By Jaspal Singh,
Today is the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak. A popular saying states Baba Nanak Shah Faqir, Hinduan Da Guru, Mussalmanan Da Peer (Baba Nanak is Supreme Faqir, He is Guru of the Hindus and Peer of Muslims).
Another popular saying states that Nanak lifted the darkness that had engulfed the world. So, what was the message of Nanak that electrified Punjab and laid a foundation of a social revolution?
[Courtesy: gurudwaraindia.com]
Nanak was born in a household of modest means. His father was a Patwari , a local revenue official. The historical crib in which he was born was full of commotion and unrest. Marauders and invaders were trampling India. New social forces were asserting themselves challenging age old social relations, especially of caste and priestcraft. His best friend was Mardana, son of a Muslim Mirasi, who played Rebab- a string instrument. He was 10 years older than Nanak. It is said that Mardana introduced Nanak to the works of Farid, Kabir, Raidas and Meera, as he used to sing and recite these works. Nanak was obviously influenced by them.
After his initial education in his village with a Pandit and a Maulvi, he was sent to Sultanpur Lodhi for further education, which was a prominent educational center in India at that time. He became fluent in Persian, Arabic and Sanskrit. After finishing his education, he was appointed the finance minister of the local Lodhi ruler who was brother of Ibrahim Lodhi, the Emperor of India. His friend Mardana also joined him in Sultanpur Lodhi.
He proved to be a very efficient finance minister. Lodhi was very happy with his performance. But he had other ideas. At the age of 30 he resigned his position and it is said that he achieved enlightenment and proclaimed that there is neither Hindu nor Mussalmanan, only one – humanity. They are born from the same source. He decided to travel the world and inform himself. For close to 50 years he travelled in the clothes of Hindu and Muslim Mendicant, learning and teaching.
He addressed all the fundamental problems faced by the people at his time and offered viable solutions to those problems. He declared that rulers had become like wild beasts devouring the people. The Mullahs and Brahmins were parasites and enslaving the very conscience of women and men. He raised his voice against patriarchal oppression of women and economic exploitation of the toilers by the idling classes. In a demonstrative way he showed that the exploitation of the toilers was embedded in the very economic relations.
He also criticized the hypocrisy and meaninglessness of rituals and ceremonies for enlightenment. He engaged with all schools of thought that were prevalent in India and the surrounding countries.
When Babur invaded India in 1521, he was in the northwest and was eye witness to death,destruction and devastation caused by it.He said that Babur has occupied Khurasan and terrorized Hindustan, Yamraj, the god of death has invaded in the form of Moghuls. Nanak wrote and sang against it in loud voice,as a result of which he was imprisoned for some time.He challenged the Peers,Faqirs and Gurus of his times who claimed to have miraculous powers,to stop Babur and wrote that not one Moghul was blinded by their powers and not one Moghul’s chest was pierced by a spear due to the so called powers of these Sadhus,Sanyasis,Peers and Gurus
He established an alternative in Kartarpur, based on the simple principles of Kirat karo-work and not be parasitical, Vand Ke Chhako-Eat in common material blessings produced by human and natural resources, Nam Japo -Meditate on the one, Sab Insan-all humans are one, no discrimination on the basis of caste, gender, creed or life style.
His message of unity of humans and harmony of humans and nature, new relations without exploitation of humans, electrified Punjab and other areas of Hindustan. People thronged to Kartarpur to be part of this alternative. Kartarpur became a base for a popular mass movement, which was to challenge the basic power and social relations of the time and laid the foundations of a new society. Sikh revolution followed that changed the face of Punjab.
Nanak’s message is very relevant today. Ruling elite is devouring the toilers and people like wild beasts. As he wrote – Kaal Kaati, Raje Kasai, Dharam Pankh Kar Uderyaa – Time is like a knife, Rulers are butchers, and righteousness and justice have flown away. Present Indian and world reality can be summed up in those words.
On the 30th anniversary of the massacre of Sikhs, Nanak’s words ring loud and clear – Raje Paap Kamanvde, Vaard Khet Ko Khaye (Rulers are earning wealth of sins, fence is eating the field).
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(Jaspal Singh is a philosopher based in Cambridge, Massachusetts)