Mind
Mind is clean and clear
Like water of springs in Kashmir
Without an iota of evil
Without sorrow or fear
See no evil
Mind is devoid of devil
Man is born free
Mind is born free
Society makes a man’s mind
Of one or the other kind
Equality of Man
It is enshrined in many constitutions.
All men are, or born, equal
Their rights are equal
Their opportunities shall be equal.
I ponder how can all men be equal when millions are doomed
Starve and die as they do not have right to work
No means of livelihood
No roof on their head
No medical care for them
For old and infirm there is no pension.
Thus man’s equality is a farce
If all men are to be equal,
Though born unequal,
They should have equal right to education
No destination between rich and poor
When they grow up,
They should have guaranteed job
Minimum decent wage
All should have access to similar health service
Not that rich go to Five Star Hospitals
And poor wait for admission in General Hospitals.
Unless such provisions for equality are enshrined
The constitution, to the uplift of poor, remains blind
Democracy is aristocracy
Mention of equality in constitution is hypocrisy.
Guru Nanak – The True Apostle
If you need a Guru to guide you through
He should be like Nanak Guru
Who used to mind buffaloes in childhood
Worked as honest retailer during his boyhood
Thereafter he walked thousands of miles
With Bala and Mardana on both sides
To preach oneness of God
He walked upto Kashi, Tibet and Mecca
When Babar invaded Hindustan,
Killing and torturing all who did not embrace Islam
Even saints like Baba Nanak were not spared
Guru Nanak too was imprisoned
He complained to the God
The protecter of all
Why the almighty allowed Babar to torture us all
Put children and their mother to sword
Who dishonoured and enslaved thousands of women
Sent many to Gazni for auction
Though Baba despised Babar
For acting as Barbarian
He considered Hindus and Muslims alike
Those who did good deeds were divine
Thus
Guru Nanak was worshiped by all as a saint
As he had seen the light divine
He would not say his word of God
Instead Nanak called himself servant of God—-
Nanak Das or Nanak Gharib
Not wearing silk clothes that sparkle
To such a Guru ‘Chan’ bows with humility
Applies on his forehead sacred dust of his feet
So as to try to lead life of piety
Guru Gobind Singh Ji
Humble tribute by Harcharan Singh Chan
Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the 10th Guru of the Sikhs, like Guru Nanak Dev ji, the first guru, considered all human beings as the creation of one and the same god, the Creator, whom Hindus called Karta and muslim called Karim both refer to the same almighty God. In Guru Gobind Singh’s own word “ Hindu Turk(Muslims) Kou (Rafji, Imam Safi) manas ki Jaat Sabhe ek Pehchanbo.”
One of the most important and the most democratic hymns of Guru Gobind Singh ji is : What Ever I am it is because of the Khalsa. Otherwise, but for the Khalsa I am nothing. No saint or leader of humanity has said and written such touching and selfless words and meant what he said. To emphasise the universal greatness of Guru Gobind Singh ji. I take this opportunity to quote Gurujee’s words from hymns of Dosam Granth:
Judh Jeetai inhi ke parsad aur daan kare
Aah oag taray inhike parsad, inhiki kirpa faan dhaam bharray.
Inhi ke prasad vidya lee, inhi ki krippa sabh shatru mare
Inhi ki krippa ke sajje hum hein
nahin moh sou gharib karor paray.
Translated in simple English, The great guru means:
I have won wars because of Khalsa and able to give charities because of Khalsa.
I have been able to overcome all sorrows and ailments because of Khalsa and fill treasury of Khalsa. It is through the grace of Khalsa that I have got education and triumphed over all enemies. It is because of Khalsa that I have attained such high status otherwise there are millions of poor and insignificant people like me.
