Introductory - Global Sikh Studies

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CHAPTER XIV
The Khalsa
The third objective of the Sikh movement was to capture political
power for a plebian mission. Khalsa was the instrument created and
used both to overthrow the Mughals and to capture political power
for achieving plebian objectives. The significance of Khalsa, and the
role it played in the revolutionary struggle, are of the highest
importance, because the Khalsa was the climax of the Sikh movement.
1. Revolutionary Mission Enshrined
Describing the attributes of God, Guru Gobind Singh says, “Thou
bestowest happiness on the good, Thou terrifiest the evil, Thou
scatterest sinners, I seek Thy protection.” 1 “God ever cherisheth the
poor; saveth saints, and destroyeth enemies.” 2 He speaks of God as
“Compassionate to the poor, and Cherished of the lowly.” 3 Guru
Nanak was identifies himself with “the lowliest of the lowly, the lowest
of the low-born…, for, where the weak are cared for, Thy Mercy is
showered.” 4 Thus, ‘cherishing the poor’ and ‘destroying the tyrant’
are, according to Sikhism, God’s own mission. In the Guru’s own
words, “his father (Guru Teg Bahadur) suffered martyrdom for the
sake of religion.” It was in the pursuance of His mission that God
sent Guru Gobind Singh to this world. In the Guru’s own words :
“Go and spread my religion there,
And restrain the world from senseless acts.” 4a
It has been seen in a previous chapter how Guru Gobind Singh
bestowed sovereignty on the Khalsa for plebian objectives. This was