Sikhism: Origins and Evolution

Sikhism is an Indian Dharmic religion, which despite having observed persistent impediments to its relative adolescence and development, has grown to the 5th largest religion in the world today. Read more to find out the roots of Sikhism and how it has overcome its adversities!

Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, is widely considered one of the greatest religious innovators today. Born in 1469, not far from Lahore, traditions dictate that his birth and childhood were embellished with spiritual demonstrations from Wahaguru (God), indicating an esteemed distinction. As a child Nanak had shown interest in religion beyond Hinduism, the faith his family followed, extensively studying virtues and God in all religions around him. As an adult, Nanak began preaching a faith inspired by, yet sui generis, to these.

Nine Gurus followed Nanak, developing and shaping the Sikh religion further. Some notable characters were Guru Arjan, and Gobind Singh.

The former, Arjan, was the 5th Guru in Sikhism. He effectuated an establishment of Amritsar as the Sikh capital, and anthologised the first piece of Sikh scripture, the sacred Adi Granth book, accomplishing both of which during a time when Sikhism was regarded as a threat to the state. This led to Arjan’s execution in 1606.

As a fail-safe, the following sixth Guru, Hargobind, began to militarise the Sikh community to resist future oppression.

The latter of the aforementioned, Guru Gobind Singh, was the tenth and final Guru. He preached Sikhism even under Sikh persecution by the Mughal rulers of India, who forcibly converted subjects to Islamic faith. These tribulations caused Gobind Singh to develop the Khalsa in 1699, a military group of men and women who defended the Sikh faith. Gobind Singh also inaugurated both the Khandey Di Pahul (Sikh rite of initiation) and the 5Ks, paramount doctrines in the Sikh religion.

Guru Gobind Singh is considered the last human Guru. Today, Sikhs treat scripture as their Guru, with military figures and sovereignty alike wielding the sword of scripture to both defend against persecution, and expand its teaching.

In 1799, the first Maharaja (prince) of the Sikh Empire, Ranjit Singh, captured Lahore and later established Punjab as an independent Sikh state.

During the 19th century, the British Empire caused severe conflict, galvanising mass protest from the Sikh people under the guise of cooperation. But, the conclusive and infamous Amritsar Massacre of 1919, which had begun as a protest meeting consisting of 10,000 innocents and concluded with a slaughter shamefully engraved in history, cut all tolerable pretences between the two parties.

British India gained independence in 1947, resulting in a divided India and Pakistan, the latter of which claimed Punjab. The Sikh people, lacking in numbers, were neither able to resist this claim, nor demand their own state. Reluctantly, the Sikhs joined India, in a campaign that depraved Sikh lives, privileges and land.

After several years of incessant clamour and an expatriate venture of the Khalistan movement, India conceded in 1966 and divided the Punjab into three, reinstating Punjab as a Sikh majority state. Despite this achievement, oppression lasted for decades: The wreck of the Golden Temple, Sikhism’s most revered place, in 1984; four days of anti-Sikh rioting following a Sikh assassination of Indira Gandhi, killing 15,000 Sikhs.

Although during the 1990s insurgency died down and the separatist campaign hadn’t reached the height of impact it had hoped, various pro-Khalistan groups continue to commit to the separatist movement.

Sikhs today live all over the world, accounting for 0.38% of the global population, registering themselves collectively as a religion here to stay for a long time, and one that’s only going to grow with time.