Introductory - Global Sikh Studies

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remind us that revolutions—as opposed to peasant rebellions or food
riots—seldom if ever, take the form of mere spontaneous outbrusts
against tyranny, oppression or utter destitution; both the experience
and the hope of something better are important factors in the story. 21
The Sikh Revolution was not inspired by any hope of reform or
concession held by the Mughal government. It was sustained by the
hope that the Guru’s word that the Khalsa must triumph in the end
would come true. 22
The Sikh ideology sparked the innate human longing for freedom
and equality. The masses were further aroused because they saw in
the Sikh ideology the fulfilment of their hopes and aspirations. The
content of ‘liberty and equality’ was not left vague, as it was in the
French Revolution; it was well defined from the plebian point of view.
It was the first time in Indian history that the down-trodden were
given the call to capture the political power in their own hands. The
faith in the Sikh religion and in the Gurus provided both the inspiration
and the steel frame-work. Genuinely held religious convictions sink
deep into the human mind. These factors resulted in a formidable
combination. It propelled the movement to continue the armed struggle
against such heavy odds that no human calculations could normally
hold out even a ray of hope for its success.
Such were the raison d’ etre and the elan of the Sikh Revolution.