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 2019.
For further information -
Gurbani is the Light to illuminate this world; by His Grace, it comes to abide within the mind. ||1||
Special classes are starting at the Sikh Missionary Society to enable the youth to learn their mother tongue as well as to bring them closer to Gurbani.
Starting on the 8th of March 2019, and running every Friday from 6.00pm until 7.30pm. Please register yourself by contacting the Society before the 5th of March 2019.
Panjabi classes are for 5 to 25yr olds.
Gurbani Santhiya is for all.
Dr Jasjit Singh, a Research Fellow in Religious and Cultural Transmission at the University of Leeds, followed up his earlier research with another related project, Sikhs and the Media.
He gave his first introductory presentation at the Sikh Missionary Society UK on 17 February, 2019 under three main headings:
By involving the Sikh community with his research work, Jasjit Singh is bridging the gap between Sikh academia and lay parcharaks, Sikh socio-religious activists and organisations like the Sikh Missionary Society U.K. To my knowledge he is a pioneer in community collaborative research. He is keen to ensure that there is a benefit to the community of his research before he starts his projects. For that reason, he goes around seeking advice and opinions from the community and also collates much original old journals, reports and papers which are now part of the British Sikh heritage. There are many educational and side benefits of this type of dedicated research.
Dr Jasjit Singh and Manpreet Singh Badhni Kalan were both honored at the Sikh Missionary Society at this event.
Further reading -
"Unique was the deed of Tegh Bahadur"
(Guru Gobind Singh, Bachittar Natak.)
A one year study by S. Gurmukh Singh OBE has been published by the Sikh Missionary Society UK. The debt which humanity and India owes to Guru Tegh Bahadur has yet to be fully acknowledged.
Guru Tegh Bahadur (1621-75 C.E.), the ninth Guru of the Sikhs, gave his life for the religious freedom of all. He saved the sub-continent of India from religious bigotry and thus, according to Bhai Gurdas II, "Stabilised the world." Today, the world can learn from the shaheedi of Guru Tegh Bahadur who opposed the religious bigotry of Emperor Aurungzeb.
The main reason for this publication is to produce a factual account for the research student and the mature lay reader. I am convinced that here we have, at least, the start of a serious study of Guru Tegh Bahadur's life and martyrdom - otherwise much distorted by parcharaks (traditional preachers) and Indian NCERT historians alike. In Guru Tegh Bahadur, the Sikhs have a most remarkable story to tell the world torn apart by religious conflict. It is the story of a great saint-martyr who gave his life for the religious freedom of all. He was witness to the end, to the founding belief of Guru Nanak's egalitarian ideology: that all have the fundamental human right to own chosen religious path to seek the Ultimate Reality described by numerous Names. His was a protest through his supreme sacrifice, against zealous proselytization and bigotry.
(Gurmukh Singh)
The ebook is available at the following link - Life and the Unique Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur (1621-1675)
"Jarnail Singh's 'I Accuse...' is a shocking book that should shame every citizen of India.... I Accuse ...opens wounds which have not yet healed. It is a must-read for all those who wish that such horrendous crimes do not take place." - Kushwant Singh. Learn more...
This Album (6 CDs) is a Compilation of Shabads in All the 31 Sudh Raags of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. The name of this Album is 'Raag Ratan' Learn more...
The First Anglo-Sikh War was fought between the Sikh Empire and the British East India Company between 1845 and 1846. It resulted in partial subjugation of the Sikh kingdom. Learn more...
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.
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.
Those killed, the widows, and their children who grew up without much support or succor, are the direct victims of the pogrom. The world Sikh community suffering from the collective trauma and remembering the pogrom, is the second victim. It may be argued that the Indian democracy, which failed to protect own citizens and continues to deny justice to the victims, is the third victim of this tragedy.
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.
Today in Sikh History:
| (1994) | : | Censorship of all communications continued in the Punjab. |
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| (1924) | : | Bedi Karatar Singh appeared at Sri Akal Takht Sahib to receive punishment. |
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| (1675) | : | Kashmir Pundits, led by Kirpa Ram, arrive in Anandpur Sahib to ask Guru Tegh Bahadhur Sahib Ji for help in preserving Hindu Dharma. |
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