1999 marks the 300th anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh’s founding of the Khalsa Panth the world’s first society of men and women bound together by egalitarian ideals dedicated to service of God and society. On that historic occasion Guru Gobind Singh predated the main ideals of the U.N. Charter by some two and a half centuries and in any real appreciation of history the event should be celebrated throughout the world with celebrations being led by the United Nations. Sadly on present trends it may only be marked in local Gurdwara’s and with the occasional ostentatious dinner by those with wealth but little understanding or commitment to Sikh teachings.
There is however still time for the Sikh community to come out of its all-engulfing apathy and plan more appropriate celebrations for this important landmark in human history. The goal is simple: to put Sikhism on the world map as a system of human guidance ideally suited for balanced living in the 21st century with its emphasis on the oneness of the human family; its insistence on the full equality of women; its Rejection of all notions of caste or race; its emphasis on service and its interpretation of tolerance as the willingness to give one’s life for another’s right to religious or political freedom.
The gap between this goal and Sikh practices discussed above is great; it is a huge chasm but one that can still be bridged by careful and dedicated planning. The first step is to look within. Are we aware of the fullness and vitality of the Guru’s teachings? What steps do we as individuals need to take to improve our commitment? What steps do we as parents and a community needs to take to acquaint our young with the richness of their heritage? What new structures and programmes do we need to set up to ensure that the neglect of the past in this vital area never occurs again? And moving on the wider world what new initiatives do we require ensuring that Sikhism is fully represented in all areas of interfaith and moral dialogue? The author George Bruce writing about the Anglo-Sikh wars saw Sikhism as an essential bridge of tolerance between Hindus and Muslims. The challenge of the 90s” is to show that what was true for the Hindus and Muslims one and a half centuries ago is also true for all communities in the far more complex world of today Sikh Review.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 8, 1991
