News of the Sacred enthronement of Sri Guru Arjan Sahib spread alround and the devotees eager to have a direct glimpse of Nanak the Fifth set out for Amritsar from distant places. In this spiritual quest sangat from Kabul was also on its way to Amritsar. On the last day of their journey they were determined to reach the holy presence of the New Guru but could not make it and had to camp few miles away from Sri Harimandir Sahib. Sangat included the old, the young and the children. Tired and hungry, they now yearned for a blessed vision of the Holy Guru next morning.

Sri Guru Arjan Sahib asked Mata Ganga, His holy wife, to prepare plenty of food with her own hands. Guru Arjan alongwith Mata Ganga then carried the food and water on their heads barefooted to the camp site. They served the food and water to the tired and hungry sangat. One old man, very much tired, was pressing his own legs. Sri Guru Arjan Sahib with folded hands begged for this service and started pressing the legs of the old man. The whole night the Guru and His wife served the sangat and fanned them with a hand-fan. (Gurdwara Pipli Sahib stands as a Sacred Memorial on this holy spot).

Early in the morning the sangat set out for Sri Harimandir Sahib. On arrival they took off their shoes outside. Jathedar (Incharge) of the sangat requested someone to guard and look after all the belongings and shoes there. But everyone was thirsting for a blessed glimpse of the New Guru. Sri Guru Arjan Sahib again with folded hands volunteered for this service. When seated inside, the visiting sangat did not find the Holy Guru on His seat. Jathedar enquired from Baba Budha Ji who told them that the Guru and His wife had gone to serve the incoming sangat from Kabul last night and that they had not yet returned. Jathedar told Baba Budha Ji that a very simple and humble young couple had come last night with food and water and had been in service of the sangat the whole night. When told that he was left outside to guard the belongings and the shoes, Baba Budha Ji alongwith the sangat proceeded to the said spot.

On arrival they find the Humility Incarnate Guru ecstatically absorbed in cleaning the shoes of the holy sangat. Baba Budha Ji started crying and so did the sangat. O our Lord Satguru Sache Patshah, what are you doing, cried Baba Budha Ji.

Awakened from his total immersion in humble service, Sri Guru Arjan Sahib looked up and just said, O revered Baba Budha Ji, please do not stop me from doing this blessed service of the shoes of the loving children of my Beloved Guru Nanak.

Sangat had the blessed darshans of their New Guru. They directly beheld and perceived their own Lord cleaning their shoes in devotion. Tears flowed in unending streams from their eyes melting away any traces of lurking ego, in this Vision Supreme. They had learnt the highest lesson of spirituality, i.e. Humility in Devotion and Devotion in Humility.

Aghast with wonder, love and reverence, the holy Sangat fell flat at the holy feet of the Satguru, the true Prophet of Devotional Humilty and Love. Later when the All Merciful Guru Composed the Sacred Scripture of a Universal Religion of Love enshrining all the Celestial Harmonies and totally steeped in Devotional Humility and still later when the Great Guru out of infinite love for mankind, paid the heaviest price for the same and burnt Himself on the burning hot plateunder the cruel showers of burning sand that the World realized the uniqueness of the Incarnation of Guru Arjan.

Brandon’s Sikh community has established a new scholarship at Brandon University (BU) in honour of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

The Guru Nanak Dev Scholarship will award approximately $1,400 each academic year to a continuing BU student on the basis of academic merit and a record of significant community service to a volunteer organization.

“We are proud to support this scholarship in honour of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism,” said Mr. Ramjit Mann, a member of the Brandon Sikh community. “His philosophy for everyone to follow was very simple; make your living by honest means, share your earnings with the poor, sick and disabled, and respect nature for the abundant resources provided to humankind.”…

Brandon University, founded in 1899, promotes excellence in teaching, research, and scholarship, and educates students so that they can make a meaningful difference as engaged citizens and leaders.
According to Guru Nanak, “Knowledge” is the most significant element in the educational process.

Someone asked Guru Nanak, Where to find peace and happiness?

Guru Nanak replied, It is all within, however you have to have Knowledge to find it.

So what is Knowledge?:

Knowledge is rightly called the “third eye” of a man/woman
Knowledge is strength
Knowledge leads to wisdom and insight
Knowledge elevates body, mind and soul
Knowledge is virtue
Vidyaa vichaari ta paropkari. AGGS, M1, Ang 356
Says Nanak: That education is worth, which is applied to the welfare (uplift) of the humanity.

