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FROM CROWN TO THE CROSS-ROADS – SIKH HISTORY GOES FULL CIRCLE75Gobind Singh had drilled into the Khalsa and this was so faithfullyfollowed that it was the strength <strong>of</strong> the Confederation. Anotherexample – for an alleged indiscretion, the Jathedar Akal Takht PhoolaSingh ordered the Maharaja Ranjit Singh to be bound to a tree andgiven 20 lashes in public. The Maharaja complied immediately andwithout protest from any quarter. Third example – all the Sardars,Banda Singh Bahadur before them, and even Maharaja Ranjit Singhdid not strike coins or legal tender in their own names, but in the name<strong>of</strong> Guru Gobind Singh and Guru Nanak or the Khalsa. This provedbeyond doubt that the Sardars and Maharajas were ruling in the name<strong>of</strong> the Guru and not in their personal capacity. Fourth Example – theSardar and his territory was the malkiat <strong>of</strong> all – not hereditary. Thenext successor was chosen from among all the capable ones. Manytimes, the sardar’s sons or relatives were ignored and passed over.2. JUSTICE FOR ALLThis was another <strong>of</strong> Guru Gobind Singh’s injunctions strictlyfollowed. Justice was not denied to anyone – Hindu, Muslim, <strong>Sikh</strong>,Isaii were all equal in the <strong>Sikh</strong>-ruled territories and the Maharaja gaveequal amounts <strong>of</strong> gold and other aid to all religious institutions withoutfear or favour. <strong>Sikh</strong>ism had evolved a distinct set <strong>of</strong> ideals and thebasic framework <strong>of</strong> the ethics had been formed by the end <strong>of</strong> the 18 thcentury. Whenever a <strong>Sikh</strong> ‘Leader’ was found ‘wanting’, he was shownthe right path. No <strong>Sikh</strong> Leader, no matter how powerful, dared to goagainst the <strong>Sikh</strong> Ideals.3. KHALSA PANTH – COMMONWEALTH – ABOVE ALLThis sacred institution was created by the Gurus and given itsfinal shape by Guru Gobind Singh at Vasakhi 1699 by merging himselfinto it. No <strong>Sikh</strong>, big or small, dared to do anything that violated thetenets laid down by Gurbani or Gurus. There was no exemption toanyone on any account. No Single individual or group <strong>of</strong> individualscould be considered above the Panth. No <strong>Sikh</strong> ruler dared think <strong>of</strong>himself as a ‘ruler’ destined by God to rule and, therefore, special inany way – everyone kept always in mind that their position as due tothe grace <strong>of</strong> the Guru and the Panth. The Gurus had strictly enjoinedupon the Khalsa that all decisions were to be taken through the Punj –
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