Kanwal Singh
“Even Kings and Emperors with heaps of wealth and vast dominion cannot compare with an ant filled with the love of God”
Guru Nanak Sahib, Shri Guru Granth Sahib.
When today the world is celebrating the Prakash Purab of the Great Spiritual Teacher and Embodiment of Oneness, Guru Nanak Sahib, I would like to reflect upon the teachings of Baba Nanak which inspired the Sikh Community and the world to help others even in the unprecedented crisis born out of Covid19. The world realised that within each and every heart there is one infinite light.
Prakash purab special
The pandemic has brought humanitarian crisis, hunger, starvation and job losses. Many social organisations, civil society members, individuals have extended help and their role have been remarkable. But in these challenging times the world was amazed by the spectacle of the institution of Langar and the Spirit of Sikhism. “Sea” is one of the important tenets of Sikhism which manifests in “Langar” and “Selfless Service”. Guru Nanak Sahib ji taught a way of life to elevate every human irrespective of their caste, class or religion. “Langar”- a kind of free community kitchen was a concept started by Guru Nanak Sahib Ji. It is a round the clock free kitchen based on the principles of inclusivity, equality and unity among all religious spheres. He proclaimed the message of oneness and universalism. There can be no better way of celebrating the Birth Anniversary of Guru Nanak than serving Humanity.
Sikh History reveals that Self-Less Service to humanity was so powerful that even Mughal Emperor Akbar before meeting Guru Amar Das Ji first sat in langar at Goindwal Sahib, Amritsar. When you sit together in langar irrespective of your caste, class, creed, religion, you shed all your differences and realise the one light within. Many were amazed by the spectacle of langar during the pandemic- Can food be given free?
The concept Sewa in Sikhism is derived from three pillars of Guru Nanak Sahib:
“Kirat Karni”- Earn with Labour.
“Naam Japna”-Contemplate upon the name of God.
“Wand Ke Chakna”- Share before you eat.
This was reflected during the pandemic when many thought of others before thinking of their own self. Sewa is an emotion and True langar is – the Kitchen of the Guru’s Shabad. It opened for ceaseless or non-stop distribution, and its supplies never run short. It inspires you to see the “World as One”
“Tohi Mohi Mohi Tohi Antar Kaisa”-
“You is Me, Me is You, Then whats the difference”.
The Sikh community continued to do Sewa with the same compassion during the times of COVID19. From natural disaster to pandemic, Sikhs are known to serve people relentlessly. In the times of Pandemic, they made sure that no one goes home empty stomach. While sitting in congregation, eating Langar, I had never imagined that one day I would witness something called as “Oxygen Langar”- A innovative way of giving Oxygen supply to Covid 19 patients who were gasping for air and couldn’t manage to get a bed in hospitals. This was something beyond self and beyond religion. During second wave of Covid 19 when Hospitals ran short on Oxygen Supplies, many Gurdwaras across India started Oxygen langar for Covid 19 patients. It not only saved lives but also eased off the extra burden on Hospitals. If there is a institute of Moral Economy then it is surely “Guru Nanaks Concept Of Langar” which today has taken a different form.
As during the times of COVID-19 all the religious places were closed, the Gurdwaras across India kept their Community Kitchen open. It was the only place where stranded migrant workers could find food and other resources. During Covid19 Gurdwara Bangla Sahib in Delhi fed millions of stranded passengers and migrant workers. When migrant workers started walking to their hometowns, all the Gurdwaras across India opened up their community kitchens. Recently, Bangla Sahib Gurdwara also opened up Pharmacy- “Bala Pritam Dawakhana” and provided medicines, medical tests at subsidised and factory rates. For the migrant workers camped along the banks of Yamuna River the only place to have a day’s meal was at a Gurudwara Sahib near Majnu-ka-tilla. The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee also introduced “Langar on Wheels” taking Guru Nanaks kitchen to those who cannot visit the Gurdwara Sahib amid the pandemic and the Committee also converted Lakhi Shah Vanjhara Hall in Gurdwara Rakabganj Sahib into a 250 bed facility with Oxygen.
Jitender Singh Shunty, founder of the organisation, Bhagat Singh Sewa Dal has been cremating unclaimed bodies since 1995. Recently, he was conferred with Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian award for cremating thousands of bodies during Covid 19 pandemic. Since, last 26 years Jitender Singh and his team of volunteers, who come from different faiths have been giving people “Dignity in Death”. It was inspiring to see that at one end where people and families were unwilling to perform the last rites of their own deceased here was a man in Delhi who started a mission of performing last rites of COVID19 patients. Most of the times the bodies were either unclaimed or their families had no money to buy wood for the pyre. Jitender Singh offered all the help to Covid19 Patients and the deceased families. While performing last rites, his whole family got affected from Covid 19, but despite all odds he kept on doing Sewa. As long as people like him are out there helping others, the divine light of Guru Nanak will live on and keep spreading the message of Humanity, Compassion and Oneness.
What keeps the Sikh community going in these challenging times?
The answer lies in Sikh History and the teachings of Guru Nanak. It’s the same compassion which Bhai Kanhaiya Ji carried on the Battelfield of Anandpur Sahib when he served water to both enemy and foe and when summoned by Guru Gobind Singh Sahib recited the following verse from Guru Granth Sahib-
“Na Ko Bairi, Na Hii Begana, Sagal Sang, Hum Ko Ban Aayi”-
No one is a enemy, No one is a friend, I get along with everyone”.
It’s the same compassion which Moti Mehra carried when he served milk to the younger sons and mother of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib. It’s the same compassion which Bhai Todarmal carried when he sold everything to buy land to perform the last rites of the younger sons of Guru Gobind Singh Ji. It’s the love, devotion and faith in the teachings of Guru Nanak which keeps them moving in the times of a Pandemic. Even when the sanctity of Darbar Sahib was devastated in 1984, the place didn’t stop serving langar. It continues to serve food irrespective of caste, class or religion.
With the slogan of 10th Nanak, Guru Gobind Singh Ji- Manas Kii Jaat Sabe Eke Pehchan Bo- Recognise the whole human race as one, today, Khalsa Aid organisation is a ray of hope for millions of people around the world.
For past several years Guru Nanak Langar Mission, a humanitarian organisation has been serving langar to patients and visitors at Govt Medical College, Jammu. Sikh Youth Sewa Trust, a NPO in J&K did a remarkable job by serving packed meals and sanitising pubic offices in the times of pandemic. A Sikh volunteer group from Jammu has been cremating the dead bodies of COVID 19 patients.
When last year a Bushfire destroyed homes and animal lives, the Sikh volunteers, a NGO travelled from Melbourne to Bairnsdale and provided food and medicines to the Bushfire victims. A recent article in New York Times highlighted America experience with langar. The Sikh community kitchens served Covid19 patients and even the protestor of the Black Lives Matter campaign. Sikh centre of New York prepared 30000 free meals packets for Americans in self isolation.
The pandemic gathered world attention to environmental problems. Every world started talking about an imbalance in the current ecological system. But in Guru Nanaks Philosophy of equality and progressiveness; environment protection, cleanliness, community servicing, hygiene was given prime importance. One type of “Prashad” is served in every Gurdwara Sahib. You will find volunteers doing Sewa and community servicing. Every Gurdwara premises will have a natural water resource and plantation of trees. The respect and importance of environment is fundamental to Sikhism. As Guru Nanak Dev Ji illustrates in Japji Sahib-
“Pawan Guru, Paani Pita, Maata Dharth Mahath”
“Air is our Teacher; Water is our Father and the great Sacred Earth is our Mother”
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