The Multifarious Faces of Sikhism
throughout Sikh History
Page 4 of 9
Tat
Khalsa Singh Sabhias cont'd
Whereas the Sanatan Sikh world was happy in
considering itself distinct from Hinduism, yet
still a part of Hindu civilization, this idea
was repulsive to the Sikhs raised in the Tat
Khalsa Singh Sabhia ideology.
Pluralistic Sanatan Sikhism
A Muslim Sikh known as a 'Nanak Shahi', devotee
of Akali Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj, circa 1820
Even today, mainstream Sikhs detest the idea
that they are ‘Hindu’,
yet Sanatan Sikhs such as Udasis, Nirmalas and
Akali Nihangs speak of themselves as being part
of the Hindu world. Nihang Baba Udey Singh,
nephew of Akali Nihang Baba Santa Singh
comments:
‘I am not saying you
adopt the bad things in Hinduism. We do
not say, “Do idol worship”,
or “Do as they do and change our traditions”.
Our discussion is this: Who are we? We
were first Hindus, then Sikhs …. .
Guru Nanak Dev, Guru Gobind Singh Ji did
not create a Sikh ‘Qaum’ (nation).
Sikhs now argue they are a separate nation.
We are a nation that has been coming from
the past (meaning of Hindu origin). Our
creation, so as we became Singhs and Sikhs
- from Hindus did the Guru make Sikhs. No
person can deny this - Hindus are our root.
We were Hindus first, then Sikhs.
Have we not emerged from Hinduism? Then
have we emerged out of Christians or Muslims?
Guru Nanak made his ‘Nirmal Panth’
(pure way). Maharaj did not make
any nation he created a ‘Panth’
(way). Guru Gobind Singh altered
the way of initiating into that Panth changed
its traditions of that Panth which Guru
Nanak started. …… They
[the British] made Sikhs and Hindus fight
according to British policy. The [Tat Khalsa]
Singh Sabhias became victims of this policy.
That is why they have not been completely
accepted [by Nihangs]. They became victims
of that policy. That one policy of the British
that they [Tat Khalsa Singh Sabhias] split
the Hindus and Sikhs. I am firm in this
belief that Guru Gobind Singh did not make
a nation a separate nation, because our
Gurus names match with them [Hindus], our
dress matches, our country matches, our
food matches, our traditions match with
the Hindus. How can we be separate from
them? If we separate ourselves from
Hindus, or separating from Hindus say we
are a separate nation, then whom have we
come from? Then go back in history,
we were made from Hindus so as to protect
Hindus. For who did Guru Tegh Bahadur sacrifice
himself? For protection of Hindu Dharma.
Pundits also come in this the Brahmins.
A hundred ‘Maund’ (about 40
kilos) weight of Hindu sacred thread was
being taken off. True Guru was to
stop these atrocities and evil. For protection
of the cow (the symbol of humility), and
poor, for protection of righteousness did
the true Guru sacrifice himself.
Now if we say we are but a separate nation
[from Hindus], then that is a policy that
is once more now being employed. First it
was employed at the time of the British
now it is being employed again.’
Nihang Baba Udey Singh, transcript of interview
on 01-03-2001
Udhasi Sikhs
Udhasi Sikh Sadhus, Hardwar, circa early 20th
century
