Halemi Raj, Panthic Theo-Social Objective
ਸਭ ਸੁਖਾਲੀ ਵੁਠੀਆ ਇਹੁ ਹੋਆ ਹਲੇਮੀ ਰਾਜੁ ਜੀਉ॥
Now all abide in harmonious peace, and this is the regime of co-existence in humility.
Since the foundation of The Sikh Missionary Society UK in 1969, in addition to the first Gurmat Camps in the UK and basic Sikhi literature for young students, the Society has also provided briefings giving pointers to further research. These have also been published as short articles in various journals for Panthic accountability. (**Society link below).
One example is a recent request to collate notes for the Sikh Youth Australia Family Camp running from 10 January 2024. The main topic is Halemi Raj in Sikhi tradition. Briefing notes were sent as bullet points for discussion at the Camp.
An important question is if Halemi Raj in Sikhi tradition is like the Western philosophical Utopia, an imagined place where everything is perfect or, it it a real Panthic Miri-Piri objective backed by Sikhi institutions.
A study of Gurbani and Sikh tradition shows that the Guru-Persons during Gur-Ithhsa (Guru History) period, laid the deep foundation for Sikh institutions capable of achieving a just, liberated human society. Thus, by the time of Guru Arjan Dev (Guruship 1581-1606), Halemi Raj was proclaimed in which all would abide in harmonious peace. (ਸਭ ਸੁਖਾਲੀ ਵੁਠੀਆ ਇਹੁ ਹੋਆ ਹਲੇਮੀ ਰਾਜੁ ਜੀਉ॥)
The period when Guru Arjan proclaimed the coming of Halemi Raji, halfway through the person-Guru succession, is important. This Shabad, as a Divine Edict added further urgency and clarity to the theo-political objective of the Sikhi movement founded by Guru Nanak: ਨਾਨਕਿ ਰਾਜੁ ਚਲਾਇਆ ਸਚੁ ਕੋਟੁ ਸਤਾਣੀ ਨੀਵ ਦੈ॥ Nanak started His kingdom by building the Fortress of Truth on the strongest foundations.
This pre-Guru Hargobind period, (1581-1606), when Guru Arjan proclaimed Halemi Raj, having completed the Sikhi foundational projects and institutions at Amritsar, the Aad Granth, the Sarovar and Darbar Sahib, and the city-state of Amritsar, was not a turning point or Transformation of Sikhism as misinterpreted by those like Gokal Chand Narang. The timing was chosen by Guru Arjan to remind the Sikh movement of the objective of theo-social-political revolution of Guru Nanak. The Guru felt that this was necessary in view of the condition of the human society described by Guru Nanak and the challenges ahead for the Sikhi movement.
Thus, Halemi Raj is a central objective of Sikhi activism. It deals with the state of human affairs and affairs of state (raj), from a Sikhi perspective. The scene was set for a confrontation between the oppressive Mughal rule and the Panth of Guru Nanak. The Wording of the Command from the Merciful Lord was certain. The time for change from authoritarian rule to self-rule of the people in which all were free from fear, had come. The approaching time for change in human socio-political affairs had also been envisioned by Bhagat Ravidas in his Begumpura Shabad in Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
By the time of the Guru Arjan&rsquos martyrdom (1606) Sikh institutions had been well established on firm foundations and the Mughal rulers and their advisors were well informed and aware of these developments. Time was also approaching for the first Guru martyrdom and the next phase in the Mission of Guru Nanak, leading up to the high point in Sikhi tradition &ndash Vaisakhi 1699 and the emergence of the Khalsa.
Further reading:
https://asiasamachar.com/2024/01/08/proclamation-of-halemi-raj-by-guru-arjan-sahib/
https://www.sikhmissionarysociety.org/
(See under &ldquoArticles&rdquo &ndash Articles on Sikh Ideology and Identity)
Gurmukh Singh OBE
Principal Civil Servant retd (UK)