Dear Khalsa Ji,
Today, I share with you the reasons for my preserving the natural growth of my Kesh.
This I am doing, because I am convinced that Khalsa Panth is a rational way to divinity and all round progress –materially, spiritually, physically, socially, and intellectually. This environment of Khalsa Panth as designed by Guru Sahib that enables continuous all round advancement, which is evident from its past achievements, must be maintained in the interest of all those who belong to this Panth. The rational behind all that constitutes Khalsa Panth needs to be discussed understood and made known to all its followers, first of all the women i.e. the would be mothers. Through mothers it will reach the Khalsa children, who are the future of the Panth. This process has to be made self-sustaining.
It is my considered opinion that in this knowledge based materialistic world, only rational religions have the chance to survive and come out shining and stronger after and beyond the knowledge age in which humanity is at present.
I consider the unique identity with Kesh to be an important ingredient of success story of Khalsa Panth. Why I consider Kesh so important I discuss below.
First in discuss Kesh in a very gross way, without reference to Khalsa Panth.
No matter to which religion the specific divinity followed, I know these divinities had Kesh. Indian Rishis and Munis all had Kesh. Spiritual individuals always live in harmony with the nature. Preserving the Kesh in their natural form was part of there living in harmony with the nature. Kesh became the outer expression of their inner spirituality. Today science too is telling us to live in harmony with the nature. Its implementation should start with us living in harmony with our own body, of which the Kesh is a part. That is why I have Kesh.
Body and mind interact; one influences the other. Inner spirituality leads to preserving what is natural. In the same way, preserving what is natural leads to a brain formatting that is conducive for spiritual evolution. That is why I have Kesh.
Now I discuss Kesh with specific reference to Khalsa Panth.
My tenth Guru, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, was very farsighted; he had an excellent understanding of the sociology of his time and the future needs of those who lived according to Sikhi. He asked the Khalsas to preserve the natural growth of the Kesh; Guru Sahib made Kesh as a part of the uniform of the Khalsas making it a part of this unique Khalsas identity. The need for this unique identity I elaborate below.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/sikh-youth/1115-that-why-i-have-kesh-hair.htmlReference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=1115
The majority of the followers of Guru Sahibs were from economically weaker sections, bulk of them were illiterate. Needless to say that they did not have the mental and material resources, and the connection with the rulers of their areas to help them preserve the new values and beliefs that were given to them by our Gurus. The followers of the Gurus were geographically spread out; they lived in the social environment, which was created by the values and beliefs of the established dominant religious group of that area. We all know, the established order attacks any thing that is new; this was the case with the followers of the Gurus they were insecure.
Khalsa Panth had a system of values and beliefs that were not in line with that of the prevailing order and were substantially different. Migration of the population to this new order meant reduction in the following in the established order; it affected the earning of the priests who lived on what their devotee gave them. The priests of established order were naturally hostile to the new order.
Concept of equality among humans was a big change that had the potential to substantially alter the established order affecting the elites adversely and benefiting women and downtrodden. Naturally the priestly class and elites of the established order did not take this new evolution lightly.
Guru Sahib found a unique solution to overcome the weakness that made his followers feel insecure. Guru Sahib infused the element of synergy into the Panth to compensate for the weaknesses in numbers and resources. Guru Sahib linked all the Khalsa together through a common identity. We all became one and each one of us is for all. In such synergetic environment we know 1 and 1 becomes 11 or more but not 2; this environment does not follow mathematics. Guru Sahib knew the potential of this synergy; it is evident in his statement: ‘Sewa lakh se ek ladaaon tahbi Gobind Singh naam khaaun’. This synergy is evident in our fight to restore the right of Khalsa students to wear turban in the schools in France. This unique identity allows us to feel one in the success of any member of Khalsa Panth and get inspiration from it, to reach greater heights in life. This feeling of oneness and consequent happiness is evident from the way the Khalsa feel proud to see Dr Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister of India and the happiness that the Khalsas got from the news that the next General of India Army is going to be one of them. This shared feeling of achievement among the Khalsas provide the sustenance to strive for greater heights. It gives each one of the Khalsas the mental strength to challenge and overcome the mental barrier which the caste system over thousands of years have been ingrained in the mind of the Indians that only some special class of people alone are ordained by God for higher achievements in life, the other have to wait for some new birth. This synergy, which is linked to the unique identity of Khalsa, has allowed us to come out of the strangle hold of the orthodoxy, become free and make progress – both horizontally and vertically; Stagnant and stationary individuals of earlier days have now all the possible avenues of mobility open to her or him. Women and Men have been brought to equal level; orthodoxy of discrimination by sex is the process of being defeated.
If one studies the progress made by individuals in some specific trade and belonging to different religions, one will find that no one has made as much progress as compare to those belonging to Khalsa Panth. What a great strength, Guru Sahib has infused into Khalsas through this unique identity with Kesh. Without Kesh it would not have been possible. Wah-e-Guru; I simply cannot afford to loose this gift from Guru Sahib. That is why I have Kesh.
The problems and difficulties that the Khalsas faced in the past are not over yet. The forces of orthodoxy are still there. They are within Khalsa Panth and outside it also. The Caste feelings and affiliations have not completely gone out of the mentality of Khalsas. Women are still being discriminated as evident from the adverse sex ratio in the Khalsa population. The physical threat still persists, as evident from Panth’s experience in recent past. Significant percentage of Khalsa population is still the see the glow of evolution and progress in material and spiritual domain. The task started by Guru Sahib is not yet over; lot has been done lot more still needs to be done. This unique identity is as important today as it was in earlier times. It is relevant today in this competitive world. That is why I have Kesh.
Through this unique identity with Kesh, I have benefited from its synergetic effect that my elders and my ancestors in Khalsa Panth provided me. It helped me in my progress. I have this debt on me. I can only discharge this debt by providing the same element of synergy to the next generation of Khalsas, which demands my adherence to the unique identity with Kesh Guru Sahib gave me. It is my dharma. That is why I have Kesh.
I am a Khalsa today, a beneficiary of progress, because many of those who preceded me, including my Gurus, laid down their lives to preserve the values and beliefs of Khalsa Panth and to preserve the freedom of conscience. Without the motivation and strength that their sacrifices gave to Khalsas, the Panth would not have survived. In fact, I am tall only because I am standing on their shoulders. I have this debt to pay. The efforts put in by early Khalsas have not only to be continued but also intensified. Khalsa Panth is a corporate religion, each of its member has to contribute in the total task effectively; I know I have a role to play in this effort. That is why I have Kesh.
My being a true Khalsa is the best tribute that I can pay to Guru Sahib. Preserving the unique identity that Guru Sahib gave us is part of it. That is why I have Kesh.
With this I close.
With love and respect for all.
Amarpal.
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