It was worn to liberate people who were suppressed for centuries. Sikhs do not want any special privileges but expect due consideration for their faith.
We can easily forget such great events which in fact changed the course of our destiny and made us what we are today. We must celebrate Vaisakhi, Birthday of the Khalsa to remind our next generations of the supreme sacrifices paid by our Gurus for us to be in the position we are in today. .
Guru Gobind Singh Ji realized, having seen the tyranny and religious oppression by the then Mogul King Aurangzeb, that if people are suppressed either by religion or State, they then cannot develop wholesomely. Suppressed people cannot contribute much to society except to behave like obedient servants. He decided to do something about human freedom and liberation by fighting against the injustices and control of the King in the name of religion. The rest as they say is history.
You can see liberated Sikhs working hard on one hand but also enjoying their lives and are synonymous with Bhangra music, good food and hearty characters. They have become the best amongst the rest. Not a single Sikh beggar can be found in the world. As a matter of fact, the latest statistics from the Office of National Statistics shows that 82% Sikhs in Britain own their homes which is higher than any other religious group. Those who own their homes undoubtedly also pay higher taxes and benefit society as a whole.
His creation of the Khalsa not only defeated the Moguls, but also helped create the first secular kingdom in India under Maharaja Ranjit Singh. It was also his followers like Bhagat Singh and Udham Singh who died to uphold the honor of Mother India.
Even after India’s independence, his followers, the Sikhs continue to fight for the defense and integrity of India. It is on record that Sikhs made and are still making more sacrifices for India than any other community in direct proportion to their numbers.
Two of his followers the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Mr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia are giving shape to modern India as we know it today.
More importantly, before Guru Gobind Singh Ji we used to die for India and after Guru Gobind Singh Ji, we now fight for India. I shudder to think what our future and that of India would have been without the Brotherhood of the Khalsa.
Next time you see a Sardar Ji, please do give a thought why he decided to wear a beard and a turban, for India.
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