This hymn was written by tenth Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Here in my humility and reverence for great Guru I say with confidence that in the annals of world history there have been a few human beings who during 42 years of life attained unparallel distinction as a poet and scholar, who learnt Hindi, Persian, Sanskrit and Punjabi and wrote poetry and prose of examplry distinction. His ZAFAR NAMA in Persian where the great Guru follower of saint par excellence Guru Nanak Dev Ji, gave jurification for taking up arms against Mughal Army. Saying “Hama Heelta Dar Guzasht – Halal Ast Burdan Ba Shamsheer Dast” – meaning when all other alternatives of trying for justice and peace fail it is justified to take up arms to end cruelty.
Guru Ji was a great warrior too. He led the battles himself to inspire his followers, (the Khalsa) that he had created, were both high in spirit and valour. So Guru Ji said: Khalsa is my true face and I live in Khalsa.
Guru Ji sacrificed all his four sons, two aged 15 and 17 Sahibzada AJIT SINGH and Sahibzada JUJHAR SINGH died fighting against hordes of Mughals soldiers and Guru Ji’s Sahibzada ZORAVAR SINGH and Sahibzada FATEH SINGH two younger sons aged 8 and 10 were captured by the viceroy of Sirhand who was so cruel that he got the innocent children bricked alive. As Guru Ji’s children, they naturally refused to abondon the Khalsa faith and accept Islam. Guru Ji did not mourn the demise of his all the four children as mortals do but said “ What does it matter if I have lost four children there are many thousands of Khalsa who are alive.”
Guru Ji was a great organizer. He founded the Khalsa the Pure who would be ready to sacrifice all for the sake of justice who would die fighting and never surrender. After creating the Khalsa by giving them nectar Amrit, the great Guru Ji first asked for 5 Sees(heads) then he gave Amrit to 5 who became 5 pyaras. Thereafter the great guru himself bowed before them and got Amrit from them and so the congregation acclaimed wah wah Guru Gobind Singh, Appe Guru and Appe Chela – that the great guru is both the guru and the disciple.
Guru Gobind Singh was a rarest possible genius, philospher, poet, organizer, a valiant soldier and a brave leader of Khalsa soldiers and one of the rarest and greatest who willingly sacrificed all his four sons. Not only the Sikhs but whole humanity bows before him for his greatness, selflessness, spirituality, honesty and integrity. Guru Gobind Singh Ji always emphasized on good deeds, helping the needy and destitute. In this famous couplet he says:- “Deh Shiva Bar Mohi Ehe Shubh Karman Te Kabhum Naa Tarron.”
Oh god bless me that I never hesitate or waiver from doing good to others and live for helping others. This is the message often quoted by many eminent saints, social, religious and political personalities in Gurudwaras, Mandirs and other Congregations.
Guru Gobind Singh Ji declared that he is servant of God and no one should call him God. Who so ever calls him God may go to hell. In Guru Ji’s own words:
“ Mein huin Parampurakh ka dassa dekhan Ayun Jagat Tamasha.
Jo humko Pamashar uchar hoe soi te sabh Narak Kund mei porehein jai”
To sum it up, these are in brief teachings of Guru Gobind Singh Ji which are enshrined in our hearts and minds for the last 300 years since Guru Ji’s demise and these shall guide mankind to truthful, helpful and selfless living till eternity
Genocide Of Sikhs and Forgiveness
Genocide of Sikhs was allowed after Indira’s murder
When thousands of Sikhs were tortured to death
Atrocities on Sikhs went on for years
But not a single criminal was punished
Though commission after commission investigated
Yet time has come to forgive and forget
As valiant Sikhs do forgive and forget
By recalling: the suffering and torture of Guru Arjun
Remember how Guru Teg Bahadur was martyred
On order of Aurangzeb
How cruelly two young sons of Guru Gobind Singh
Were bricked alive
Yet valiant Sikhs have to forget
Attack on Golden Temple and genocide of Sikhs
Just as they have forgotten
Partition riots of 1947
In 47 lakhs of Sikhs perished
In 84 tens of thousand perished
But tragedy is that in 47 Sikhs were victims
Of British conspiracy instigating Muslims
But in 84 they were killed
By their own army in their own land
