SAHIJDHAARI/ SEHAJDHAARI
Sahijdhaari/ Sehajdhaari (literally: the slow adaptor) term is used for that Sikh who wishes to get initiation. A Sehajdhaari must not cut nor trim his hair; should wear a turban; should perform his family functions according to the Sikh Rahit; and should completely adhere to the Sikh culture.
A Sahijdhaari brings up his children in Sikh style and gives them Sikh names. All the ceremonies (marriage, death and all the rest), in the family, must be practiced in the proper Sikh maryada.
A Sahijdhaari cannot remain so for several years. A Sahijdhaari does not mean a non-Sikh claiming to be admirer of Sikhism. Several Hindus, who tries to become voters of the SGPC, posed themselves as Sahijdhaari, wheras they had nothing to do with Sikhism. In 2004, the Indian government issued an Ordinance excluding these fake voters from Electoral College of the SGPC. Since then, the so-called Sehajdharis have disappeared from the scene. This Ordinance lapsed after six months. Later Lok Sabha passed a bill declaring that one who cuts his/her hair cannot claim to be a Sikh; this bill became law on 9 May 2016.
One, who is born in a Sikh family and cuts his/her hair is an apostate (Patit, fallen from religion). He/she is not a Sahijdhari.
(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)