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Sikh Identity through History

Sikh Identity through History. Mystic vs. Revealed. A revealed religion is one that is imparted through a chosen individual as a consequence of his or her encounter with God. A mystic religion is one whose origin does not lie in revelation but in some other source.

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Sikh Identity through History

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  1. Sikh Identity through History

  2. Mystic vs. Revealed • A revealed religion is one that is imparted through a chosen individual as a consequence of his or her encounter with God. • A mystic religion is one whose origin does not lie in revelation but in some other source

  3. Middle Eastern or Western Religions Judaism Christianity Islam Eastern Religions Buddhism Hinduism Jainism Sikhism Mystic or Revealed? • Revealed • Revealed • Revealed • Mystic • Mystic • Mystic • Revealed

  4. Sikhi is revealed • It gives Sikhs a sense of sovereignty • It becomes a vehicle for personal empowerment • Makes us rise above slavery • This sense of sovereignty was essential when scriptures were being used by a priestly class in Hindustan to limit the human potential, as most people were stratified into four castes

  5. Distinct script – Gurmukhi Distinct community - Sangat,Pangat,Dharamsala Education, physical well being (wrestling) Liberation and empowerment of women – sati, pardah and widow remarriage Manji system 22 Manjis 4 women bishops and preachers Collection of money for social/religious causes (daswand) Distinct ceremonies (birth, naming, marriage) Evolution of Distinct Identity

  6. The Adi Granth • Distinct Sikh Scripture (Adi Granth) • Installed in Harmandir Sahib • Baba Buddha ji became first Granthi • Increasing distinctiveness and popularity among people resulted in the Guru being martyred by Jehengir

  7. Miri Piri • Guru Hargobind created Akal Takht – Sikh seat of temporal sovereignty. Sikhs were to lead active lives both in temporal and spiritual realms (miri-piri). • Bhai Gurdas was first Jathedaar of Akal Takht • Sikhs were to play an active socio-political role in shaping the destiny of their surroundings

  8. Guru Granth and Guru Panth • On Vaisakhi of 1699, Guru Gobind Singh inaugurated the Khalsa and created a committed group of men and women who were to dedicate their lives in service to the humanity. • The spiritual Guruship was passed on to the Sri Guru Granth Sahib • The corporate Guruship was passed on to the Guru Khalsa Panth

  9. Baba Banda Singh Bahadur • Guru Gobind Singh dispatched Banda Singh Bahadur to Punjab for the establishment of a Sikh Republic. (1st Sikh Raj) • conquered the heartland of Mughal empire • struck coins in the names of Guru Nanak and Guru Gobind Singh • When royal edicts pursuing the genocide of the Sikhs were issued by two successive Mughal emperors, Banda Singh replied with extraordinary awareness and human dignity that the fight of the Sikhs is not against the Muslims but only against oppression

  10. The Sikh Nation • After Banda Singh, Sikhs ruled over Delhi 12 times – note that no other group was able to crush the Mughal dominance • Maharaja Ranjit Singh came to power • Sikhs are recognized as a NATION throughout the world (France, England, Italy, Russia, China, Persia (now Iran), Afghanistan, Nepal ) • 50 years of Sikh rule

  11. The British and beyond • Gained and lost a Nation • Identity crushed • Singh Sabha Movement • Rediscovery of Sikh Identity • Anand Marriage Act • Gurdwara Reform Movement • SGPC

  12. British Rule • Fall of Sikh Raj by 1849 • Punjab government • White Man’s Burden

  13. Religious Climate • Strife amongst Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs • Arya Samaj (Hindu reform movement) -- Sikhs were a sect of Hindus • Rituals in Sikh institutions and assimilation of Hinduism • Untouchables still not recognized. • Conversion to Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism

  14. Cultural and Historical Confusion • Census of 1855 listed Sikhs as Hindus (not until 1871 were they considered separate) • Historical documents destroyed

  15. Precursor Movements • Namdharis • Nirankaris • Other Movements • Udasis • Sehajdharis

  16. Sikh Spirit • Apathy rampant • British authors commented on Sikhs being their own worst enemy. • Many predictions that Sikhism would soon die.

  17. Inciting Events for Reform • German linguist translation of Adi Granth ridiculed Sikh doctrine and assumed Sikhs were Hindus, thus fueling Arya Samaj movement. • Conversion of 4 kids in Amritsar Mission School to Christianity amongst numerous other converts. • Communication of events now facilitated by newspapers, railroads, postal service.

