Sahibe Kamaal – 20

In dedication to Guru Gobind Singh ji

 Apart from Poets, many historians have written about the personality of Guru Gobind Singh. A contemporary historian Latif says; He was successful as a community leader and organized the divided Society into a one unit. He further says: On his religious seat he looked like a Spiritual Avtaar, in battle field he was a brave knight, when he held his durbar he looked like Sachha Patshah the true King and in Sangat(congregation) he looked like a Faqir. Cunningham says that the   worldly success alone is not the measure of success or greatness. Greatness is measured by the success of ideal and target. Guru Nanak had awakened the spirit in people and Guru Gobind Singh ji infused a life in that spirit that his men could now fight in the measure of one to one lakh and a quarter. He was not fortunate enough to see what spirit he had bestowed in his men that they could forever stop the invasions in to India.

After completing the final edition of Granth Sahib at Damdama Sahib in Talwandi Sabo Guruji wanted to go to meet Aurangzib as he had sent a letter of remorse and wanted to meet this true Faqir of Allah. Guruji started his journey towards south but heard of Auranzib’s death and went to help one of his son princes Muazzam for acquiring the throne. He is the same prince who avoided fighting with Guruji because he came to know that the Hill chieftains didn’t want to pay the taxes and that is why they were instigating Mogul Subedars to fight with Guruji. Guruji realized that if he becomes Emperor he will have soft corner for Sikhs and leave them in peace. Muazzam became the Emperor and came to be known as Bahadur Shah Jaffar. He had to leave for south to quell a rebellion and asked Guruji to accompany him. For the growth of Sikh community it was important to make a pact with a mightier opponent so Guruji went to south with Bahadur Shah to make a permanent truce with the Moguls. On their journey the Emperor was always avoiding the State policy topics so Guruji left his company and wandered on their own with his Sikhs. He was destined to meet Madho Bairagi who was to bring a turning point in the Sikh history. Madho bairagi recognized that his Lord has come and he offered himself as his Banda or slave. Guruji blessed him and bestowed his powers on to him and renamed him as Banda Singh Bahadur and sent him to fight the tyranny and finish it off from roots. Unfortunately Guruji were martyred by Wazir Khan’s men because he didn’t want any truce with Sikhs so he thought of killing Guruji before he could get any concessions from the Emperor.

The practical transformation of Guru Nanak’s thought was given by Guru Gobind Singhji in small practical steps. Small things make so much difference that only a great philosopher and psychologist like Guru Gobind Singhji visualize. Most important was the personal greeting of Sikhs:" Wahe Guruji ka Khalsa, Wahe Guruji ki Fateh" - hails the khalsa who belongs to the Almighty and hail the Almighty whom belongs the victory. This greeting permanently attached the Sikhs of all types, believers and non believers in the Almighty and his Grace to one another and to the Almighty. This simple greeting united the Sikh community in one organization. Even the non Sikhs using this greeting invariably think of the Almighty. The war cries; Jo bole so Nihal, and Sat Sri Akal have also become the personal greetings of Sikhs and while crying in Sangat the high spirit or chardi Kala can be felt resonating in each and every one present. Such are the vibrating impulses that these simple changes in greeting of Sikhs induce.