Sikh Missionary Society U.K.

30/11/2022

"Unique was the deed of Tegh Bahadur"
(Guru Gobind Singh, Bachittar Natak.)

The anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur's shaheedi is observed on 24 November each year. Guru Tegh Bahadur (1621-75 C.E.), the ninth Guru of the Sikhs, gave his life for the religious freedom of all. He saved the sub-continent of India from religious bigotry and thus, according to Bhai Gurdas II, "Stabilised the world."

For further information please read -
Guru Tegh Bahdur: The True Story by S. Gurmukh Singh OBE
https://www.sikhmissionarysociety.org/sms/smspublications/Guru-Tegh-Bahadur-The-True-Story-2nd-Edition-SYA.pdf

14/04/2022

Congratulations on the Khalsa Vaisakhi Day 2022

The revelation of the order of Khalsa (pragtio Khalsa) was the climax of all that had gone before and the inspiration of all that was to follow.

Two hundred years after Guru Nanak (1469-1539) laid down the founding precepts for New Age ideology and institutions, Guru Gobind Singh completed that mission on the Vaisakhi day in 1699.

At Anandpur in Panjab, Guru Gobind Singh presented the final form of a transcaste egalitarian order. The Guru looked on with satisfaction at the first five Sikhs who had risen above the fear of death, and who were prepared to tread the path of truthful conduct. They had offered their heads to the Guru and the Guru had given them a new identity and way of life, and embraced them as the Five Beloved Ones (Panj Piaray). They had qualified for admission to the fully evolved order of the Khalsa Panth. They were ready to accept the spiritual and worldly discipline of Sikhism as responsible householders and social activists. Today, the Panj Piaray (the Five Beloved Ones) represent the ideal of service and sacrifice towards which every Sikh, the after truth, aspires.

Thus, having completed Guru Nanak's mission, Guru Gobind Singh, returned the Guruship from human succession back to the Guru's Word i.e. Gurbani embodied in Guru Granth Sahib (the Sikh Holy Scripture). The collective body of the Khalsa Panth or the Sikh Holy Congregation (sangat) in the presence of Guru Granth Sahib, represented the physical form of the Guru, as Guru Khalsa Panth.

The joint Guruship of Guru Granth and Guru Panth is a unique feature of Sikh tradition. It means that collectively, the Sikhs are empowered by the Guru to interpret the Guru's Word in Guru Granth Sahib. The Guru has given us the constitution, Guru Granth Sahib, and the egalitarian and democratic institutions to work together towards an ideal just society, united in its diversity.

It is in this sense that it may be said that Sikhi (Sikh Religion) is truly a religion of the people, by the people and for the people!

Khalsa Vaisakhi Day is also the time to reflect on the challenges faced by the independent Khalsa ideology, institutions and identity. As late Sirdar Kapur Singh reminded us, the independent status and the prerogatives of the Khalsa are imprescriptible. (The Golden Temple: Its Theo-political Status)

It is in that true Khalsa spirit that we should celebrate the Khalsa Vaisakhi Day on 14 April 2022.

21/02/2021

The Sikh Missionary Society, U.K., with the funding provided by Community Lottery Fund, is coming up with an informational magazine related to COVID-19. We intend to publish your experiences along with other information. For being a part of this magazine please check the link

ਸਿੱਖ ਮਿਸ਼ਨਰੀ ਸੋਸਾਇਟੀ, ਕਮਿਊਨਟੀ ਲਾਟਰੀ ਫੰਡ ਦੀ ਸਹਾਇਤਾ ਨਾਲ, ਕੋਰੋਨਾ ਸੰਬੰਧੀ ਜਾਣਕਾਰੀ ਭਰਪੂਰ ਇਕ ਮੈਗਜ਼ੀਨ ਛਾਪਣ ਜਾ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ, ਜਿਸ ਵਿਚ ਇਸ ਮਹਾਮਾਰੀ ਸੰਬੰਧਿਤ ਜਰੂਰੀ ਸੂਚਨਾ ਦੇ ਨਾਲ ਨਾਲ ਆਪ ਸਬ ਦੇ ਨਿੱਜੀ ਤਜ਼ਰਬੇ ਵੀ ਸ਼ਾਮਿਲ ਹੋਣਗੇ - ਇਸ ਮੈਗਜ਼ੀਨ ਦਾ ਹਿਸਾ ਬਣਨ ਲਈ, ਇਸ ਲਿੰਕ ਨੂੰ ਖੋਲੋ

12/11/2019

Congratulation on Guru Nanak Sahib's 550th Prakaash Utsav (Birthday).

