to go back and reconnect with what they are breaking us away from; and that is the Guru Granth and Guru Panth. 

So until the Panth doesn’t learn from our history and our Gurbani, we will continuously be looking at saroops of Guru Granth Sahib Ji being ripped laying on the streets, Sikhs running away from mobs or being dragged by their hair and our daughter’s sisters and mothers being mistreated. If it only took two Singhs like Bhai Bota Singh and Bhai Garja Singh to do something so unique, it should be possible for us with such a large quantity of Sikhs throughout the world to put an end to the blasphemy and bring those responsible to justice. This isn’t something that can be solved by “Panthic conferences” or protests; this can only be done when the Khalsa rises collectively, without worrying about petty differences and finishing this matter themselves.