COMMODORE DS SODHI, NM (Retd)
Sikhism, the fifth largest Religion of the world, is a monotheistic faith emphasising the equality, selfless service and meditation on divine. The three pillars of Sikhism are
Naam Japo( meditate on Divine)
Kirat Karo ( earn honest living through hard work)
Vand Chhako(share blessings and wealth with the needy)
Sikhism developed from the spiritual teachings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji and the nine Other Sikh Gurus who succeeded him. The core belief and practices of Sikhism include faith and meditation in the name of one creator (Aik Onkar), divine unity, equality and engagement in selfless service (Sewa), striving for justice for the benefit and prosperity of all (Sarbat Da Bala).
Guru Nanak Dev Ji visited Jammu and Kashmir during his third Udaasi and Pandit Braham Das was the first one to embrace the Sikh faith and later preach it also. The subsequent Gurus took on the responsibility of preaching Sikhism in the region.
The preachings of Bhai Gadiya, Bhai Madhodas, Mata Bhag Bhari, Bhai Bano and Bhai Pheroo influenced the Hindus of the hilly areas as well as cities and brought them closer to Guru Nanak’s Faith. The preachers also took care of the places of historical importance from where Guru Nanak and Guru Hargobind Sahib had preached as well as carried out discussions with learned people of other faiths.
After Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Guru Hargobind Sahib had Guru Har Rai Sahib also visited Jammu and Kashmir and preached Nanak’s Faith. It was in the year 1699 AD that Guru Gobind Singh Ji baptised Baba Pheroo with Amrit and named him Bhai Pheroo Singh. Guru Gobind Singh honoured him with the titles Sachi Dari (True Beard) and Sangat Sahib for his pure devotion and honest maintenance of accounts. Guruji assigned him the task of propagating the philosophy of Sikhism in the north-west mountainous region, including Poonch and Kashmir. Bhai Pheroo had set up his Dera ( headquarters) in Rajoieay (Hazara). In order to accomplish his mission, he travelled extensively in Peshawar, Kandhar, Balkh, Chach, Hazara, Pakhli, Attack, Poonch, Muzzafarabad and Kashmir.
Bhai Pheroo Singh handed over his duties and seat (Gadi) to Bhai Punjab Singh Ji in the year 1711 AD. Bhai Punjab Singh shifted the headquarters from Rajoieay to Chattar Class in Muzzafarabad. Preaching in the hill areas, he brought many Hindus closer to Sikh faith, educating them to get rid of casteism and other Superstitions. Bhai Punjab Singh visited Mattan in Kashmir when the Mughals were carrying out atrocities on Kashmiri Pandits. Towards the later part of his life, he handed over the duty and the seat to Bhai Rocha Singh Ji in the year 1736 AD.
Bhai Rocha Singh had also been baptized with Amrit by Guru Gobind Singh Ji at Sabo Talwandi (now called Damdama Sahib). Bhai Rocha Singh was found of weapons and he always moved with armed men around him. Bhai Rocha Singh shifted his headquarters from Chattar Klass to Rawalakote. During this time the Afghan took control of Kashmir. It was during this period, that Sukhjivanmal got Sikhs and Brahmans from places like Pakhli, Hazara, Frontier, and Pothohar ( their castes Rism , Dutta, Sudan , Sasan, Lau, Kala, Reen, Mehta , Bali etc) to Kashmir.
Bhai Rocha Singh had fought with Afghan Forces at Jambazpura on way to Kamraz. He carried out Penance in the jungle of village Shialkot for a long time and presently a Beautiful Gurdwara Sahib commemorating his visit stands tall there. In the year 1803 AD at the age of 115 years, he handed over the duty and seat to Bhai Mela Singh who shifted the headquarters from Rawalakote to Nangali Sahib Poonch. He travelled widely to Shailkot, Muzzafarabad, Mendhar, Kashmir etc.
During the Sikh Rule, the movement of preaching Sikhism gathered momentum in Kashmir. Many Hindus who had come to Kashmir for trade embraced Sikhism as also many Kashmiri Pandits (Bhai Almat, MadhoDhar, Tarloknath Raina, Giani Raina) adopted the Sikh faith. After Bhai Mela Singh, Bhai Manna Singh, Bhai Mangal Singh, Bhai Ratan Singh, Bhai Avtar Singh, Bhai Rattan Singh Modi, Bhai Mohar Singh, Bhai Mangal Singh, Mahant Bachatar Singh , Mahant Manjit Singh (at present) carried out the duty from time to time. Mahant Manjit Singh who is presently on the seat at Nangali Sahib in addition to the duty of preaching Sikhism has also embarked on the duty of giving education to the people. He has opened schools and an Engineering college in Jammu. He travels within the country and abroad to spread the message of Sikh faith of living.
Sewadars Bhai Punjab Singh, Bhai Phantoo Singh , Bhai Tara Singh carried out the duty from a hill top Saantpura Daney in Muzzafarabad. Bhai Khushal Singh, Bhai Gurdit Singh and Sant Gurbakh Singh also carried out this duty there. Sewadars Sant Bhai Joga Singh, Bhai Diya Singh, Bhai Narain Singh, and Bhai Gurdit Singh were appointed heads of ” Gufa Waley Santan De Deray” .
Sant Gurbaksh Singh of village Dana Muzzafarabad also carried out the duty of preaching Sikh Religion in the Jammu Region. Presently Sant Tejwant Singh (alumni of Baba Jhujhar Singh Gurmat Missionary Kendra Ropar Punjab) is carrying out the duty in Jammu. In the year 1931, Sant Gurdit Singh had opened a school in Village Danna Muzzafarabad. Presently, the locals there have upgraded the school to College still maintaining the name. Sant Tejwant Singh is also running a higher secondary school by the name of Sant Gurbaksh Singh Danna International School. Also, a school for underprivileged children named Sant Bhai Kushal Singh Gurmat Vidyalaye Kendra Madbagh is also run by him. He has travelled internationally spreading the message of Sikhism.
(The author is a former Deputy Assistant Chief of Headquarters Integrated Staff (IT) and author of the book Historical Sikh Shrines of Jammu and Kashmir. Feedback: [email protected])
