Sikhism - Culture - Gurmat Veechar

S) War Phi{osl!Phy 0/ Dasmesh:
The study ofthe basic principles and ingredients ofSikhism won't
be compete unless we mention a few words about the 'war philosophy'
ofGuru Gobind Singh the 10th Master. It has been mentioned above at
several places that the Sikh Gurus adhered to their principles, stood for
the oppressed and the weak and faced torture at the hands ofthe rulers
ofthe day. Two ofthem even were martyred. Several Sikhs also gave
their lives and faced torturous treatment.
Guru Gobind Singh, who observed that the rulers of the day did
not understand the language oflove and sacrifice, prepared his Sikhs
for taking up arms against them. Although Guru Har Gobind, the sixth
Nanak had fought several battles and became victorious in all, and
Guru Gobind Singh himself fought several battles before he created
the Khalsa, yet he was of the view that the followers of the Sikh
Panth were to be prepared, so that they could live with dignity, be
able to defend themselves against oppression and injustices. While
maintaining their entity and identity, they should be prepared to
give their lives for the sake of those who were unable to defend
themselves. Although he wished that mutual love and
understanding should be sufficient instruments to deal with the
thorny issues, he justified the use of sword as a measure of last
resort.
In his Zafarnama, a detailed letter ofvictory to Aurangzeb, against
whose tyrannical rule, he fought severa) battles, sacrificed his father
and all the four sons and numerous beloved Sikhs, he mentioned that
he was not willing to take up the arms. But when all other means to
settle a matter amicably, failed, it was justifiable to take up the
sword (arms) as a last resort. To quote from Zafarnama it self
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'CHU KAAR AZ. HAMA HEELTE DARGUZASHAT,
HALAALAST BURDAN BAA SHAMSHEER DAST'
Thus, those of us who carry an impression that fighting armed
War Philosophy of Dasmesh / 95