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 -
In the state of freedom, the Guru lives in the river like a fish.
Seeing the Divine, the light merged with the Light like a moth.
Consciousness connected with Infinite-Wisdom,
nothing entered awareness during torture like a deer.
In the Lotus-feet Sanctuary, the night was spent in joy-wealth like a bee.
The Guru never ceased to instruct, kept reciting the wisdom like a Babiha.
Perfection-oriented [Guru Arjan] recognized the natural inspired-company
as joy-fruit and love-flavor.
I am devoted to Guru Arjan.
–Bhai Gurdas, Var 24, Pauri 23
Martyrdom is a consequence of the struggle between the forces of evil and the invincible warrior for good, who remains unconquered to the end, because, he or she, has already conquered self (is already a mar-jeevra - the reborn). The would-be martyr does not bow to the will of evil but abides by the Will of the Creator Being (Bhana) while remaining true to conscience to the end. The ultimate victory is that of death-defying truthful conduct, justice and the righteous principle being upheld.
Sikhism which had been founded to transcend the division between Hindus and Muslims by preaching the gospel of the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of man, was exceedingly galling to the bigoted mind of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir who had firmly reasserted and declared the 'Islamic Shariyat' as the foundation of his Government when he ascended the throne.
The heroic martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev demonstrated once again the stark fact that religious persecution is sinful, because no one has the right to stand between a person and God, that violence in this field at least is futile, for religion cannot be inculcated by force. That there is no such thing as a belief that is not held voluntarily through a genuine spontaneous inner conviction. He laid down his life for a principle and his example generated a new impulse for calm suffering and sacrifice.
A saintly soul (a pavittar atma) revered by all, led the cause and confronted the evil of bigotry to uphold the principle of religious freedom - the ultimate martyrdom.
For only the martyrdom of such a person would awaken the spirit of righteous conduct and freedom in the ordinary people. Death was not pre-meditated, but was the inevitable consequence of the struggle (sangharsh) between good and evil.
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.
and
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:
| (1948) | : | SGPC came under the control of "Pro-Congress" psuedo-Sikhs. |
Read about the Sikh Missionary Society, its background History, activities and the managing committee. Learn more...
Browse our Book, Audio and Video library and read publications and articles in our Resource Centre. Learn more...
Find out more about hiring the Mata Sahib Hall for Birth, Engagement, Marriage, Akhand Path, Sehaj Path and more Learn more...
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Please note we are closed until further notice due to Prime Ministers orders regarding controlling the Coronavirus Pandemic
