Sikhs Celebrate Guru Nanak’s Birthday
With Devotion, Enthusiasm, Reverence

WASHINGTON, D.C., December 4, 2008 – Over 15,000 Sikhs gathered in Nankana Sahib (now in Pakistan) last month for the celebration of the birthday of Guru Nanak, the first Guru of the Sikh religion. About 3,600 were from India, and the rest were from Pakistan and around the world. The occasion was celebrated with reverence and enthusiasm. Slogans of “Khalistan Zindabad” resonated throughout Nankana Sahib during the evening’s speeches on November 13.

The celebration began with the performance of Akand Path. The Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy scripture, was read without interruption for 48 hours leading up to Guru Nanak’s birthday and hymns were sung as midnight struck. In the morning, the Pakistan Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (PGPC) presented government officials and others with siropas. Representatives of the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) honored the officials of the PGPC with siropas and gold medals. Baba Jagtar Singh of Kar Sewa was similarly honored with a gold medal by the SGPC. According to Sikh tradition, the afternoon was marked by a procession led by the Guru Granth Sahib, followed by the Panj Piaras, and then the Sangat, of all the Gurdwaras in Nankana Sahib, ending back at Gurdwara Janam Asthan. The evening program featured speeches given by various Sikh leaders, including Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh, President of the Council of Khalistan, which leads the Sikh struggle for independence. When Dr. Aulakh raised slogans of “Khalistan Zindabad,” the Sangat responded with great enthusiasm. After midnight the celebration concluded with ceremonies according to the Sikh rehat maryada.

Guru Nanak was the founder of the Sikh religion. (“Marya Sikha Jagat Witch Nanak Nirmal Panth Chalaya.”) It was an occasion of great happiness for the Khalsa Panth. Guru Nanak confronted Babar, the Moghul ruler of the time and called him a Jabbar (oppressor) and spoke out against the tyranny of the rulers of that time. He was even imprisoned by Babar, along with his followers. Guru Nanak travelled extensively, to the Middle East, where he visited Baghdad, and throughout India, along with his two companions, one Hindu, one Muslim. He spread his message of truthfulness, respect for the rights of individuals, earning an honest living, sharing with the needy, and praying to Almighty God. He was revered by Hindus and Muslims alike. When he left this worldat Kartarpur Sahib, his body was not found. The sheet covering his body was torn in two. The Hindus cremated it and the Muslims buried it, each according to their customs. Guru Nanak is remembered as Baba Nanak Shah Faqir, Hindu Da Guru, Mussleman Da Pir. He preached the equality of the entire human race, including gender equality.

Someone from the Indian consulate attended the ceremony. He approached Dr. Aulakh to ask him to abandon the struggle to liberate Khalistan. He said that “we are brothers.” Dr. Aulakh reminded him that that is what the Hindus claimed in 1947, then Home Minister Patel put out a memo describing the Sikhs as “a criminal tribe” that needed to be under special watch. In 1984, the Indian government attacked the Golden Temple, the center and seat of the Sikh religion. Sant Bhindranwale said that the attack would “lay the foundation for Khalistan” and that is exactly what it did. In 1986 a Sarbat Khalsa was called and in April of that year it passed a resolution for Khalistan. The Panthic Committee declared the independence of Khalistan independence on October 7, 1987. The Council of Khalistan was formed at that time to lead the peaceful, democratic, nonviolent struggle to free Khalistan by getting the international community involved in the struggle.

“We can still be brothers,” said Dr. Aulakh. “When the family gets bigger, brothers move to separate homes. One brother has mistreated the other brother,” said Dr. Aulakh. “It is in the interest of the Indian government to let Khalistan go peacefully so we can live as neighbors with good will,” he said. “If we are forced to separate by violence, we will not talk to each other for a long time and will be working to undermine each other. That hurts both sides,” he said.

India is not a single nation. It is many nations thrown together as one by the British colonialists for their administrative convenience. It has over 18 official languages and 17 freedom movements. “Obviously, everyone wants independence,” Dr. Aulakh said. He said that Sikhs should have self-determination, as well as Kashmiris, Nagas, Assamese, and the others seeking their freedom from India. A free and fair vote would be the democratic way.

Sikhism is a divinely revealed, monotheistic, independent religion which has 26 million followers and is the world’s fifth largest religion. The Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy scripture, was written by the Gurus themselves as revealed to them by God. Nobody can add or delete anything in the holy scripture, which is considered to be a living Guru after the tenth Nanak, Guru Gobind Singh Sahib. Guru Gobind Singh Sahib bestowed Guruship on the Guru Granth Sahib before he left this world.

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This material is circulated by the Council of Khalistan, which is registered with the Department of Justice (DOJ) in Washington, DC under the Foreign Agents Registration Act as an agent of the Council of Khalistan, Golden Temple, Amritsar, Punjab. The material is filed with the DOJ where the required registration is available for inspection. Registration does not indicate approval of the contents by the U.S. Government.