Letter To Punjab

 

On 12th March 1989, the Punjab Human Rights Organization held a conference in Amritsar addressing Sikhi and human rights. Bhai Sukhdev Singh Babbar, the Chief General of Babbar Khalsa, sent the following message to the conference:

 

Beloved Sangat of The Guru,

 

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!

(To God Belongs the Khalsa, And To God Belongs Victory!)

 

We see that the sun, moon, stars, wind, and the rivers are within the command of Akaalpurakh, as the Royal Edict (i.e. Gurbani) states:

 

Salok, First Mehla:

In the Fear of God, the wind and breezes ever blow.

In the Fear of God, thousands of rivers flow.

In the Fear of God, fire is forced to labor.

In the Fear of God, the earth is crushed under its burden.

In the Fear of God, the clouds move across the sky.

In the Fear of God, the Righteous Judge of Dharma stands at His Door.

In the Fear of God, the sun shines, and in the Fear of God, the moon reflects.

-Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaj – Ang 464

 

They do not discriminate against an individual due to their caste, religion, and ethnicity, and are a symbol of joy, happiness, and contentment. They provide everyone with those fundamental, and basic, rights to enjoy and celebrate this gift of creation bestowed upon us by Akaalpurakh.

 

At the very moment of birth, the individual is entitled to the right of life and survival. Within that society, and country, the individual becomes the rightful owner and claimant to the idea of human rights. Within these rights, it is permitted to speak and write the truth, demand justice, defend your individual thought process, and to pass through life as a free and sovereign individual. It is very important to mention here that religion gives birth to human rights. An individual who violates or supresses these rights cannot claim to be religious, even if that individual were the king of a nation or country. The Royal Edict (i.e. Gurbani) of The Guru against a king, or leader of a country, who commits shameless atrocities and destroys the basic human rights of an individual through continued injustice is:

 

First Mehla:

Deer, falcons and government officials are known to be trained and clever.

When the trap is set, they trap their own kind; hereafter they will find no place of rest.

He alone is learned and wise, and he alone is a scholar, who practices the Name.

First, the tree puts down its roots, and then it spreads out its shade above.

The kings are tigers, and their officials are dogs;

they go out and awaken the sleeping people to harass them.

The public servants inflict wounds with their nails.

The dogs lick up the blood that is spilled.

But there, in the Court of the Lord, all beings will be judged.

Those who have violated the people’s trust will be disgraced; their noses will be cut off. ||2||

-Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaj – Ang 1288

 

Through His Bani, Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj raised His voice against the ongoing atrocities committed against the people of Hindustan by Babur; and, as a result, gifted upon the Sikh Dharam the idea and importance of human rights. The Guru did not only command us to speak against these rulers; but, in the form of The 10th Robe (i.e. Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji), The Guru showed us, and also instructed us, to stop the tyrant from committing any further cruelty.

 

When all the stratagem employed for (solving) an affair or problem are exhausted, (only) then taking your hand to the sword is legitimate ||22||

-Zafarnama – Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj

 

The Guru confronted the strong and mighty as they attempted to kill and destroy the weak. However, The Guru sancationed the strong and powerful to confront those with power and authority.

 

If some powerful man strikes out against another man, then no one feels any grief in their mind. ||1||Pause||

-Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaj – Ang 360

 

An individual without Dharam, or an immoral person, will always be materialistic. This individual has no connection or relation with his or her soul, or conscience. This individual is selfish, crooked, and deceitful. Rather than cherish and nourish the people, he or she uses force and violence against them.

 

The kings are sinning as if the protective fence were itself devouring the (crop in the) field.

-Vaaran Bhai Gurdas Ji – Var 1 Pauri 30

 

Continuing forward the movement for human rights, and the welfare of all humankind, The Guru constructed the four doors of Harimandir Sahib and gave equal rights to the Khatri, Brahmin, Shudra, Vaish.

 

The four castes – the Kshatriyas, Brahmins, Shudras and Vaishyas – are equal in respect to the teachings.

-Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaj – Ang 747

 

The sacrifice of the Singhs in the battlefield, in protection of the daughters of the Brahmin, is also related to the protection of human rights.  To showcase to the government of the time that every individual has the right to freedom of religion, Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji gave his head. Guru Gobind Singh Ji broke the charm and enchantment of the Mughal Court and halted their religious war, in order to protect human rights. In order to protect human rights, and other rights, the mighty Khalsa Panth is having to fight unto death this bruel, merciless, tribal and idol worshiping Hindustani Government. The Khalsa was not created just to simply live an average life in this world; rather, there is a great and might purpose behind the creation of The Khalsa:

 

To destroy demonic/evil forces. To remove suffering, crises, and distress from the lives of the innocent and righteous.

To eliminate wicked individuals, tyrants, and oppressors. For these very reasons, the Khalsa has been manifested.

-Sri Gur Sobha

 

Guru Gobind Singh Ji presented the purpose of His life in Bachittar Natak in the following clear and precise words:

 

To protect the saints and spread the true path. To destroy all of the evil tyrants at their root. ||43||

-Bachittar Natak, Sri Dasam Granth, Ang 58

 

This is the standard and ideal by which the Khalsa must live their life.

 

Bhai Sukhdev Singh Babbar

Chief General – Babbar Khalsa