GEMS OF GURBANI

National Character – 10

Awareness of a negative character

The Sikh movement in India has always been ridden with difficult situations and full of struggles. The worst part was these struggles were more from the situations created by the degraded value systems and character of our own people. The great enlightened soul Guru Nanak studied this character degradation so minutely and his soft poetic persona could not sit idle without reprimanding the countrymen for creating this degradation in their character. His reprimands were mostly for the high caste Hindus, Turks, Lodhis and Pathans. Turks, Lodhis and Pathans because they invaded this country and settled here but started indulging in a life of luxury and showing indifference to the public welfare, security of the borders and respect for the daughters of this country. This weakened situation was reasons for continuous invasions by foreign looters who sometimes came as traders also. This luxurious life style of ruling class and rich of India always sent wrong signals and made her a tempting place for invasions, intrigue and overpowering. There was a large segment of society who could never take care of this country because they themselves were denied rights of a dignified life, education or acts of bravery and fighting spirit. For them it was immaterial who the ruler is because they were forced to live a life without self-respect, pride and of ignorance. It was necessary to awaken these downtrodden. But Guru Nanak’s anger shows in his Poetry when he reprimands the high caste Hindus and the ruling class. High caste Hindus because for the material gains and retaining the powerful positions they were sacrificing their religion, belief, religious places language, culture, dress, self-respect, bravery and self-confidence. They were developing a negative value that we call opportunism in today’s context. Guru Nanak makes a mention of this state of affairs of high caste Hindus that is recorded in Guru Granth Sahib as Raag Basant as; “ Adi Purukh ko Allah kahiye, shekhan aiyee waari II deval devtayan kar laga aisee kirat chali II5II kujja bang niwaz musla neel rup banwari II ghar ghar mian sabna jiyan boli awar tumahri II GG.Pg.1191 Basant hindol”

Meaning: the primal Lord is called Allah, the turn of the Muslim divine has come. Tax is levied on the temples of Gods, such a practice has come into vogue, the ablution pots, calls to prayers and prayer carpets are seen everywhere and the Lords appears in blue form. In every house the persons are addressed as ’Mian’, your language has changed O men.

For Guru Nanak it was a great downfall of Indian civilization to abandon your language and culture, your way of life and giving up your religious practices and symbols. Following verses from Guru Granth Sahib depict his pain when he reprimands :” khatriyan te dharma chhadiya malechh bhakhiya gahi” II GG Pg.663 and for Brahmin he says; “ antar puja padhe kateba sanjam turka bhai II GG pg.471 Asa waar. On these high caste Hindus when to get recognitions from foreign rulers they even started wearing their dress he says ; neel vastra pahan ke hove parwan II malechh dhan le pujeh puran II GG.Pg.472 Asa di waar. The worst downfall in the Indian Society was noticed when they started eating the meat butchered according to Sharia, he says; abhakhiya ka kutha bakra khana II GG.472

To continue……