“Wisdom is not to be wasted in futile arguments.Use wisdom and reason in the service of humankind and the practice of charity.Learn by intelligent readings and earn respect by exercising wisdom. Says Nanak, this is the right path while other things (failure to apply discerning intellect) lead to wickedness”. AGGS, M1, Ang 1245

Guru Nanak travelled more than 20,000 miles during his life time and used what ever means to travel were available e.g. Walking, horseback, boat etc.( there were no trains, buses or aeroplanes at that time) to spread his philosophy by engaging in healthy dialogue based on logic.

“Do not live a life of isolation, interact with others. Keep learning from others and teaching others, as long as there is a breath of life.” AGGS, M1, Ang 661

This Scholarship has been established by the Sikh Community of Brandon with the cooperation of Brandon University to honour and celebrate Guru Nanak’s contributions to all humankind.

Since Guru Nanak’s philosophy was for all human beings, this scholarship will be awarded each year to an individual regardless of their race, culture, religion etc.

The student who believes in and executes philosophy of Guru Nanak through actions to improve him/herself and the society at large:

Works hard to his/her fullest potential,
Continuing to develop/increase his/her knowledge through education,
Volunteers ( shares time, skills, knowledge etc.) to help others. On behalf of Sikh Community of Brandon, I would like to thank Brandon University staff, Scholarship committee, Senate and Students to be partners in promoting and celebrating Guru Nanak’s philosophy for all human kind

Bhagat Ravidas ji was a true and vehement devotee of Waheguru whose devotion and ardent divine love poured out in the form of spiritual poetry. His compositions expressed deep love and strong passion for Waheguru and Guru Arjan Dev ji decided to include his compositions in Shri Guru Granth Sahib ji. The divine ditties of Bhagat Ravi Das ji in the form of 41 shabads in different raags are included in Shri Guru Granth Sahib ji Maharaj as Bani Bhagat de.

Bhagat Ravi Das ji was an inhabitant of Benaras. He belonged to a lower Chamaar class and his profession of making and repairing shoes was considered inferior in the society and his work was considered menial in those times.

BhagatRavidas (117K)Bhagat Ravi Das ji was connected with Almighty Waheguru from his childhood only. He was an ardent devotee of Waheguru. He used to spend his lot of time in the company of holy people and he also used to spend his money to fulfill the needs of holy saints and poor people.

Bhagat Ravi Das ji expressed his passion and love for Waheguru through his divine poetry and music. Poetry and music both are a form of art and art is very close and dear to Waheguru as Waheguru is himself an adroit artist and we can witness his skillful and breathtaking art in nature and in his creation.

He told the society of that time that a human being is recognized by his good deeds and not by his caste. He raised his voice against the wave of untouchability and caste system which was prevalent at that time. He advised his fellows that every human has the right to love and serve Waheguru. Devotion and service to Waheguru is done by pure heart and not by rituals.

By true love and devotion for Waheguru Bhagat Ravi Das ji got elevated. By praising the virtues of Waheguru and keeping the company of holy saints his status was uplifted in the society. By keeping Waheguru in his heart he was revered by the people from other castes too and he became pious and was emancipated.

In this verse he is expressing his indelible relationship he has with his creator. He is saying I am in you and you are in me. We are a part of each other and absorbed into each other. He compares his nexus with Waheguru to gold and bangle and then to water and tide.

By being immersed in devotion to Waheguru he becomes a denizen of Begampura. By devoting his life and soul to Almighty Waheguru he attains a blissful state of mind and in that state of mind he always feel happy and in euphoric state. This state of his mind is evident in his bani .

The pivotal message we get from Bhagat Ravidas ji’s life is that a human being is recognized by his deeds and not by his caste from birth. Bhagat Ravi das ji was a cobbler by profession but he was connected to Almighty Waheguru. He was not entangled and engrossed in the vagaries of human life but was ahead and beyond the petty things of human life. His intellect was way more than a normal human being and he could realize the divine presence and his bond with his creator in his life.

We should also try to connect with our creator and love our creator like Bhagat Ravidas ji. We should practice and make usage of music and poetry to connect with Waheguru as Bhagat Ravidas ji did. We should have utmost and unwavering faith in our creator. During dark times this faith should give solace to our heart and strength to come out of darkness. We should accept his Hukam gracefully, keep full faith in his graciousness and live life in high spirits. This should be the way of life of a Gursikh and Bhagat Ravi Das ji’s life is an impeccable example of that.

Ramneet Kaur

He was the first to motivate his followers to challenge discrimination on the grounds of caste. Because of his charismatic deeds, he has become an important figure in the Whole World.

By his deeds he proved that he was closer to God than those who were calling him ‘ low caste’. He was the first to attack the caste system.

