Following the Prime Ministers orders, the Sikh Missionary Society U.K. resource centre will be closed until further notice.
Please note this means there will also be no religious programmes, classes or activities at the centre either.
Further information -
Khalsa Akal Purakh ki Fauj
The revelation of the order of Khalsa (pragtio Khalsa) was the climax of all that had gone before and the inspiration of all that was to follow.
Two hundred years after Guru Nanak (1469-1539) laid down the founding precepts for New Age ideology and institutions, Guru Gobind Singh completed that mission on the Vaisakhi day in 1699.
At Anandpur in Panjab, Guru Gobind Singh presented the final form of a transcaste egalitarian order. The Guru looked on with satisfaction at the first five Sikhs who had risen above the fear of death, and who were prepared to tread the path of truthful conduct. They had offered their heads to the Guru and the Guru had given them a new identity and way of life, and embraced them as the Five Beloved Ones (Panj Piaray). They had qualified for admission to the fully evolved order of the Khalsa Panth. They were ready to accept the spiritual and worldly discipline of Sikhism as responsible householders and social activists. Today, the Panj Piaray (the Five Beloved Ones) represent the ideal of service and sacrifice towards which every Sikh, the after truth, aspires.
Thus, having completed Guru Nanak's mission, Guru Gobind Singh, returned the Guruship from human succession back to the Guru's Word i.e. Gurbani embodied in Guru Granth Sahib (the Sikh Holy Scripture). The collective body of the Khalsa Panth or the Sikh Holy Congregation (sangat) in the presence of Guru Granth Sahib, represented the physical form of the Guru, as Guru Khalsa Panth.
The joint Guruship of Guru Granth and Guru Panth is a unique feature of Sikh tradition. It means that collectively, the Sikhs are empowered by the Guru to interpret the Guru's Word in Guru Granth Sahib. The Guru has given us the constitution, Guru Granth Sahib, and the egalitarian and democratic institutions to work together towards an ideal just society, united in its diversity.
It is in this sense that it may be said that Sikhi (Sikh Religion) is truly a religion of the people, by the people and for the people!
Khalsa Vaisakhi Day is also the time to reflect on the challenges faced by the independent Khalsa ideology, institutions and identity. As late Sirdar Kapur Singh reminded us, the independent status and the prerogatives of the Khalsa are imprescriptible. (The Golden Temple: Its Theo-political Status)
It is in that true Khalsa spirit that we should celebrate the Khalsa Vaisakhi Day on 14 April 2020.
For further information -
Guru Nanak's Nirmal Panth to Khalsa Panth
State of the Panth and next steps:
Where are we? Where are we going? Where do we want to be?
Guru Nanak Sahib's 550th Parkash anniversary is being celebrated across the globe.
Guru Ji's Message is evergreen and relevant to all times and places. As we celebrate so we also reflect on the state of the Khalsa Panth today. We ask ourselves if we are the true followers of the Sikhi preached by Guru ji. If not, then we need to rediscover Sikhi in its pristine form.
The True Source for doing that is Gurbani in Sri Guru Granth Sahib as ordained by Guru Gobind Singh ji. The Singh Sabha Movement started by Gursikh scholars in the second half of the 19th century was a milestone initiative in Sikh tradition to guide ourselves back to the Sikhi as taught by Guru Nanak Jot and Jugat over a period of 239 years from 1469 to 1708.
Today, we have hundreds of gurdwaras and Panthic jathebandis. There is no shortage of paper and electronic information and publications about Sikhi. We need to lay the foundation for Sikhi milestone achievements for the next 50 years as we celebrate the arrival of Guru Nanak Sahib 550 years ago.
We need to spread Gurbani-based guidance about the most pressing issues facing humanity today.
Below are links to some selected articles by Sikh diaspora scholars for special publications by Gurdwaras and organisations commemorating Guru Nanak Sahib 550th Parkash Divas:
Current Affairs advisories from Sardar Gurmukh Singh OBE, Chair of the Sikh Missionary Society Advisory Board -
Further Reading
Sikh Council UK (Board of Jathedars) meeting at the Sikh Missionary Society UK on 4 July 2015
The Sikh Missionary Society (U.K.) is now affiliated to the Sikh Council UK supporting the principle of Sikh unity to pursue Sikhi miri-piri objectives in the UK & Europe (following the Paris Sikh Summit of 26 November 2011.
Sikhs worldwide remember the 1984 pogrom in which, according to official figures, at least 3,000 Sikhs were killed by organized mobs in Delhi in the first 3 days of November 1984. Thousands of Sikhs were also killed in other cities of India. While the terror of the human slaughter within such a short time was horrifying, the contrived completeness of the failure of the Indian administrative system was inexcusable.
Pogroms, genocides and human tragedies, should unite all right thinking, fair-minded people above communal and religio-ethnic divides so that lessons are learnt, and history does not repeat itself. The politics of forgetfulness must not be allowed to suppress the traditional Sikhi spirit of remembrance expressed in the daily Ardaas (supplication).
In an ever shrinking world, no one can remain immune from large scale selective massacre of one community and prolonged delay in the delivery of justice. We remember those who lost their lives in the Sikh genocide of November 1984 and their families who continue to be denied justice to this day.
Further Reading
Achieving this Guidance on the wearing of Sikh Articles of Faith in the workplace and public spaces by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is an important step forward in recognition of the Sikh religious identity in the UK. The Sikh Missionary Society UK was represented by Gurmukh Singh (UK) in the drafting of the Equality and Human Rights Commission guidelines.
You should read this guidance if you require:
Further Reading
Sections 11 and 12 of the Employment Act 1989 as amended by Section 6 of the Deregulation Act 2015 exempts turban-wearing Sikhs from any legal requirement to wear head protection at a workplace.
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Panjabi
To Produce and distribute books on the Sikh Faith in English and Panjabi, and other languages to enlighten the younger generation of Sikhs as well as non-Sikhs.
To Advise and support young students in schools, colleges and universities on Sikh issues and Sikh traditions. If you belong to an educational institution and would like more information on Sikhism please contact the Resource Centre.
To Arrange Classes, Lectures, Seminars, Conferences, Gurmat camps and the celebration of Holy Sikh Events.
To award prizes to children on the basis of their achievement and interest in the field of Sikh Faith and Panjabi Language.
To make available all Sikh Artefacts, Posters, Literature, Music, Educational Video's, DVD's and Multimedia CD-ROMs
The Sikh Missionary Society U.K seeks financial and other help from Sikh Sangats and Gurdwaras to meet the objectives of the Society. The Society also acts as a Sikh Resource Centre and has over 1000 life and ordinary members from all over the U.K and abroad.
Catalogue of books and artefacts available at the Sikh Missionary Society UK
Today in Sikh History:
| (1763) | : | Guru Khalsa Panth resolved to liberate a Kasur Brahmin's wife who was abducted by the Nawab of Kasur, Punjab. |
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| (1754) | : | Jassa Singh Ahluwalia was given Jathaedari of the Sikh Nation and bestowed the title of "Nawab". |
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Please note we are closed until further notice due to Prime Ministers orders regarding controlling the Coronavirus Pandemic
