Yesterday was the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Guru of the Sikhs and also known as Hind Ka Peer - Teacher of India, which his life and work proved to the letter and spirit. His father was martyred when he was only nine years old. All his life, he battled the tyranny of Mughals and their allies. He banned female infanticide, purdah and sati. At one of his sermons, he said Women shall be equal of men in every way. No purdah (veil) for them anymore, nor the burning alive of a widow on the pyre of her spouse (sati). He who kills his daughter, the Khalsa shall not deal with him. He was a great poet, warrior and thinker. He was a scholar of Sanskrit, Persian, Braj Bhasha and Punjabi. Some of the best poets and scholars of India stayed with him and visited him. It is for this reason he was known as Hind Ka Peer. He found himself in a condition where he had to take a stand against the greatest odds to defend the rights and dignity of people. For instance, he was surrounded by one million soldiers of the Governors of Lahore, Kashmir and Sirhind at the orders of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. He only had forty warriors with him. That did not dampen his spirits. He broke through the encirclement to fight for another day. He said Chidi naal je baaz ladavan, Tahn Guru Gobind Singh naam Dharavan (i make the sparrows capable of fighting the hawks, for it is only then that i will be able to uphold my name) All four of his sons were killed at a very young age on the orders of the emperor. But Guru Sahibs determination was not weakened. After the great battle, in response to a letter by Aurangzeb he wrote Zafarnama in Persian, a letter in which he describes all the crimes of Aurangzeb and his determination to fight tyranny. At the founding of Khalsa he declared: from now on, you have become casteless. In your new order, the lowest will rank with the highest and each will be to the other a bhai (brother). You should be ready to sacrifice at the call of Dharma. He commanded his followers and others: Physical prowess will be as sacred to you as spiritual sensitivity. And, you will serve the poor without distinction of caste, colour, country or creed. My Khalsa shall always defend the poor, and Deg - or community kitchen - will be as much an essential part of your order as Teg - the sword. Guru Gobind Singhs life and work will keep inspiring all those who are fighting against oppression and for the affirmation of their rights. On this anniversary of his birth people pay homage to his life and work and vow to continue to fight for a better world following his example against all odds. In days of darkness and retrogression, Guru Gobind Singhs life illumines our path.
Posted on: Tue, 23 Dec 2014 14:38:19 +0000
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