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Bibi Amro Ji

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Jun 1, 2004
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Bibi Amro ji

Bibi Amro ji was the daughter of Guru Angad Dev ji, the Second Guru. She was born in 1532 in the village of Khadur Sahib, District Amritsar. She received her early education and training directly from her parents Guru Angad Dev ji and Mata Khivi ji.
Guru Angad spent a lot of time with his children. He taught them the Gurmukhi script that he had revised and simplified which is used in Guru Granth Sahib. When she came of age she was married to Bhai Jasoo on of Manak Chand of Basarke village.

As was the custom of the day she was sent to live with her husband’s family. Her father encouraged her to continue doing kirtan and to preach Sikhism to all that she came in contact with. Guru Amar Das ji who was her husband’s uncle was quite taken by her sweet melodious voice when he heard her singing shabads (holy hymns). It was she who first introduced him to the teachings of Sikhism. As his interest grew it was she who sent him to her father to learn more about these teachings. Guru Amar Das was so deeply influenced by Guru Angad Dev ji that he became a devout Sikh, so much that Guru Angad Dev ji announced him as his Successor. Thus Guru Amar Das ji, the third Guru got to his destiny of becoming a Guru through Bibi Amro ji.

Years later when Guru Amar Das ji gave structure to the Sikh Nation and organised his preachers into 22 teaching districts he put Bibi Amro ji in-charge of on of these districts called Manji. What Manji meant was that a person who was leading a Kirtan to be sit on the Manji while whole sangat in front of him.

The person occupying Manji was the Sikh preacher appointed by Guru Amardas. This appointment can best be compared to the position of Bishop in the Christian Church today. It was an administrative position, with full responsibility for the equality and content of the preachings. She also would have the responsibility of collecting revenues and making decisions for the welfare of her diocese. Her manji or diocese included Basarke, her husband’s village, where they made their home.

It is the direct result of the efforts of Bibi Amro ji and other Sikh preaches that Amritsar today is synonymous with Sikhism. Today, close to the village of Basarke, there is a tank (man made pond) bearing the name Bibi Amro da Talab (Tank of Bibi Amro) in her memory.

From the “Champion of Women” by Alice Basarke, also to be found at http://www.gurmat.info
 

drkhalsa

SPNer
Sep 16, 2004
1,308
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Dear Aman Ji

thanks for the excelent read I was so happy reading it and also many things become clearer to me about the extent of involvement of women in working of sikh organisation

This article i think put all those people to shame who thinks that women cant do kirtan in Harimandir Sahib and cant become jathedar of takhats

it is point ot be noted that Bibi Amro ji was head of manji at the time when in india the state of women was so low even to speak in high volume in front of a male

now are present leader want to push back women to same level this really a thing that really upsets me
I would like to know iews of other members on this topic

Jatinder Singh
 

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