Editor’s note; some weeks ago M.S. Basarke wrote editorial about, and requested information on, the history of Sikh women. This is her, ‘first article exploring their roles in the Sikh faith, BY: ALICE BASARKE,

(Canada)

 The history of Sikh women has to start with Gun Nanak, the founder of the Sikh religion. According to the’ Bala Janamsakkis Guru Nanak was very fond of his maternal grandmother. They were very close. The mother of Guru Nanak was Mata Tripta; she was reputed to be a kind lady. The young Nanak had many friends and liked to treat them often. Mata Tripta would make sweets for him to share with his friends. She loved her son ‘dearly, but she did not understand the divine mission of her rebellious son. This is clear in the story’ of Nanak’s return from his first travel. His parents met him at the edge of town. Nanak was overcome with emotion and wept when. He met his mother. She offered Him sweets and asked him to remove the beggar’s gown and put on the clothes she brought him. She obviously worried about the friends and neighbors and what they would say, should they see him like this. On the same occasion his parents were much distressed. They believed that his travels: and his rejection of present conventions was a sign of great unhappiness. His father Kalu, was greatly disturbed when he exclaimed only if knew what has disappointed you in life, I would set things right. If you want to marry another woman, I’d get you cone. If another house, I’d provide you with it.” This clearly was a ‘generation gap. His parents, who ‘were well to do and respected in their community did not understand why he would not conform to social customs of the day.

‘The guru had a sister by the name of Nanaki2. She was 5 years older than he was. The guru’s love for his sister is referred to in most touching terms in some of the Sakhis. A sister’s love for her brother is a perennial theme of Punjabi folklore. There are many Stories of Nanaki’s deep and devoted affection for her brother Guru Nanak. She was perhaps the first to recognize the spiritual potential of the young Nanak. She protected Nanak from their father’s ‘wrath, when repeatedly he disappointed and angered him, she was with him throughout the early years of his childhood. Nanaki was married to Jai Ram, a revenue official of high repute at Sultanpur, which is in the present native state of Kapurthala, and was then the capital of the capital of the Jalandhar Doab. Guru Nanak spent some time working for her husband.

Guru Nanak married Sulakhani? in 1544 B.S, when he was 16. She was the daughter of Moola, a pious China Khatri merchant of Batala (now district of Gurdaspur). She gave birth to two sons: Sri Chand and Lakhmi Das. Her mother’s name was Mata Chando, though she undoubtedly lived in a joint family system, Sulkhani was virtually alone when Guru Nanak left on his travels. She watched her sons grow, and waited patiently. When Nanak appointed Lahina to follow him, the Guru’s wife protested: She brought to him his 2 sons and said, “What is to become of me, of them? Nanak replied, “God is your refuge.” She died at Kartarpur (Pakistan). Because of her caste, Mata Sulakhani is sometimes referred to as “Mata Choni’’.

(In his first travel) Guru Nanak reached Dhubri in Kamrup (Assam) via Bengal. Nur Shah was the queen. At first she tried to tempt him in every way possible. But soon, Nur Shah* was deeply moved by the soul stirring message of Nanak, and stood before him with joined palms, beseeching him to forgive her past and to accept her as his disciple. This the Guru did.

Guru a gad’s Time Daya Kaur is described as a lady ‘of gentle disposition, charitable and religious, she gave birth to Lahina in 1504, in the village of Khadur in the district of Amritsar. He later became known as Guru Angad, Her maiden name was Ramo, and Sri Lahina was a pious man. He ‘was a shopkeeper who was honest and good. He was also very rich. He married Khivi®, a noble minded woman. As the wife of one of the town’s richest men, she must have enjoyed a great deal of respect. Her life was one of luxury and pleasure. When Lahina decided to become a Sikh of Guru Nanak, Khivi went with him wholeheartedly. She gave up her easy life, and she too became a disciple of Guru Nanak. She was reputed to be cheerful, hardworking and generous. Bountifully she distributed in the /angre ambrosial kheer enriched with large measure of ghee. She lovingly toiled in the kitchen and served the Guru’s disciples with utmost courtesy and joy. The Gurukalangar in her hands was a source of unlimited bounty and the harbinger of anew social consciousness. They had 2 sons, Datu and Dasu and a daughter Amro. Amro later married the brother of Guru Amar Das. Guru Nanak died, shortly after appointing Angad to be the second Guru of the Sikhs. Guru Angad who was so overwhelmed by his Master’s death, that he shut himself up in a secluded spot at Khadur to pray. A devout woman disciple him and brought him milk during this period. Bibliography provided upon request.

Article extracted from this publication >>  November 25, 1994