Today in Sikh History :25th May

25th May

Pattshahi sixth, Guru Har Gobind Sahib Ji, ascended to Guruship of GurSikhism. Just after the martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev, Baba Budha anointed Hargobind as the sixth Guru of the Sikhs. Guru Arjan had sent to Hargobind, five paisas and a coconut through a messenger. baba Budha put those in front of Hargobind and applied a ’tilak’ (saffron mark) on his forehead, bowed to him and declared him to be the next Guru of the Sikhs. The Guru then asked baba Budha to adorn him with a sword. Baba Budha who had not handled a sword before, tied it on the wrong side of the Guru. On realising his mistake he wanted to move it to the right side, but the Guru said not to remove that sword, but instead to put another one on the right side, which Baba Budha did. Thus the Guru wore two swords simultaneously. He declared that one sword represented ‘Piri’ (spirituality) or Bhakti) while the other represented ‘Miri’ (Temporality or Shakti). He told his followers that in the Guru’s house spiritual and temporal powers would be combined. He declared that his rosary would be the sword-belt and he would wear the emblem of royality on his turban. Further he instructed the Sikhs to keep a sword and a horse and always recite the name of God from their lips.

-Ref. "The Sikh Religion and The Sikh People," by Dr. S.S. Kapor, Hemkunt Press, New Delhi, 1992

Kashmiri Pandits, led by Kirpa Das of Mattan (Martand), reached Chak Nanki, Kahlur (old name of Anandpur Sahib). He appealed to Guru Tegh Bahadhur for his help in against the prosecution of Kashmiri Pandits by Aurangzeb’s forces and resulting extinction of hindu dharma. After appointing Gobind Rai as the next Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadhur left for Delhi on July 11, 1675. After Guruji’s martyrdom, Pandit Kirpa Das stayed back and became Kirpa Singh after taking amort in 1699 and died fighting at Chamkaut along with the two elder sahibjadas of Guru Gobind Singh Ji.

When Guru Tegh Bahadhur sacrificed himself to save the Kashmiri Pandits from extinction in 1675, Guru Gobind Singh put his stamp on this truth by proclaiming "The Lord (Guru Tegh Bahadhur) protected the sacred thread and the frontal mark of the Hindus: He performed a great deed in the age of Kalyug." However, it is strange that the Kashmiri Pandits did not build any memorial in honour of Guruji. On the other hand the present generation has started doubting the veracity of this event.

Nadir Shah was on his way to Iran with billions of Rupees as well as a large amount of gold, pearls, and other valuables. When he reached Akhmur (near Jammu), Khalsa army attached him from the rear and releived him of much of his booty. Astonished at this, he questioned accompaning Zakaria Khan about the desperados. The anecdote runs:
SHAH: Have you got any troublesome people in the country?
ZAKARIA: None, except a sect of the Sikh faqirs, who assemble twive a year to bathe in a tank which they regard as a place of pilgrimage.
SHAH: Where are their abodes?
ZAKARIA: Their homes are the saddles of their horses.
SHAH: It seems probable these rebels will raise their heads.

Having taken a hint from Nadir Shah, Zakaria Khan started a fresh attack on the Sikhs. The Sikhs fled to the hills and to the forests but still continued visiting Amritsar.

Through May 26, a Sikh Symposium was held in Toronto. The symposium was organized to provide an opportunity to analyze the Punjab situation, explore basic issues, and develop strategies to bring some realism into our community, especially in the wake of tragic happenings in Punjab that affected Sikhs all over the world. The papers presented at the symposium covered a wide range of subjects, such as "Together-Reflections; Sikh Identities; Obstacles to Render Aid to Sikhs; Cultural restraints on Sikhs in India; Economic Restraints on Punjab; The Khalsa its Universality; Psychology of Violence; Role of Media; Unspeakable; and What Went Wrong".

Continuation orders issued for censorship of all communication to and from Punjab. The copy of the document containing the top secret order pertaining to the Indian government’s official discrimination, harrasment, subjugation and humiliation of the Sikhs is shown below.

==> TOP SECRET ORDER - May 25, 1994
Whereas the Administrator (UT) Chandigarh, is satisfied that this measure is necessary in the interest of public safety and tranquillity.

Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by Sub-Section (1) of Section 26 of the Indian Post Office Act 1898 for censorship of Postal articles and by Section 5 (2) of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 for censorship of telegraphic messages, the Administrator (UT) Chandigarh is pleased to direct that all Postal articles and telegraphic messges of any description whatesoever addressed to or emanating from the:

(1) Office bearers, important members and important workers of:

i) Akali Dals, Dal Khalsa, Khalsa Raj Party, National Council of Khalistan and their front organisations;
ii) Central Coordination Committee of Local Gurdwara & Sikh Institutions, Chandigarh;
iii) A.I.S.S.F.;
iv) Sikh Lawyers Forum;
v) Panjab Bachao Morcha;

(2) Office bearers, important members and important workers of Anand Marg and its branches;

(3) Any organisation/person from whom danger to the' security ofthe State/VIP;

(4) Persons residing in Pakistan;

shall be detained and forwarded to the Deputy Superintendent Of Police (CID) UT/Chandigarh to return to the Postal/Telegraph Authorities direct for delivery such Postl articles/telegraphic messages as are intercepted in accordance with this Office Order which it is not necessary to detain permanently in the interest of public safety.

This Order is to remain in force for a period of six months with effect from the date of issue.

--(Signed) Sanjay Kothari--
Home Secretary,
Chandigarh Administration
Dated Chandigarh,
the 25.5.1994