Guru Nanak's message was egalitarian and revolutionary in his day. The path of truthful conduct and by seeing God in all and treating and serving all without distinction.

He condemned inequality in any form, under any excuse or on any basis e.g. gender, colour, caste or creed. He condemned superstition, ritualism and despotic use of authority.

For further information please read -

The 15th century marked the beginning of a new era in history. In Europe, the period saw the start of the overlapping and successive ages of exploration, discovery and inventions leading to the industrial and socio-political revolutions. Progress towards the age of science and information technology...

27/10/2019

Happy Bandi Chhorr Divas: Day of Liberation

“(When) the lamp is lit, darkness is dispelled…
… Where there is light of knowledge, ignorance is dispelled.”
(Guru Granth Sahib Ang.791)

The story of Divali for the Sikhs is a story of the Sikh struggle for freedom.

20/04/2017

“Unique was the deed of Tegh Bahadur”
(Guru Gobind Singh, Bachittar Natak.)

A one year study by S. Gurmukh Singh OBE is being published by the Sikh Missionary Society UK. The debt which humanity and India owes to Guru Tegh Bahadur has yet to be fully acknowledged.

Guru Tegh Bahadur (1621-75 C.E.), the ninth Guru of the Sikhs, gave his life for the religious freedom of all. He saved the sub-continent of India from religious bigotry and thus, according to Bhai Gurdas II, “Stabilised the world.” Today, the world can learn from the shaheedi of Guru Tegh Bahadur who opposed the religious bigotry of Emperor Aurungzeb.

The main reason for this publication is to produce a factual account for the research student and the mature lay reader. I am convinced that here we have, at least, the start of a serious study of Guru Tegh Bahadur’s life and martyrdom – otherwise much distorted by parcharaks (traditional preachers) and Indian NCERT historians alike. In Guru Tegh Bahadur, the Sikhs have a most remarkable story to tell the world torn apart by religious conflict. It is the story of a great saint-martyr who gave his life for the religious freedom of all. He was witness to the end, to the founding belief of Guru Nanak’s egalitarian ideology: that all have the fundamental human right to own chosen religious path to seek the Ultimate Reality described by numerous Names. His was a protest through his supreme sacrifice, against zealous proselytization and bigotry.
(Gurmukh Singh)

14/04/2017

The Investiture Day of the Khalsa as the Army of the Timeless Being
Khalsa Akal Purakh ki Fauj

The Khalsa Vaisakhi day on 14 April 2017 has a very special significance for the Sikhs this year as they celebrate the 350th Parkaash (birth) Day of Tenth Master, Guru Gobind Singh ji.

On the Vaisakhi Day 1699, Guru ji revealed the Order of the Khalsa (pragtio Khalsa). That epic event was the climax of all that had gone before and the inspiration of all that was to follow. Two hundred years after Guru Nanak (1469-1539) laid down the founding precepts for New Age ideology and institutions, Guru Gobind Singh completed that mission on the Vaisakhi day in 1699.

At Anandpur in Panjab, Guru Gobind Singh presented the final form of a transcaste egalitarian order. The Guru looked on with satisfaction at the first five Sikhs who had risen above the fear of death, and who were prepared to tread the path of truthful conduct. They had offered their heads to the Guru and the Guru had given them a new identity and way of life, and embraced them as the Five Beloved Ones (Panj Piaray). They had qualified for admission to the fully evolved order of the Khalsa Panth. They were ready to accept the spiritual and worldly discipline of Sikhism as responsible householders and social activists.

Today, the Panj Piaray (the Five Beloved Ones) represent the ideal of service and sacrifice towards which every Sikh, the seeker after truth, aspires.

Thus, having completed Guru Nanak’s mission, Guru Gobind Singh, returned the Guruship from human succession back to the Guru’s Word i.e. Gurbani embodied in Guru Granth Sahib (the Sikh Holy Scripture). The collective body of the Khalsa Panth or the Sikh Holy Congregation (sangat) in the presence of Guru Granth Sahib, represented the physical form of the Guru, as Guru Khalsa Panth.

