Introductory - Global Sikh Studies

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them the same privileges, and as a token of newly acquired brotherhood,
all of them dined together.
The Guru’s views of democratic equality were much more
advanced than the mere equality among his followers could satisfy. In
his system, there were no place even for the privileges of the chief or
the leader. No leader, he believed, could be fit to lead unless he was
elected or accepted by the followers. History shows that individuals
classes enjoying a religious or sacerdotal superiority have been only
too loth to forego even a particle of their privileges. But the Guru,
though regarded by his faithful followers as the greatest of prophets,
was made of a different stuff, and had too much political insight to
stand on an exclusive eminence apart from his followers. Therefore,
when he had initiated his first five disciples, his beloved five, he was
initiated by them in turn, taking the same vows as they had done, and
claiming no higher privileges than those he allowed them. Soon after
he called a meeting of all his followers and announced his new doctrine
to them.’ 38
The Guru did this not only because he ‘was made of a different
stuff’, but also because he wanted to ensure that the leadership of the
movement remained in the hands of the Khalsa who had a plebian
mission. The Beloved five (of whom four were Sudras) were made
the nucleus of the leadership of the Khalsa, and this was done when
the Guru’s sons were alive. More than that, by accepting initiation at
the hands of the Beloved five, he accepted them as his own leaders.
Again, at the battle of Chamkaur, when the Sikhs requested him to
leave the place so that he might reorganise the Khalsa, ‘the Guru
circumabulated them three times, laid his plume and crest in front of
them offered them his arms and cried out, ‘Sri Waheguru ji ka Khalsa!
Sri Waheguru ji ki Fateh.’
The fact that the leadership of the movement devolved on the
Khalsa Panth as a whole became an article of living faith with the
Sikhs. In this connection, the episode of Banda’s nomination as leader
and his subsequent parting of company with the Khalsa is very
illustrative. The Khalsa agreed to follow Banda only on the condition
that he would not aspire to sovereignity. 39 The Guru instructed Banda
to abide by the Khalsa and appointed select Sikhs as his advisers. 40