The Sikh Warrior

The Sikh Warrior

The Golden Temple of Sikh Dharma
Amritsar, India

"The Sikhs, peaceful until disturbed."

Preface

The following narrative is presented only for the purpose of making the inquirer more familiar with the lifestyle and practices of Sikh Dharma, a householders' spiritual path by which practice and only by God's grace, one may be blessed with the virtue known as humility and the good fortune to overcome the mental and spiritual affliction known as pride.

It is not the purpose nor customary practice of the followers of
Sikh Dharma to proselytize others. The Sikhs often express the
term "Sat Kartar," i.e., "God is the Doer." In this sense meaning,
only those with such destiny will become Sikhs. -- Hari Singh

Introduction
"We never started a war before,
but we have finished many."
M.S.S. Livtar Singh Khalsa

Colonel Gopal Singh Khalsa (left)

Colonel Khalsa joined the U.S. Army in 1976 as a Private, and served in
the Special Forces Unit for 10 years on Parachute Status, as a Battalion
Commander overseeing an 800-person intelligence group, and also received
a Meritorious Service Medal with Silver Oak Leaf Cluster Award, amongst many
other honors. He is a graduate of the Army Officer Candidate School in Georgia,
and was inducted into the Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame in 2004.
Colonel Khalsa currently serves in the reserve command, and has
therefore served in the U.S. Army for 33 years.

Sergeant Sevak Singh Kroesen (center)

Sergeant Kroesen enlisted in the U.S. Army reserves in 1976 and was
attached to the Signal Company, 11th Special Forces Group after which
he successfully completed airborne (paratrooper) and Radio Teletype
Transmission Operator training. He then completed his Special Forces
Qualification Courses and became a Special Forces Communications
Sergeant. He completed this rigorous training, and his Sikh articles of faith
were never a hindrance to his service. Sergeant Kroesen subsequently
completed schools, training, and missions around the world all with honor
and distinction. He was honorably discharged from active duty in 1991.

Captain Tejdeep Singh (center) graduates
from the U.S. Army's Officers Basic Training.

Captain Kamaljeet Singh Kalsi (center) graduates
from the U.S. Army's Officers Basic Training.

Sikh guards at Buckingham Palace

"Human is a blend of saint and soldier; this is a complete person. If you
are not a soldier your sainthood will be kicked around. If you are only a
soldier and not a saint, you will start kicking others around." Yogi Bhajan

"A true leader is born when their group consciousness emerges to the
point where the individual me becomes the collective we, whereupon that
person has learned to obey, follow, and then command, and inspire." Hari Singh

The Sikhs hold a prominent place in the history of America and India. Guru Nanak Dev founded Sikhism in the fifteen century and he was followed by nine Gurus (enlightened teachers or prophets). Guru Angad developed the Gurumukhi script. Guru Ram Das laid the foundation for the city of Amritsar. Guru Arjan Dev compiled the Adi Granth, the sacred texts-songs of the Sikhs (a.k.a. Siri Guru Granth Sahib).

But it was Guru Gobind Singh who gave Sikhs a renewed sense of chardikala, and Sikh Dharma a resurgent vigor and mass following in the 17th century. The main principle of Sikhism is that there is but one God, and all people are servants of God. The people who are bound together in this holy brother-sisterhood are known as Khalsa. Guru Gobind Singh instituted the Akalis. The Akalis are religious warriors -- soldiers of God. He declared that he was the last of the earthly Gurus, and he commanded his followers to revere only the Guru-Word as Guru after his death. See the 12 Aspirations of the Sikhs.

Today, after episodes of religious persecution in their homeland, in 1738 by Nadir Shah, in 1748 to 1751 by Ahmed Shah Abdadi, by the British in 1849, and in 1984, by the government militia in the aftermath of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's assassination, and due to their energetic and entrepreneurial spirit, Sikhs can be found all over the world.

The Sikhs, or Sardarjis as they are known by some, aside from being great patrons of art, religion and scholarship, are known as the bravest people in India, and their women, among India's most beautiful. The Sikhs have participated in India's nation building for hundreds of years, fighting the British, serving in the military (the Sikh regiment is the most decorated regiment of the Indian army) and excelling in sports. And they have served as President (Gianni Zail Singh, veteran freedom fighter, 1982-87) and Prime Minister (Manmohan Singh) of India.

Gianni Zail Singh Manmohan Singh

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Barack Obama
and their respective First Ladies at State Dinner, Nov. 24, 2009.

Left: Barack Obama and Manmohan Singh at the April 2009 G-20 in Europe.
Right: Obama and Singh during state visit in Delhi, India, November 2010.

A History of Sikh Warriors

Baba Deep Singh

What follows are the biographies of a few of the many Sikh Warriors who protected Sikhs and others from the onslaught of tyrannical forces. These brave souls protected the Sikh faith and fought battles against oppressors in keeping with the Khalsa spirit of Sikh Dharma. They stood up against tyranny by invaders and oppressors on the battlefield. They raised the sword against aggression in defense of the rights of women, and the weak and defenseless, and never to threaten or oppress others.

Khalsa Martial Artists

Sardar Baghel Singh

Forty Liberated Ones

Bhai Tara Singh Wan

Sardar Hari Singh Nalwa

Sardar Dalip Singh Gosal

Baba Ram Singh Namdhari

Baba Banda Singh Bahadur

Sons of Guru Gobind Singh

Sardar Baldev Singh Chahal

Sardar Jassa Singh Ahluwalia

Sardar Jassa Singh Ramgarhia

Bhai Garja Singh and Bhai Bota Singh

Bhai Sukha Singh and Bhai Mehtab Singh

Hear me roar!

Welcome to
Sikh Anthem.com

The Sikh Anthem
A Warrior's Song
By Mukhia Singh Sahib
Livtar Singh Khalsa

M.S.S. Livtar Singh Khalsa

In the heart of a lion,
There is no fear of dyin'.
In the heat of battle,
The Spirit of Life burns like a flame.
In the depths of the darkness,
In the worse betrayal and pain,
The fearless Khalsa heart will beat
To the rhythm of the Name.

We've never started a war before,
But we have finished many.
We see the One in everyone.
Whom should we fear? Not any!
We play the game of life with style;
The question of death we love to enjoy.
We have seen so many times,
In so many lives what our life is for ...
In so many lives what our life is for!

Enemies come and enemies go,
But the Khalsa stands like a mountain range.
We will return to Infinity.
What in the world will the drama change?
Go onto the battlefield;
Head in hand as a humble one.
The life doesn't matter, the courage does.
Soon the job will be done ...
Soon the job will be done!

On every side the world will pull;
They want you to join them in their fog.
It took you millions of lives to arrive;
What do you care for the barking of dogs?
The one who stands alone in the fray
Is a priceless gem to the One he serves.
Be the Light for the world to see.
Invincible ones live by their words ...
Invincible ones live by their words!