The joint Guruship of Guru Granth and Guru Panth is a unique feature of Sikh tradition. It means that collectively, the Sikhs are empowered by the Guru to interpret the Guru’s Word in Guru Granth Sahib. The Guru has given us the constitution, Guru Granth Sahib, and the egalitarian and democratic institutions to work together towards an ideal just society, united in its diversity.

It is in this sense that it may be said that Sikhism is truly a religion of the people, by the people and for the people! The institution of Khalsa Panth, which leads human society towards that deal, is not exclusive but inclusive as symbolised by the Gurdwara which has open doors for all, regardless of caste or creed.

It is in that true Khalsa spirit that we should celebrate the Khalsa Vaisakhi Day on 14 April 2017.

02/01/2017

Happy New Year 2017 as we celebrate Guru Gobind Singh ji’s Parkaas* Gurpurab (Birthday)

May happiness and blessings of the Guru be with all as we enter the New Year.
On 5 January, the global Sikh community celebrates the Parkaash(birth) of the Tenth Nanak, Guru Gobind Singh ji.

“The ethos of the Sikh faith was enunciated by Guru Nanak, strengthened and augmented by his eight successors and finally brought to a self surviving maturity by Guru Gobind Singh.”
(quote from a paper by late scholar/poet, S Jaswinder Singh Chadha.)

Guru Gobind Singh ji completed Guru Nanak Sahib’s mission of establishing Sikhi as the global Khalsa Panth, the egalitarian Order of the Khalsa.

Today, Sikh identity, ideology and institutions continue to face challenges in India and in the Sikh diaspora. For British Sikhs, as for other UK communities, year 2016 will be remembered as the year when UK decided to leave the European Union – the “Brexit”. In the US, minority communities including the Sikhs, are apprehensive following Donald Trump’s victory to become the next President due to his extreme right wing views. Other countries can follow this trend to the extreme right to cause problems for the minorities by challenging the very ethos of multi-culturalism.

Terrorism in the name of misguided “Islam” which has been spreading since 9/11, has posed challenges for Sikh identity in the West. Yet, as a recent Sikh Network survey has shown, Sikhs continue to remain invisible to the government of the UK and other Western countries because they are not counted and monitored reliably as “Sikhs” under the current system. For example, many crimes against Sikhs are recorded as crimes under “Islamophobia”!

There is a new awakening to push Sikh identity at global level. There is a global Sikh reaction to being lost in figures as “Indians” or “Asians” or misidentified as “Muslim” or even mis-profiled as “terrorists”.

The challenges to main stream Sikh ideology and the independence of central Sikh institutions have been only too obvious for more than a century when Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha was compelled to write “Hum Hindu Nahi”. There are Snatan dharmi Sikhs who are now openly preaching Brahmanic thought.

In 2016, there was much appreciation of the talks by S Harinder Singh of US to make us rethink about the successful decision-making processes established by our Guru-persons and followed up by the Guru Khalsa, especially in the 18th Century. We welcome such educational efforts.

Internal controversy about the Dasam Granth must be avoided by fully accepting the Guruship of Jugo Jug Attal Guru, Sri Guru Granth Sahib in accordance with the Command of Guru Gobind Singh ji. Dasam Granth should be researched and celebrated as an invaluable source of literary heritage but not placed at par with Sri Guru Granth Sahib.

Otherwise, today, Sikhs are better engaged with governments in the diaspora countries. We look to Year 2017 as the year of Chardhi Kalaa of the global Khalsa Panth.

Let us "Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow." (Albert Einstein)

May the Khalsa be imbued with humility and high wisdom. (Sikh Ardaas)

Have a promising and fulfilling New Year.

*Parkaash = illumination. Birth of a saintly person who becomes a source of spiritual enlightenment.
*Gurpurb (or Gurpurab) is a religious festival commemorating a Guru.

