Sarbat Khalsa

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Sarbat Khalsa from sarbat, a Punjabi word possibly with Sanskrit roots, meaning all or everything, was a biannual deliberative assembly (on the same lines as a Parliament in a Direct Democracy) of the entire Khalsa held at Amritsar in Panjab during the 18th century.[1] It literally translates to the "entire Sikh Nation" but as a political institution it refers to the meetings of the Dal Khalsa, Sikh Misls, and the legislature of the Sikh Empire.The first Sarbat Khalsa was called by the tenth guru, Guru Gobind Singh before his death in 1708 and the tradition of calling Sarbat Khalsa has continued ever since at times of hardship or conflict.The last major Sarbat Khalsa was in 1986 at the declaration of Khalistan in Amritsar outside the Akal Takht.[2] [3]

History

After the death of Banda Singh Bahadur in 1716 the Khalsa was in disarray. After 1716, the Mughal government began a campaign of genocide against Sikhs led by Abdus Samad Khan and later his son Zakariya Khan that was carried out by in the form of a standing army dedicated to eliminating Sikhs, daily public executions, and monetary rewards for the heads of killed Sikhs.[4] The Dal Khalsa "reataliated by killing government functionaries and plundering Mughal posts, arsenals, and treasuries".[5] In 1733, because of the failure of the Mughal government to subdue the Sikhs they were offered a jagir in 1733. Nawab Kapur Singh was appointed head of the Dal Khalsa and he reorganized the Sikhs into the Taruna Dal and Budda Dal. The Taruna Dal formed the basis of the Sikh Misls.

Significant Gurmatas

Date Significance
October/November 1723 Tat Khalsa and Bandais settle their differences
1726 Sarbat Khalsa passes Gurmata to raid Mughal precious metal transports, confiscate Mugal armories, and eliminate Mughal informers
1733 Sarbat Khalsa accepts Jagir given by Mughal government
October 14, 1745 Sarbat Khalsa passes Gurmata organizing Khalsa into 25 Jathas
March 29, 1748 Sarbat Khalsa passes Gurmata reorganizing Khalsa into 11 Misls
1986 Sarbat Khalsa establishes a panthic committee and declares a need for a separate Sikh home land.
Meetings of the Sarbat Khalsa began with an Ardās, a Sikh prayer for guidance.

Procedures

Meetings of the Sarbat Khalsa began with an Ardās, a Sikh prayer for guidance. The body then chose Panj Piare, or five members, to act as the governing body of the mass meeting. To become one of the Panj Piare members would have to be nominated, answer objections from the assembly, and be subject to a direct vote.[6] After their election the Panj Piare sat next to the Guru Granth Sahib on the Akal Takht of Harmandir Sahib. Members put proposals up for consideration and the Panj Piare intervened in disputes that came up during the assembly. A proposal passed by the Sarbat Khalsa, known as a Gurmata (The Guru's decision) was binding on all Sikhs.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Brief History of Sikh Misls. Jalandhar: Sikh Missionary College (Regd.). pp. 4–5. 
  2. ↑ Kakshi, S.R.; Rashmi Pathak, S.R.Bakshi R. Pathak (2007), Punjab Through the Ages, Sarup and Son, p. 8, ISBN 978-81-7625-738-1, retrieved 2010-04-25 
  3. ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZLWXS-9EzI
  4. ↑ SIngh, Patwant (2001). The Sikhs. Image. pp. 78–79. ISBN 978-0-385-50206-1. 
  5. ↑ SIngh, Patwant (2001). The Sikhs. Image. p. 79. ISBN 978-0-385-50206-1. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Brief History of Sikh Misls. Jalandhar: Sikh Missionary College (Regd.). p. 5. 

Further reading

  • Volume 2: Evolution of Sikh Confederacies (1708-1769) by Hari Ram Gupta. Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers, 1999, ISBN 8121505402, Pages: 383 pages, illustrated.
  • The Heritage of the Sikhs by Harbans Singh. 1994, ISBN 81-7304-064-8.
  • Sikh Domination of the Mughal Empire. 2000, second edition. ISBN 81-215-0213-6.
  • The Sikh Commonwealth or Rise and Fall of Sikh Misls. 2001, revised edition. ISBN 81-215-0165-2.
  • Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Lord of the Five Rivers by Jean-Marie Lafont. Oxford University Press. 2002, ISBN 0-19-566111-7.
  • History of Panjab by Dr L. M. Joshi and Dr Fauja Singh.
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