He told the society of that time that a human being is recognized by his good deeds and not by his caste. He raised his voice against the wave of untouchability and caste system which was prevalent at that time. He advised his fellows that every human has the right to love and serve Waheguru. Devotion and service to Waheguru is done by pure heart and not by rituals.

Bhai Hindal(or Bhai Handal) was a prominent Sikh of the time of Guru Amar Das Ji and Guru Ram Das ji. He was a resident of Jandiala, 19 km east of Amritsar.
He received initiation at the hands of Guru AmarDas ji and continued to be in attendance upon his successor, fourth guru – Guru Ram Das ji.

At the time of Guru Amardas ji, the institution of Guru-ka-langur (free kitchen) was growing and becoming a great force for change. Guru Ji ensured that social prejudices were renounced and equality of mankind accepted by all those who came to seek his blessings. Every devotee whether Hindu or Muslim, Brahmin or Shudra, rich or poor was asked to sit together as equals and partake food in the langar before he/she could see the Guru.

Bhai Hindal ji use to do sewa in preparing and serving Langar. He spoke but little, and always remained absorbed in devotion.

As he once sat kneading flour in the Guru ka Langar, Guru Ram Das ji suddenly stepped in. Hindal rose instinctively to make his obeisance. Since the wet flour was adhering to his hands, he, as says Sri GurPratap Suraj Granth, put them behind his back so that they did not smear the Guru’s feet when he touched them, and threw himself at his feet.

The Guru was pleased with his humble devotion. “Thy love is pleasing to my heart, Hindal,” he said. “Thou hast my blessing. Completed is thy service. Return now to thy native town and spread the True Name.” Hindal went back to Jandiala and began to preach as instructed by the Guru. He lived to a ripe old age and remained a true Sikh to the end.

The World has a great deal to learn from the Sikh legend Hari Singh Nalwa.” These were the words spoken by young 26-year old researcher, Jahandad Khan, at Guru Gobind Singh Foundation. Jahandad Khan was visiting the United States Department of Peace in Washington and he has studied marketing at the Islamabad University of Science and Technology. His native region is Hazara, a region in the North-Eastern part of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. It is located east of the Indus River and it borders with Afghanistan. He spoke on the Sikh rule in Hazara region and his connection to Sikh heritage.

He said, “My parents used to tell us that our home was built by a Sikh who was the commander of a great Sikh army. That led me to study more about Nalwa. My journey has taken me on an overlapping quest to connect with my own identity, and I learned that my own roots connected me with great legends like Hari Singh Nalwa and Maharaja Ranjit Singh, along with other Sikh heritage.”

In the early 1800s, Maharaja Ranjit Singh ruled over this region from Lahore, as it known as Lahore Darbar. Ranjit Singh chose the bravest, most capable, and most competent commander, Hari Singh Nalwa to subdue the most volatile region, as this region has always been the most unruly area to govern as it is now.

Jahandad Khan’s ancestor and namesake Jahandad Khan was a contemporary of Hari Singh Nalwa – Khan’s father Painda Khan (mentioned in Umdat ut Tawarikh) had earlier fought with Nalwa but had to offer his son to the Lahore Darbar as a hostage in return for help against Ahmed Barelvi when he invaded this region. The young Jahandad Khan was raised by Nalwa for few years as a result of this settlement. When Sikh garrisons in Hazara were defeated by the British and they were being massacred in 1846, it was the same Jahandad Khan (by then a grown young man and a leader of the Tanoli clan) who spared the lives of all Lahore Darbar men stationed in this region in 22 mud forts and gave them a dignified exit (mentioned in Hazara Gazzetteers as well).

Dr. Rajwant Singh, Secretary of Guru Gobind Singh Foundation and Co-Founder of the National Sikh Campaign, said, “We are pleased to see Jahandad Khan’s passion for Hari Singh Nalwa and his drive to create better understanding among Sikhs and the people of Pakistan, especially in the Hazara region. We feel that his work needs to supported by all Sikhs and by major Sikh institutions. Hari Singh Nalwa is a great role model for the youth and his life needs to be presented in a creative manner. Nations, especially India and Pakistan, and the people in the South Asia can take clues from Nalwa’s life to create a better environment in the entire region.”

“The key point is that contemporary literature has reduced Hari Singh Nalwa as just being a great commander and a warrior whereas my research through various sources and narratives from the local population in the region has shown me that he was a great administrator, a skillful diplomat and I would not shy away from calling him a great statesman”, said Khan.

