‘Gurudwaras are for Sikhs’, as a Hindu majority nation none of us might agree with this saying. The Sikh community, their principles and their Gurus have been respected by Hindus since time immemorial. But, are Hindus still welcomed at Sikh shrines? Well the recent incidents do not pronounce the same.
The cultural bond between Hindus and Sikhs
Sikhism as a sect that has emerged out of Hinduism itself, and the Hindus and Sikhs have a combined history of fighting the invaders together. The two may be separate religions, but it should not be forgotten that they both are under the umbrella of ‘Sanatan’ culture.
The bond is not limited to facing the Mughal invaders together, but runs deep down on spiritual roads too. Its prominent examples are tenth Guru of Sikhs Guru Gobind Singh wrote the Ramayana, and the word ‘Ram’ appears 2500 times in Guru Granth Sahib.
The Hindus often pay visits to different Sikh shrines and Gurudwaras and the Sikhs can be often found organizing Jagrans of Goddess Durga, a Hindu deity. Such was the cultural bond that existed between Hindus and Sikhs.
The attempt of change the definition of ‘Sikhs’
What kind of picture our mind paints while hearing the word ‘Sikh’ or ‘Sikhism’, well there comes a beautiful depiction of bravery, kindness , helpfulness. But the killing of a poor Hindu Dalit man in the Farmers Protest site, or the recent lynchings in the name of ‘sacrilege’ is changing the narrative.
There is an attempt to change valorous and helpful image of the community, not by some outsiders fringe elements but from the society itself and the most unfortunate thing is there is no uproar over these attempts from the community.
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There have been several incidents in the recent past that forces the Hindu visitors to think twice before visiting Gurudwaras. Several incidents of violence after alleged attempts of sacrilege have been reported.
A man was hacked to death over an alleged disrespect of Nishan Sahib in a Gurudwara, in Punjab’s Kapurthala. Another man was lynched after he jumped the golden grills inside the “sanctum sanctorum” of the Golden Temple. Reports suggest that the deceased had picked a sword by jumping the grills and reached near the place where a Sikh priest was reciting the hymns of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib. The two lynchings in Punjab was seen in association with the death of a Dalit man at Singhu border, who was mutilated by the Nihangs.
Why Hindus are scared of visiting Gurudwaras
Just a few months ago, there was a visual that was celebrated by whole India, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri carrying swaroops of holy Sri Guru Granth Sahib on his head, that was brought back from Kabul by Afghan Sikhs and Hindus. The step taken to carry Sri Guru Granth sahib will all ‘maryada’ was welcomed and appreciated not only by the Sikhs but also the Hindus of India.
None must have thought at the time, that days like these will arrive when the Hindus will be scared and will hesitate to will the Gurudwaras. We as a country are standing at this verge due to the recent incidents that have took place in the Gurudwaras or outside in the name of sacrilege. The incidents have unfortunately given a tag to the Sikh community of being ‘intolerant’.
And just the mere thought of Sikhs being intolerant forces the Hindus to stop visiting Gurudwaras as any mistake due to less knowledge about their religious practices could cost them their lives.
