Shri Ram Sarup is misled probably because of the compelling nature of the medium of communication. Guru Nanak wanted to achieve a perfect communication with those who were attending to Him. Thus for the proper understanding of his issues he had to use the idiom which was easily understood by the masses directly without the help of a priest. Therefore he wrote Sang and spoke in their language He used all those symbols and metaphors which were already familiar to the masses. Thus he draws his vocabulary from both the sources that is Islam and prominent sects of Hinduism. For example in his Japuji Sahib Gum Nanak draws his vocabulary from Budhism Jainism Vaishnavism Nathism and Islam. But interestingly he does not use a single word in the sense or meaning for which it is used in its source language He has accepted the words and metaphors but has completely changed their meaning. He has accepted mythical idioms of Hinduism and Islam both but has not used them in the sense in which they are used in Islam and Hinduism. This difference between the traditional and given meaning of a word misled Mr,Ram Swarup to come to the conclusion that Guru Nanak worships the deities of Hinduism. It should be treated only a problem of the communication which Guru Nanak wanted to overcome for his impelling
In addition to a different doctrinal base Sikh Gurus raised certain distinctive institutions also This was in order to build an alternative structure of Religion:
For example they gave a religious text and thereby they raised the word to the status of a Guru instead of a Guru in the mortal frame Thus Sikhs were made the owner of a single Religious text.
- Sikh Gurus gave a central Religious place in the form of Darbar Sahib. This was constructed to give a central place to the Sikhs to practice their theory of equality brotherhood and mutual support. This institution has influenced and awakened the consciousness of its followers enormously. Sikhs love it more than their life. For about a thousand years of the South Asian History invaders frequently came to this land and destroyed along with other things the Religious places of Hindus in large number. None of them could be liberated during the whole period of more than one thousand years. On the other side the building of Darbar Sahib was also destroyed by the foreign invaders or the political powers of the time But its control was re-gained and the sacrilege was avenged in very little time. History tells us that even the prestigious and sacred doors of Somnath Temple were brought back by the heroes of the Sikh history. Of course as we are told the priests of temple did not accept them back because in their opinion these were unpurified.
3.Sikhs have cultural patterns which do not even resemble with the Hindu cultural patterns. For example:
(A)Sikhs have fixed code of conduct called ‘rahat maryada’
(B)Sikhs during the period developed independent socio/political ethos and made this a base of their everyday life. Therefore they react in a given situation differently
(C)Even in appearance Sikhs are different from all Hindus.
(D)The religious beliefs of the Sikhs developed different type of motifs.
List of all we have to keep in mind the historical role that a religion played. The role that the small number of Sikhs played in the short period of history is worth comparing with the role played by a large number of Hindus in a longer period of history. Sikhs not only faced the continuous onslaught of foreign invaders but they got the process reversed. Instead of foreigners attacking us the Sikh attacked them in their land. They rescued most of the enslaved who were suffering the agony of slavery and insult in the hands of foreign invaders. Guru Nanak was first to make the South Asians aware about their cultural and social decline and about their moral bank repay and hypocrisy. He tried to inculcate the feeling of love for freedom in the Indian mind. He created an awareness in them which led them to play a role in the history It is first time in the form of Sikh history that a Religion is bringing about a revolution which was not even conceived by the people on this earth The Sikh revolution therefore deserved a close ‘and objective examination.
In the end I don’t know whether Mr Ram Swar up is unaware of the nature of the subject that he is dealing with or he is trying to give projection to his own manipulations But by giving a twisted interpretation and explanation he is trying to provide grounds for the Hindus to build a new a modern the unified India. I have no objection to his intentions. This is being tied by better equipped scholars since last two hundreds. years also. But to their dismay they could not succeed Shri Ram Swan up as a wise man should also know the fate of his attempt.
I don’t mind even Praying for his success. But the ground reality in Indian Society is entirely different India is multi-religious and therefore multi-national sub-continent. India has its future only in recognizing its multiplicity and in providing circumstances and material to let every nation grow in its own way Hinduism also has its future only in this context.
Dr. Darshan Singh is Professor & Chairman of Guru Nanak Sikh Studies Department Punjab University Chandigarh. He has written several books on Sikh Studies.
He has written several books on Sikh Studies. He has been teaching post-graduate classes for the past 20 years. He has supervised research work of several dozen students.
Besides he has to his credit general books on Sikhs studies Guru Nanak Sikh studies chair at Chandigarh is one of the three chairs of Sikh studies .The other two are headed by Prof Harbane Singh and Dr Madan jit Kaur .
Article extracted from this publication >> August 9, 1991