14/11/2016

Congratulation on Guru Nanak Sahib’s Prakaash Utsav (Birthday)

Guru Nanak Sahib (1469-1539): Religious, Social and Political Revolutionary

ਸੁਣੀ ਪੁਕਾਰਿ ਦਾਤਾਰ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਗੁਰੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਜਗ ਮਾਹਿ ਪਠਾਇਆ।
Sunee pukaar Dataar Prabh Gur Nanak Jagg maahi patthaaiaa.
The Benefactor Lord listened to the cries (of humanity) and sent Guru Nanak to the world.
(Bhai Gurdaas, Vaar 1.23)

ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਨਾਨਕ ਪ੍ਰਗਟਿਆ ਮਿਟੀ ਧੁੰਧੁ ਜਗਿ ਚਾਨਣੁ ਹੋਆ।
Satgur Nanak pargateya miti dhund jag chaanan hoa
With manifestation (birth) of True Guru Nanak, the mist [of ignorance and falsehood] disappeared and there was the light [of knowledge and righteousness conduct.]
(Bhai Gurdaas, Vaar 1.27)
(Note: u pronounced oo as in root )

Any Sikh festival connected with a Guru is referred to as a Gurpurab. So, on 14 November, 2016, the Sikhs worldwide celebrate the Prakaash Utsav Gurpurab of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikh theo-political system and the Sikh way of living called Sikhi (not Sikhism.)

Traditionally, the Prakaash Utsav (birthday) of Guru Nanak is celebrated on the full moon day (pooranmaasi) in the Indian month of Katik, which usually falls in the month of November each year. However, historians have confirmed that Guru ji was born on 15 April, 1469.

He revolutionized religio-social and political thought of the day and introduced a way of life for those who would follow the path of truthful conduct. These were his Sikhs, meaning students who sought the Ultimate Reality by following the path of righteous conduct. The Sangat (holy congregation) became the main medium for collective guidance in the presence of the Guru – the Guiding Light of Guru Nanak which after Ten Guru-persons, today resides in the Sikh holy Scripture, Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the Shabd or Word Guru.

Guru Nanak’s message was egalitarian and revolutionary in his day. Love (prem) for the Creator Being called by many Names in his Baani (Guru’s Word or teaching), is central to his message. That love is expressed by following the path of truthful conduct and by seeing God in all and treating and serving all without distinction. He condemned inequality in any form, under any excuse or on any basis e.g. gender, colour, caste or creed. He condemned superstition, ritualism and despotic use of authority. Such a revolutionary ideology was bound to clash with both, the king and the priest.

He was well aware of the sacrifices and socio-political challenges which lay ahead for the Sikhs. He forewarned those who would follow this path of God-centric selfless love and service:
If you wish to play this game of love, then place your head on the palm of your hand and come my way.
In his meditation, Baba [Guru Nanak] found the whole world burning (with the fire of lust and anger).
(Bhai Gurdas, Vaar 1.24)

And so, Guru Nanak set out to take his message to the world and travelled thousands of miles during long tours lasting over many years.

Publications and articles on the Sikh Missionary Society Website give information about Guru ji's life, mission and vision for a just society.

29/10/2016

Happy Bandi Chhorr Divas: Day of Liberation
(Sikh festival coinciding with the Indian Divali)

* Celebrating the release of 52 Indian rajas secured by Guru Hargobind, the Bandi Chhor Guru (Deliverer from prison).
* Commemorating the martyrdom of Bhai Mani Singh
* Remembering countless Sikh martyrdoms in the struggle for the freedom of the sub-continent of India from tyrannical Mughal rule, spearheaded by the Khalsa in the 18th Century
* Sikh freedom from the darkness of superstition and ritualism

The story of Divali (also spelt as Diwali) for the Sikhs is a story of the Sikh struggle for freedom from the oppressive Mughal regime. The festival coincides with the Indian festival of Divali.

From the time of Guru Nanak (1469 - 1539), the founder of Sikhism, popular seasonal or folk festivals like the harvest festival of Vaisakhi, or ancient mythological festivals like Holi and Divali, or worship rituals like Aarti, began to take on a new significance for the Guru's students, the Sikhs. The "Guru" as the Light of Guru Nanak passing through 10 Guru Personalities and now residing in the Sikh Scripture, Guru Granth Sahib, used these festivals and special days e.g. first day of each lunar month called Sangraand, as occasions for promoting His teaching themes. And so the Sikhs were slowly diverted from darkness of superstitious ritualism based on fear and ignorance to an enlightened ideology based on reason and belief in One Creator.

The enlightened ideology of Guru Nanak gave new significance to ancient festivals like Divali and Vaisakhi.

Thus, "(When) the lamp is lit, darkness is dispelled… Where there is light of knowledge, ignorance is dispelled." (Guru Granth Sahib p.791)