  18. Lahore Singh Sabha • Prof. Gurmukh Singh -- professor of mathematics and Punjab • Lower-caste Sikhs and professional or middle-class Sikhs involved in education and journalism. • Sikh separateness • Attacked popular customs

  19. Events • 1905 – idols removed from Golden Temple • 1908 – first Sikh Educational Conference • 1908 – Khalsa Biradhari • 1909 – Macauliffe’s The Sikh Religion published in 6 volumes • 1912 – legalization of Anand karaj • 1914 – kirpaan exempted from the Arms Act

  20. Recent Sikh History Pop Quiz

  21. In the peaceful quest for Indian independence, of all the people hanged, exiled and imprisoned by the British, the percentage of Sikhs (who constituted 1.5% of the population) was approximately: (a) 1.5% (b) 11% (c) 31% (d) 60% (e) 80%

  22. The Answer is E – 80%

  23. In the 1940’s the British Parliament declared unequivocally that after the British quit India, there are three peoples, distinct peoples, who are the legitimate heirs to the sovereignty of India, and whatever these three “nations” agree to, their decision the British will accept before they quit India. These three peoples were • Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists • Buddhists, Muslims, Christians • Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims • Jains, Buddhists, Sikhs

  24. The Answer is C – Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims

  25. In March 1946, the Sikh representative body of the Panthic Akali Dal adopted a resolution in the context of independence. The resolution was • to seek an Independent state. • as recommended by Jinnah – join Pakistan • Hindus and Sikhs are inseparable, and they would offer “unconditional” support to the Indian National Congress • The British should leave and India would remain as a single nation after their departure

  26. The Answer is A – to seek an Independent State

  27. Which of the following are false about Mohandas Gandhi A) He considered Guru Gobind Singh to be a patriot B) He supported Apartheid in South Africa C) He upheld the Caste system and held a hunger strike to ensure Dalits would remain subordinate D) He regularly abused Sikhs in his public speeches to the Nation

  28. A - He considered Guru Gobind Singh to be a patriot He considered Guru Gobind Singh to be a “MISGUIDED PATRIOT”

  29. Nehru and Gandhi, urging the Sikhs to join India, made a commitment that no constitution of India would be framed unless it was acceptable to the Sikhs. As a result the Indian constitution A) defines Sikhs as a distinct religious community like Hindus, Muslims and Christians B) was purely secular and does not mention any religious community C) considers Jains, Buddhists and Sikhs as being part of the wider Hindu community D) guarantees a special status to Sikhs under Article 370

  30. The Answer is C – Article 25 of the Indian Constitution says, “the reference to Hindus shall be construed as including a reference to persons professing the Sikh, Jain, or Buddhist religion, and the reference to Hindu religious institutions shall be construed accordingly” Note: Glow of freedom…

  31. Which of the following statements is true about the process of reorganizing the Indian states on a linguistic basis • All states agreed to adopt Hindi as their official language, hence no reorganization was required • Punjab was the only state that was left out of this reorganization and thus Hindi remained Punjab’s official language • All states with the exception of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka agreed to accept Hindi as their official language (so only these three states were reorganized) • The Sikhs and Hindus were united in their unequivocal support for Punjabi as the official language

  32. The Answer is B – as a result of 11 or so years of agitation and struggle for Punjabi Suba and outstanding sacrifices in the China war the government was forced to concede

  33. Which of the following clauses was not part of the Anandpur Sahib resolution of 1978 a) The city of Chandigarh be made the capital of only Punjab. b) Removal of the restriction that the Armed Forces may not contain more that 2% Sikhs. c) More autonomy and special status for the state of Punjab. d) The immediate halt of the unjust and illegal allocation of Punjab’s river waters and hydroelectric power generated from them to non-riparian neighbor states

  34. The Answer is C - The Akalis were demanding more autonomy for ALL states in India

  35. “Any knowledge of Amritdharis, who are dangerous people and pledged to commit murders, arson and acts of terrorism should immediately be brought the notice of authorities. These people might appear harmless from outside but they are basically committed to terrorism. In the interest of all of us their identity and whereabouts must always be disclosed.” This was a quote in the following publication • Time Magazine, August 1945 • Indian Army, Army Gazette No. 153, 1984 • Arya Samaj pamphlet, March 2, 1986 • V. Patel, Secret Letter to Chief Ministers, 1951

  36. The Answer is B – Baatcheet –the Indian Army Gazette No. 153, 1984

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