Introductory - Global Sikh Studies

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If fact, these fears form the major afflictions of man, leading to
all social and political conflicts and problems. In the social field, it is
this fourfold total freedom that the Gurus aimed at. This has been
their social-political ideology. It is to this total freedom that the ninth
Guru refers when he says ‘Fear not, frighten not.” 29 It is to safeguard
this freedom that he sought martyrdom at Delhi.
Total freedom or liberation from fear is described in the Sikh
parlance as Mukti. It became an article of firm faith of the Sikhs that
Mukti was not release from the world but liberation from its fears. For
them, to seek martyrdom in the battles fought for upholding a high or
noble cause was Mukti. The forty Sikhs, both at Chamkaur and at
Khidrana, who died fighting to the last man, are to this day called
Muktas (i.e. those who have become Mukta) at the time of every
Ardas (supplication at the end of a Sikh ceremony). To commemorate
their memory, the name of Khidrana itself was changed to that of
Muktasar, the place where the forty achieved Mukti or salvation. The
last wish of those who laid their lives at Khidrana was that they did
not want any worldly benefit or even Mukti; but that the Guru should
accept them as his followers and forgive them for their earlier lapse of
forsaking the cause and leaving Anandpur. 30 Serving the ideological
cause is salvation and leaving it is evil.
b) Ahimsa
One great ideological hurdle in the revolutionary path, on which
the Sikh Gurus wanted to lead their followers, was the odium attached
to the use of force even for just social and religious purpose.
Brahmanism did sanction the use of force for social and political
purposes, but only for upholding the caste order and not for use against
it. It was lawful for the kings to wage war for extending their kingdoms.
One of their primary duties was to preserve the Varna Ashrama
Dharma (caste systems) by all means at their disposal. But,
Brahmanism did not permit the lower castes to take up arms against
the ruling castes, whose vested interests, along with those of the
Brahmins, lay in maintaining the caste society. Jainism and Buddhism
went a step further. They eschewed the use of force for any purpose