He added, “Nalwa was governor of Hazara for 15 years. Jahanded’s ancestor, Jahandad Khan I, had a complex relationship with Nalwa in which they were enemies at times and were allies at times. Nalwa spent lot of time interacting with the local population to develop relationships with locals and the tribal chiefs. He built a city, Haripur, named after him, which has now become a big city. The entire irrigation system was set up by Nalwa and he standardized the weight system for trade. He did not just rule the area but also wanted to make sure that the local population thrived economically.”

He stated, “Haripur, which was totally barren, now has these orchards and that was totally introduced by Nalwa. Harkishan Garh, a fort built by Nalwa, has the remnants of these orchards and comprehensive irrigation system that was also introduced by Nalwa. This is still the backbone of local agriculture. In addition, 22 mud forts were built by Nalwa and some of them need preservation.”

He continued with, “Painda Khan, the most powerful chieftain, resisted Nalwa for years and Nalwa tried six times to have peace negotiations with Khan. It seems that our ancestors were far more pragmatic and practical than we are now. We have reduced them to ideological symbols, which is fine, but at the same time we need to study history with an open mind and read history from different sources.”

“Nalwa’s vision was to balance power with understanding the needs to the local population. Those are the lessons we all can learn from him, regardless of our religious backgrounds. We tend to look at history as binaries; that this is Sikh history, or this is Islamic history, whereas people like Nalwa cannot be boxed into one corner of our historical memory.”
He stated, “Sikh contact with the tribal region took place during Guru Nanak’s time. Elders narrate how Guru Nanak influenced the locals there and many local Muslim tribes converted to Sikhism. Last names of many Sikhs there represented their tribes.”

While shining light on the past Sikh rule, he added, “No other contact with foreign power, whether it was Abdali’s era, Mughal era or the colonial time, is seen by the locals as positively as they view Sikhs. The first political contact with our tribes was with Sikhs during the Ahmed Shah Abdali ‘s time. Sikh rule was the first experience of organized governance for this region. The tribal system was converted into social contract and tribalism to state craft. The Sikh period was not only Sikhs ruling; in fact, half of the army consisted of Muslims. There is a general impression that Sikhs are honest. Local women tell their children to buy things from Sikh shopkeepers as a Sikh shopkeeper would not sell anything impure or overpriced. This is the land where Sikhism started, however Sikh presence along the Indus has never been studied deeply.”

He said, “There is a perception that Sikh heritage in Pakistan is crumbling because it is not Muslim, but in fact no heritage is being preserved the way it should be.”

My message to the youth would be to understand history rationally. If we read history with bias, it might give us a chance to give ourselves a pat on the back with a lot of pride or a lot of sense of superiority, but then it would reduce our capacity to learn and grow. We need to broaden the canvas of history and understand it from all perspectives.

I would also like to appeal to Sikhs, particularly to youth, to come to these places. There is no substitute to interaction with the local population. The Sikh community only goes to Panja sahib or Nankana Sahib, the two most popular sites related to Guru Nanak, however Pakistan has layers and layers of history related to Sikh history. There are so many battlefields, forts and infra-structure set up and built by the Sikhs. They were not only fighters, but they were also builders. They were artists and open-minded, as shown by Hinduism and Islam also being represented in frescoes.

Currently, people don’t try to understand each other and instead just pass judgments. That is the greatest lesson rulers of South Asia can learn from Nalwa. He chose to understand the area, the people, their customs and their likes and dislikes. What sort of person will be so nice to the son of his own enemy?”

Inder Paul Singh Gadh, Chairman of GGSF, said, “We are grateful to Jahandad Khan for traveling so far to connect with the Sikh youth in America, and he has inspired many in the congregation today.”
Khan held an hour long interactive session with the 35 young members of the community.

Sri Patna Sahib became the most visited religious site in Bihar in the year of 2017 largely due to the celebration of the birth anniversary of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Sahib Ji

A leading tourism and booking site Trip Advisor ranked Sri Patna Sahib as the most visited and highest ranked site in all of Bihar. The influx of Sikh devotees wishing to visit the birth of place of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Sahib Ji from throughout the world after Bihar Govt large scale celebration of the 350th Parkash Utsav has contributed to the drastic rise. The mega event drew over a million people from around India and the world to attend the event and created much needed awareness of the religious and historic site.

The Bihar Govt realized quickly that in order to increase tourism in the state, they needed to create better transportation and infrastructure needs of the devotees. The govt spent crores of rupees renovating around the historic city and provided much needed accommodations for the visitors.

The Bihar Govt has released plans to build museums related to Sikh history and create convenient ways for devotees to arrive in the city.