Introductory - Global Sikh Studies

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poorest and most abject Siques, look on themselves as perfectly equal
in all the public concerns and in the greatest Council or Goormatta of
the nation, held annually either at Ambarsar, Lahore or some other
place. Everything is decided by the plurality of votes taken
indifferently from all who choose to be present at it.’ 45 Forest also
gives a similar account. ‘An equality of rank is maintained in their
civil society, which no class of men, however wealthy or powerful, is
suffered to break down. At the periods when general council of the
nation were convened, which consisted of the army of large, every
members had the privilege of delivering his opinion, and the majority,
it is said, decided on the subject in debate’. 45a This shows how strong
the original spirit of equality and fraternization of the Sikh revolution
must have been so that it could still reveal its glimpses even in the
post-Khalsa period.
The leadership of the collective Khalsa, or the Panth, did not
mean that any majority decision taken by it had an automatic religious
sanctity. The supreme consideration was that such decisions had to
conform to the Sikh ideals. So long as the Gurus were there, they saw
to it that there was no deviation from the Sikh principles. When the
Sikhs of Lahore proposed to pay the fine on his behalf, Guru Arjan
strongly turned down the proposal. Similarly, Guru Gobind Singh
brushed aside the views of those Sikhs who advised him to make
peace with Aurangzeb. It was the Sikh principles which were to be
supreme. The Guruship was conferred on Guru Granth and leadership
on the collective Panth. These steps were taken to ensure that, after
the Gurus, the collective leadership of only those who were
ideologically oriented prevailed.
8. Its Role
The creation of the Khalsa was not an idle dream. The Khalsa
proved its mettle by passing through the ordeal of fire. It is unnecessary
to go into details of the struggle because these are writ large on the
pages of Sikh history. But, it is relevant to emphasize the revolutionary
mission which inspired and sustained the movement during its critical
periods.
The Khalsa had to carry on its armed conflict all along in the
heart and the citadel of the Mughal empire. It had none of the