editorial articles reviews news & views - Institute of Sikh Studies

52
ABSTRACTS OF SIKH STUDIES : APRIL-JUNE 2005 / 537 NS
is a practical demonstration of national integration. Our political
disintegration on the basis of language, boundaries, castes, river waters
and such other issues is the antithesis of the teachings of Guru Granth,
which are very relevant today.
CONCEPT OF SEVA IS A GREAT INTEGRATING FACTOR
Concept of selfless service sB[, wB[ ns/ XB, i.e., physical, mental
and material service is well brought out in Guru Granth Sahib's
teachings.
The earthquake in Gujarat highlighted all this type of service
from the world around — Sikhs were in the fore-front. World Trade
Centre holocaust in New York on 11 th September, 2001, has brought
out how Sikh taxi drivers ferried the victims to places of safety.
He, who performs Guru’s service without
desire for reward, attains the Lord. 7
Let us go to Guru Tegh Bahadur. The greatest sacrifice for any
human being is self-sacrifice. The Guru was martyred not for his own
religion, but for human dignity or principles for safeguarding Kashmiri
Pandits'/Hindus' rights to profess their own religion. Where else do
you find a parallel in the world
Guru Gobind Singh fought fourteen battles against tyrant rulers
and won most of them. These were not against Muslims or Hindus,
but against tyranny and treachery. He had devout Muslim followers.
Ghani Khan and Nabi Khan, carried him on a palanquin as Uch Da
Pir, Pir Budhu Shah’s two sons and five hundred murids died fighting
valiantly along with Guru’s army.
Now I come to Banda Bahadur’s army which included a lot of
Muslims who fought against tyrant Muslim Wazir Khan and other
battles along with Sikh soldiers. He never desecrated mosques, and
treated Muslim women with dignity and honour. Coming to Maharaja
Ranjit Singh, the distinguished Sikh monarch, he ruled extended Punjab
for forty years as a secular king (1799-1839) with Sikh, Dogra, Muslim
ministers and all his subjects with equal benevolence and munificence.
BHAI KANAHAYIA JI CONCEPT
Let us come closer still. In the national and international disasters
like the Gujarat earthquake, 9/11 World Trade Centre of America’s