Jan-March 2006 - Institute of Sikh Studies

68ABSTRACTS OF SIKH STUDIES : JAN-MARCH 2006 / 537-38 NSdistance, but once he was dead, they made their move, as thecontemporary Muslim poet of the day Shah Muhammed writes, “JangHind Punjab da hon laggah..dovehn patshahi faujaan bharian ne” (on oneside was the Khalsa Army of Punjab and on the opposite side was theBritish Allied Army of the Conquered Indians). After two of thebloodiest wars, known as the Anglo-Sikh wars, the British eventuallywon and annexed the Punjab. From then on the Sikhs became a majorforce in the British Allied army as the British gradually consolidatedtheir hold over India, and during the failed and ineffective IndianMutiny of 1857, it was the Sikhs that helped save the British, andafter Indian Independence, the Sikh community, half of which had toflee Muslim Pakistan after partition, became economically andpolitically the most significant and successful minority community inIndia. The Sikhs are unique as a religious movement. Founded in thedeepest spirituality and mysticism, they are a radically egalitarian grouprooted deeply in their sense of community, called “brotherhood”(Khalsa ), and history.The Khalsa is unified by one aspect: all Sikhs are disciples of thefounding Gurus of the religion – the word, “Sikh,” means disciple.They are also, however, a highly militant religion and society; thecommunity has to be protected with the highest martial vigilance andability. Since the seventeenth century, Sikh fighters have been fearedthroughout India for their ability and sheer courage. The British, whoemployed them in their army in the nineteenth century, referred tothem as the greatest of the “martial races.”It’s an odd mixture, Miri and Piri, something unique to Sikhism.On the one hand, Sikhism is one of the most deeply spiritual andprofoundly mystical religions of the world, advocating a social harmonyand egalitarianism unrivalled by any other major religion, with thepossible exception of Buddhism. On the other hand, the Sikhcommunity is a militant, warrior community, willing to fight, sacrifice,at any cost to protect or further the interest of their community.The core teaching of Sikhism is one truth: that God is one Godand is behind and present in all of creation, particularly in each humansoul. God can be directly connected to by an individual by examininghis or her soul; this examination is carried out by meditating on thename of God. There is no need of any intermediary functionary, such