Introductory - Global Sikh Studies

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forces of evil are also created by God, and that the people suffered
from Babar’s invasion because they did not follow God’s path. 4
Secondly, in the same Bichitar Natak, Guru Gobind Singh says
that he was sent by God to extirpate the tyrants (i.e. obviously the
Mughal rulers) and lauds the martyrdom of his father for that mission.
He spent his won life in fighting the Mughals and sacrificed his four
sons for that cause. Nowhere else, either in the hymns of Guru Gobind
Singh or those of the Guru Granth, is there a reference to the duality
of allegiance that the Sikhs can share between temporal and spiritual
authorities. The Gurus who as compared to God, belittled the authority
of gods, godesses, Avtaras and prophets, could not be expected to
make an exception in the case of temporal kings. Thus, that
interpretation of an isolated passage should not be given undue weight
which is torn out of the text, as in this case, or out of the context of
the movement as a whole, or which runs counter to its character and
direction.
The second issue is raised by Indubhusan Banerjee. He has tried
to prove that the Gurus were not against the wearing of the ‘secred
thread’ (Janeo). He has cited Dabistan to show that Guru Nanak
himself wore the Janeo and has referred to the story wherein Daya
Singh offered his Janeo to Guru Gobind Singh as substitute for his
broken swordbelt. 5 Indubhusan omits to mention that, in the same
passage of Dabistan, Guru Nanak is said to have had both the Janeo
and the Tasbi (the string of Mohammadan prayer-beads). In the story
referring to Days Singh. He (Daya Singh) refused to wear the sacred
thread again when some Sikhs tried to persuade him to do so, and
Guru Gobind Singh appreciated Daya Singh’s stand. The Guru did
not remain silent as Indubhusan says but was very much pleased
(magnand). 6 Moreover, the important point is not whether the Janeo
was worn or not. The point is whether it was worn as a symbol of
twice-born Aryanhood. If Guru Nanak had both the Janeo and Tasbi,
it was just to show that he belonged both to Hindus and Muslims. If
Daya Singh had regarded Janeo as an indispensable token of his
Aryanhood, which it is for twice-born Hindus, he would not have
parted with it, atleast not refused to wear it again. The fact is that the