Sikhism, also known as Sikhi, is a religion that was formed in the Punjab region of South Asia. It was formed around 500 years ago, making it one of the youngest religions in the world. Sikhi teaches its followers principles of belonging, unity, strength, and love for God and the people around us. Sikhi means to learn, making the followers of Sikhism “Sikhs,” which means learners.
The religion was founded by Guru Nanak Dev Ji, who was the first of eleven Gurus (teachers) of Sikhism. He was born in Punjab in 1469 CE. He lived a life of peace and honesty, and traveled around the world to preach the teachings of Sikhism.
Even though Sikhism was started by Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the ten other Gurus have taught people the principles of Sikhi in different ways. Guru Nanak Dev Ji strived to instill the qualities of selfless service and belonging. Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji, the sixth Guru, introduced the concept of Miri-Piri, which means to have a strong connection with God, whilst also selflessly fighting for your own and other people’s rights. Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the 10th and final physical Guru, introduced the Khalsa Panth (The Pure) in 1699, along with the Five K’s. These are just a few examples of what the Gurus’ teachings are.
The five K’s are the five articles of faith that every person of the Sikh faith must keep. These are: Kesh (uncut hair), Kirpaan (a small sword), Kachera (an undergarment), Kanghaa (a small wooden comb) and Karaa (a steel bangle). It is important to be welcoming, united, and make others feel like they belong by following the teachings of the Guru Ji’s, whilst also being selfless and attaining a connection with God.
As mentioned, there are eleven Gurus in Sikhi. However, only ten were of physical form. This is because the eleventh and final Guru is the Guru Granth Sahib Ji, which is the holy scripture of hymns in Sikhi. Before his passing, Guru Gobind Singh Ji decided that, after him, there would be no physical Guru as his descendant, but rather an eternal embodiment of all Sikh principles. Today, the original Guru Granth Sahib can be found in Thum Sahib, one of many gurdwaras in Punjab.
There’s a lot of confusion regarding the identity of Sikhism in the present day. Many consider being Punjabi and Sikh the same identity, which is untrue. Sikhs are the followers of a religion, while the Punjabis are a ethnic group from the South Asian region of Punjab. A person can be a Non-Punjabi Sikh, and a person can also be a Non-Sikh Punjabi.
Sadly, a lot of Sikh youth don’t follow Sikh principles by ignoring the teachings of Gurbani (the written teachings of the Gurus). People are driven by the addictive effects of alcohol, drugs, materialism, and selfishness, essentially stripping the purity and positivity the Sikh identity represents. Even during big events such as Nagar Kirtans (Sikh parades), major emphasis is placed on the political aspects related to Sikhi, which is important, but also diverts the attention of people from the core principles of Sikhism.
It is important for Sikh youth to learn about Sikh history and what our Gurus have taught us. We should not let the sacrifices of our Gurus be forgotten. It is essential that we maintain a strong connection with the supreme, regardless of how many distractions there might be.
THE NORTH STAR 