A unique nation was formally christened on the historic Baisakhi day of 1699. On that fateful day Guru Gobind Singh created the Khalsa to champion the cause of religious {freedom and to fight against the oppressive unjust and fanatically intolerant Mughal order. Guru Gobind Singh transformed as though with a magic wand the underprivileged exploited and the virtual scum of the earth into a proud valiant and dedicated army of Saint-Soldiers Guru’s Khalsa steadfastly adhered to his teachings and consistently maintained an exemplary Code of conduct even in dealing with the enemies. Khalsa was instrumental in bringing about the downfall of the mighty Mughal Empire. The establishment of Khalsa Kingdom by Ranjit Singh was the realization of the Sikh concept of a truly secular ‘order.
During the British regime Khalsa registered victories of far reaching consequences through peaceful and non-violent morchas In the struggle for independence also Khalsa remained in the forefront making more than 80% of the total sacrifices made for the liberation of India.
On the Baisakhi day of 1986 exactly 287 years after the historic christening at Anandpur Sahib Khalsa Panth again finds itself arrayed against an adversary far stronger far shrewder and far more fanatical than the fundamentalist Mughal tyrant Aurangzeb. Today the adversary has the additional advantage of the backing of self-seekers who are shamelessly engaged in the task of sabotaging the aspirations of the Khalsa Panth from within. The unenviable predicament in which Khalsa Panth finds itself to day is largely because most of its leaders are ambivalent and insincere.
Leaders who surrendered “Perhaps by prior arrangement” to the Indian Army despite their wild protestations that army would enter the Golden Temple on their dead bodies are back on the scene greedily trading Sikh aspirations for their narrow power politics.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 5, 1991
