Sikh History | 1469 to Present

In this episode, we shall talk about the tenth and final living Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh and his role in giving a final shape to the Sikh beliefs and ethics. The life of Guru Gobind was marked by Aurangzeb’s unprecedented policies of oppression against the Sikhs as well as the Hindus, Buddhists and the Jains. It would be fair to characterize Aurangzeb as a ruthless, power hungry ruler who had an utter disregard for human rights and was also intolerant and hostile to all faiths other than Islam. In such an oppressive political and social environment, Guru Gobind played a pro active role in shaping the Sikh society as we know it today. He took concrete and positive steps in formulating new structures and strategies to promote the cause of the Sikhs. He was the architect of the Khalsa, the Sikh society, which was a model deeply rooted in the concepts of equality, freedom and justice first proposed by Guru Nanak almost 200 years before him.

In this episode, we shall talk about the ninth Sikh Guru, Guru TegBahadur and the political turbulence which had turned against the Sikhs in the 17th century in India. The time of Guru TegBahadur’s Guruship was marked by Aurangzeb’s unprecedented policies of oppression against the Sikhs as well as the Hindus, Buddhists and the Jains. It would be fair to characterize Aurangzeb as a ruthless, power hungry ruler who had an utter disregard for human rights and was also intolerant and hostile to all faiths other than Islam. Guru Teg Bahadur laid down his life in order to protect the rights of the common man – the right to live a life of dignity, the right to live a life without fear and the right to live a free life in their own lands. Guru Teg Bahadur’s legacy guides Sikhs to stand up against oppression.

In this episode, we shall talk about the eighth Sikh Guru, Guru HarKrishan and the political turbulence which had turned against the Sikhs in the 17th century in India. The time of Guru HarKrishan’s Guruship was marked not only by Aurangzeb’s oppression of the Sikhs, but also by the Minas , Dhir Mal and his own brother Ram Rai. All of these people had established their own sects and broke off from the tenets of early Sikh gurus and their teachings. They were openly striving to divide the Sikhs with their numerous and focused attempts to dilute Sikh teachings. Guru HarKrishan was only 5 years old when he assumed the Guruship, but admirably he kept all of the Sikhs together.

In this episode, we shall talk about the seventh Sikh Guru, Guru HarRai and his unique leadership of the Sikhs during the turbulence of the 17th century in India – the time of Guru HarRai’s Guruship was marked not only by serious infighting between the various contenders to the Mughal throne, but also by the Minas or the descendants of Prithi Chand, who were striving to divide the Sikhs with their numerous and focused attempts to dilute Sikh teachings. Guru HarRai was only 14 years old when he assumed the Guruship, and had two immediate tasks at hand – the first was to protect the ideals of the Sikh faith first laid by Guru Nanak and second to defend the Sikhs from the atrocities of the Mughal ruler Shah Jahan.