PACIFISM
Pacifism is rejection of war and use of force. Sikhism is not a pacific religion.
Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh religion, told the Sikhs not to be a passive observer to injustice. He himself spoke against the tyranny of the Lodhi rulers of Saidpur as well as cruelty of the army of Mughal invader Babar. He called Babar ‘Jaabar’ (tyrant) in the same tone as he spoke against callousness of the Lodhi rulers (see: Guru Nanak Sahib’s account of the invasion of Babar, Guru Granth Sahib, pp 360, 417-18, 722).
Guru Arjan refused to submit to intimidation and threats of attack by Birbal (a minister of Akbar).
Guru Hargobind had to fight more than four battles against the aggressive forces.
Guru Tegh Bahadur sacrificed his life for the right of the people to adopt and practice their faith. Guru Gobind Singh fought ten battles for the defence of his cause.
It is sacred duty of a Sikh to always be ready to resist persecution, injustice, tyranny and in-humanism. But, a Sikh, before resorting to arms, must have tried all peaceful means; minimum and only necessary force should be used; Sikh moral traditions must be followed, and, the intention of a Sikh fighter should be to defend the cause and not to capture power. It is his duty to fight against fascist powers.
Kirpaan (the Sikh sword) is one of the “five articles of the faith” of a Sikh. The Sikh Kirpaan is not a symbol (nor is it a weapon of offence). Kirpaan is a Sikh’s duty to fight for ‘Dharma’ (Righteousness). A Sikh has an obligation to resist tyranny by all legitimate means (it includes use of not only Kirpaan but also the other weapons, according to necessity and the gravity of the situation). It is important to note that no Sikh Guru had ever led a war against anyone; all they did was to defend themselves from the invaders.
The writers of the Anti-Sikhism School (started by notorious Christian Missionary W.H.McLeod) have tried to propagate that Guru Nanak was a pacifist and from Guru Hargobind (or from Guru Gobind Singh) onwards the Sikhs underwent some “transformation” or “evolution”. This propaganda of these writers is, in fact, a part of a deep conspiracy, which intends to establish
that the followers of Guru Nanak and Guru Gobind Singh are different from each other. This anti-Sikh group has tried to divide the Sikh religion into two sects (but has miserably failed). The truth is that the Sikh ideology never underwent any evolution, change or transformation. Guru Nanak laid down the principle of taking arms against tyranny in his Baani and it was carried on by his successors. The Sikh thought has remained the same with all the Ten Gurus, and, in spite of the malicious and mischievous propaganda, the Sikh nation stands firm on its national principles, even today.
(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)