Sikhi Promotes True Democratic Values

The temporal (miri) aim of Sikhi is halemi raj*, literally meaning rule of humility.

It represents an egalitarian society, a state in which all citizens are treated equal and there is no oppression.

Sikhi socio-political revolution started with the arrival of Guru Nanak Sahib in 1469. His founding principles replaced old, outdated and often oppressive socio-political institutions with egalitarian institutions. Yet, the process of change was introduced systematically over a period of time and at the pace of the people and in the language of the people. That continues to be the process of learning (Sikh-ing!) through the Word of the Guru enshrined in Sri Guru Granth Sahib.

The Gurus and the Khalsa Panth worked interacted with outside regimes while asserting own theo-temporal sovereignty. Just regimes were supported and oppression was resisted through sacrifices and the sword (Kirpan = Kirpa-aan, the defender of the oppressed and human dignity).

Sirdar Kapur Singh wrote: the Sikh doctrine of Double Sovereignty []]Miri-Piri, temporal and spiritual sovereignty] has a modern ring and flavour. The main substance of this doctrine is that any sovereign state which includes Sikh population and groups as citizens, must never make the paranoia pretensions of almighty absolutism entailing the concept of total power, entitled to rule over the bodies and minds of men, in utter exclusiveness.**

Thus, wherever the Sikhs live, their allegiance to the state is qualified and conditional. The miri (temporal) ideal of Sikhi has supported just outside regimes but toppled them when the Sikhi conditions for a plural society have not been met. Needless to say, Sikhi is for regimes which remain committed to the rule of just laws. Sikhi will oppose authoritarian and majority community rule.

Sikh regimes under the Gurus, the town and city states from Kartarpur to Anandpur Raj of Guru Gobind Singh were like states within states. Later Sikh ethos regimes of diverse communities led by Baba Banda Singh, Misl raj and the Khalsa Raj of Maharaja Ranjit Singh &ndash all aimed towards just rule in which the Sikhs or Sikh rulers were not above the laws for all people. That was a pre-democracy period but Sikh rule accorded broadly with true democratic principles of today. Maharaja Ranjit Singh regarded himself as equal to the citizens of Khalsa Raj and even submitted himself to punishment for his transgressions.

The Sikh aim is to establish an egalitarian plural society which fully accepts human diversity united by humanitarian values only (Anekta meh Ekta Sikhi principle). A society in which discrimination under any excuse has no place. The miri (temporal) aim of Sikhi is an egalitarian society in which there is no discrimination or oppression by those in power under any pretext. The piri (spiritual) goal of Sikhi is inner focus (aatam ki reht) centred on One Creator Being of all. The Sikh reht &ndash way of life and identity &ndash including the 5Ks and the Dastar are extensions of internal reht, leading to cultivation of virtues.

Thus, Sikhi founding principles of Guru Nanak Sahib are the antithesis of oppressive regimes. Sooner or later, Sikhi will clash with such regimes. And in that clash, writes Sirdar Kapur Singh, the State shall never emerge out as finally victorious., for self-destruction is the fruit of the seed of non-limitation, and the status and the prerogatives of the Khalsa are imprescriptible.

Otherwise, Sikhs will always be valued as net contributors to any truly democratic state.

*Halemi Raj: Proclamation of Halemi Raj by Guru Arjan Sahib

** Sirdar Kapur Singh: The Golden Temple: Its Theo-political Status

Gurmukh Singh OBE

E-mail: sewauk2005@yahoo.co.uk

https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Gurmukh_Singh_OBE