GEMS OF GURBANI

National Character – 1

Sikh doctrines call for a universal brotherhood sans borders but the actual ground reality is different because the development history of mankind has seen nations coming into being with geographical boundaries. Each nation has further developed into societies with regional characteristics, languages, ideologies and political and economic aspirations. Accordingly the nation character building takes up and these are pronounced by the collective nature of their people. Mostly people in a country are driven by their rulers to expand and occupy territories for economic benefits but also to spread their belief. Mostly economic plunder and spread of belief goes hand in hand. Countries with Christianity and Islam were foremost in such plunder of wealth and spreading their religion. Islamic invaders made it a State policy to impose Islam by brutal force whereas European nations were more subdued with missionary work though they did support it with finances. Nations are forced directly or indirectly to abandon their culture, languages, political thinking. By imposing rules and regulations of the invaders and their subjective countries, the loss of a National character takes place and natives are humiliated and subjected to live in subjugation. In case of India there was no national character before the severe invasions by Muslim forces because our own Hindu society was divided by caste system and majority were forced to live a sub human life with no education and economic rights. The horizontal and  vertical division of the society was so strong that something like unity against foreign powers could not be built. This was always a land of plenty and the trade was good so the upper castes and the ruling class only indulged in luxurious life and no thought was given to nation and its security. Small geographical territories were the aim of Kings to earn enough revenue for living and maintaining an army. The society didn’t have the strength to stand united and fight invaders and colonialists who just came to plunder and establish their rules.

In the 15 century Guru Nanak contemplated on these matters and he tried to preach for a national character. The facts that he established were similar to those of Karl Marx of 19 th century albeit there is a difference that Karl Marx ‘s focus was ruling political class and changing the system of ruling in a revolution whereas Guru Nanak’s focus was to bring change to strengthen personal and collective attittude towards building a character. Indian society is basically religious so the God element also remains strongly implemented in Guru Nanak’s preaching. Guru Nanak laid foundation for a strong personal character and his principles can be applied universally and these principles of personal character can make a basis for national character. His principles of 1) Kirat karni (work) 2) wand shakna( share) 3) sanjhiwalta(equality) 4) brotherhood(bhrataribhav) 5) equal rights to women 6) socialist democracy(Lokraj) 7) religious tolerance and unity and 8) independence. These principles can be universally valid because they don’t need any religious sanctions and they are for personal growth and then the national character. Apart from this the human propensities like self respect and self confidence and respect for own culture and language should be paramount.

To continue……