VAISAKHI RESOLUTIONS

The significance of Vaisakhi in the life of a Sikh cannot be over emphasized. It was on this day in 1699 that Guru Gobind Singh performed a unique miracle unparalleled in the entire range of human history. Through a socio spiritual regeneration, he transformed dumb driven multitudes into the finest Saint Soldiers that ever walked on this planet. From the Vaisakhi of 1699 begins an unending saga of courage, commitment, truthfulness, sacrifice and devotion both to God and human dignity. With Guru Nanak’s message of universal brotherhood and his concern for socioeconomic justice as the guiding principles, the newly fashioned Khalsa took upon itself the onerous and thankless task of fighting oppression, injustice and domination of every hue and complexion, be it social, economic or political. Even though man is born free but everywhere he is plagued by chains. He is a victim of human sharks who, to Satisfy their insane lust for power, pelf and wealth, exploit the weak and defenseless fellow beings.

The Guru ordained the Khalsa to act as the vigilantes to protect the weak and the defenseless. It is the religious duty of the Khalsa to end all kinds of domination and injustice and stand up for human dignity and freedom no matter what the price or the sacrifice it may involve. The Khalsa is not to seek personal glory, but strive for the establishment of a commonwealth of humanity as a whole where no individual will be subjected to any discrimination on any count.

So long as the dream of that commonwealth remains to be realized, the Khalsa cannot abdicate its responsibility. The presence of the Khalsa, therefore, is most discomforting for all those who have made it their business to thrive by draining the blood of others. They are always conspiring to destroy the Khalsa, making the confrontation invitable. The challenges faced by the Khalsa, today, are the same as it faced at the time of the Mughals or the British. The role of the Khalsa has not changed. It cannot change as it is divinely ordained. Only the adversaries keep on changing and they would keep changing according to the tensions of the time.

Vaisakhi being the birthday of the Khalsa, each Sikh is required to remind himself of his historical role. It is an occasion to rededicate himself to the task outlined for him by the Guru himself. There is no escape and no excuse from this obligation. For the Sikhs, today, the scenario is most distressing and alarming. The vigilante himself is besieged and his very identity is at stake. The Brahmin rulers of India have put all their cunningness, deception and ruthlessness into operation to wipe out the Khalsa.

To face this grim situation, each Sikh must make a few Vaisakhi resolutions. He must strive in his own way to bring about unity in the Khalsa Panth. It is not the time to indulge in fault finding, criticizing or bickering. Internal contradictions and personality clashes, if any, need to be kept at bay. If any Sikh does not feel comfortable with an individual or an organization engaged in the task of liberating the Sikh nation from the shackles of slavery because he does not agree with its methology or because of the risks involved, he should refrain from opposing it and should not allow his own prejudices to become an obstacle in its way. Each Sikh must resolve not to compromise with anything less than sovereignty and freedom and pray for the success of the great mission. This is the minimum that the exigencies of the situation demand from every Sikh and there is no better way of celebrating Vaisakhi than making with oneself these simple resolutions and abiding by them.

Article extracted from this publication >> April 15, 1988