Introductory - Global Sikh Studies

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time when there was practically no organised Sikh Sangat. Kabir also
preached against asceticism. Why, then were there no marked social
and political growths among Kabir-Panthlees similar to those of the
Sikhs? This difference lay in the systematic work that the Sikh Gurus
did for their ideals, as in instanced by the third Guru having deliberately
separated the Sikhs from the passive recluses. Similar is the case
regarding the caste system.
Kabir was unequivocal against the system of castes, but the
Kabir-panth never developed into a social entity distinct from the
caste-ridden Hindus; because he showed no purposive drive or the
will to organise a separate Panth outside the caste society as Guru
Nanak and his successors did. The Kabir-Panth did not have to
surmount more difficult circumstances than the Sikhs in overcoming
caste prejudices. It is Guru Nanak who started the institution of a
common kitchen for all. But, it is only the third Guru who made it
obligatory for everyone to partake food from the Langar. This calculated
but cautions approach is indicative of the hesitation or opposition
expected from their rank and file to the Gurus’ new line of thinking.
When the tenth Guru, after quite a long interval of preparation by the
previous Gurus, decided to break away completely from the caste
society and created the Khalsa, there were dissensions and disputes
among the Sikh ranks. But, it was entirely because of the initiative,
guiding influence and drive of the Gurus that the movement, despite
all opposition, never swerved from its ideals.
The arming of the Sikh community was the third turning point
in the Sikh history. It has been shown that it was the necessary sequence
of Guru Arjan’s decision to ‘defend his faith by the open profession
thereof’, to raise the institution of the ‘True Emperor’, and to help
the rebel Khusrau. And yet there is an unwarranted conjecture that
what Jahangir was really concerned about was the growing Jat following
of the Gurus, and that the reason given by Jahangir himself in his
autobiography should be discounted.