The Sikhs as Warriors

The Sikhs
Warriors

The Golden Temple of Sikh Dharma
Amritsar, India

Preface
"The Sikhs, peaceful until disturbed."

The following is presented 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.

Introduction
"We never started a war before,
but we have finished many."

Captain Tejdeep Singh graduates from
the US 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

The history and suffering of Sikhs is one of the most important episodes in the history of 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 Sikhism a renewed vigor and mass following in the 17th century. Guru Gobind Singh instituted the Akalis. The Akalis are religious warriors -- soldiers of God.

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.

Barack Obama and Manmohan Singh
at the April, 2009 G-20 gathering in Europe.

Historical Background

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.

Sardar Hari Singh Nalwa

Sardar Dalip Singh Gosal

Baba Ram Singh Namdhari

Baba Banda Singh Bahadur

Sardar Baldev Singh Chahal

Sons of Guru Gobind Singh

Sardar Jassa Singh Ahluwalia

Sardar Jassa Singh Ramgarhia

Bhai Garja Singh and Bhai Bota Singh

Bhai Sukha Singh and Bhai Mehtab Singh

"From a woman all men are born.
How then can any man degrade any woman?"

The Sikhs

Believe God is Truth and Word is Guru.

Believe God is the One Creator, and all of Creation is God's manifestation.

Espouse the role of woman as representing the Universal Mother.

Keep their hair and their beard unshorn, and wrap their hair in a turban.

Are vegetarians and do not eat flesh food, i.e., red meat, chicken or seafood.

Refrain from using tobacco, drugs or alcohol.

Perform sadhana,* i.e., spiritual practice before sunrise, and recite banis daily.**

Believe all religion and scripture is an expression of the One Creator.

Respect the rights and freedoms of all spiritual paths.

Espouse the sanctity of the path of the householder.

Believe it is God's blessing to serve others, and to protect the weak.

*Sadhana: Derived from a Sanskrit word meaning, Sa-all, and Dhana-blessings.

"The greatest reward of doing Sadhana is that the person becomes incapable of being defeated. Sadhana is a self-victory, and it is a victory over time and space. Getting up in the morning is a victory over time, and doing it is a victory over space." Yogi Bhajan

**Banis are specific passages taken from the Guru and read each day.