Jan-March 2006 - Institute of Sikh Studies

64ABSTRACTS OF SIKH STUDIES : JAN-MARCH 2006 / 537-38 NSFROM CROWN TO THE CROSS-ROADS– SIKH HISTORY GOES FULL CIRCLE –JARNAIL SINGH *It is an accepted fact that History repeats itself and those thatfail to learn from History, fail in this world. Sikh History is alsorepeating itself and if we fail to learn from its lessons. we will onlyhave ourselves to blame.We are all aware that the march of Sikh history on the worldstage begins with the advent of Guru Nanak, the Founder, in 1469.Over a span of 200 years, Sikhism evolved and matured into a majorplayer and in the decades following Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s creationof the Complete Man – the Khalsa in 1699, Sikhism under the ableand dynamic leadership of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, arrived at theCross Roads, one of which roads led to the Crown. The Khalsa tookthe right road and, within a few decades of intense struggle, tookcentre stage in Punjab and managed to defeat the mighty Mughalempire as well as Asia’s finest and the most brilliant military genius,Ahmad Shah Durrani of Afghanistan. Banda Singh established theFirst Khalsa kingdom and from then onwards the Khalsa never lookedback until the Khalsa kingdom stretched from Delhi in the South toLadakh in the North, from Jamuna to the East to the Khyber Pass inthe west.What were the reasons behind this meteoric rise from a fledgingreligion to the mightiest power under Maharaja Ranjit Singh ? Andthen just as rapidly, the Khalsa lost its sovereignty and becamesubservient to the British and from then went on a rapid decline, untiltoday we have gone one full circle and stand at the Crossroads again !!!Now, as earlier, the roads either lead to a total submission and merger*