In modern times, in the event of war or natural calamity, the U.N. and Red Cross provide relief to the suffering humanity, besides unilateral and non-governmental assistance. However, the Sikhs have been ordained by their founder Guru Nanak to make it an article of faith to be compassionate towards the sick, the poor and downtrodden. This tradition was further strengthened by successive Nine Guru for three centuries until it had became part and parcel in the life of Sikhs. The service required may be Social, Economic, Medical, Political or Defense of motherland. Sikh history presents glorious panorama of events where they have contributed with their full might and resources.
Guru Nanak gives humanity a radical humanistic doctrine for its welfare and prosperity. He rejects the ideology of asceticism, renunciation, ritualism, parasitic living and discrimination on the basis of sex, caste and birth. It discounts personal piety unrelated to Social and Public living. It upholds dignity of man and labour. Guru Nanak taught Love for all, and himself practiced and demonstrated whatever he preached. For Him religion was for divine dedication and urgent social commitment. "Truth is highest but Truthful living is still higher." He advocates a religion of love, service and sacrifice.
Guru Nanak refused to go through ceremonial sacred thread ceremony but called for moral practice of compassion, contentment chastity and truth. His Hymn says,
"Out of cotton of compassion - spin thread of contentment - Tie knots of chastity and give it twists of Truth."
He demonstrated to the people, by refusing the invitation of high caste Malik Bhago and, instead, taking food earned by honest means with Bhai Lalo of low caste, that he condemned caste prejudice and money earned by evil means. He sang:
Lowest of Low Born Nanak seeks their company
The friendship of great is in vain
For where the weak are cared for, there Thy mercy rains. (SGGS-15)
On one of his journeys he spends a night with a leper who was shunned by everyone - He healed the stricken one and blessed him. These are the ways of a godly person who by compassion cure the ills of Humanity.
Guru Nanak witnessed Babar’s invasion of Indian in 1521 when the invaders sacked the town of Eminabad and subjected its civilian population to massacre, loot and rape - with the feeling of wounded father. He set about doing as much as the circumstances permitted and was taken a captive. Nanak had the courage to talk of oppression in his Hymns and, through his gentle resistance, forced Babar to change his ways and releasing the prisoners. His Hymn, translates :
"Such intense is suffering O’Lord, Thou feelest not compassion?
O’Creator, Thou belongest to all, If power overpowers
I grieve not, But if a wild lion falleth on flock of sheep the master must answer!
[SGGS - 360]
The Sikh tradition of Guru-Ka-Langar was started by Guru Nanak to eradicate the caste evil and distinctions between poor and rich. Besides, it is a training school for selfless practical "SEVA" - dedicated devotional service to be followed in life - with Tan-Man-Dhun - it is physical participation with dedication and financial contribution. It helps to eradicate EGO - a malady of mankind, a curtain that keeps us away from Paramatma - who resides within us. Guru Amar Das made it compulsory, whosoever come for his darshan must partake Langar. Even Emperor Akbar had to partake Langar sitting with the common men before he could meet Guru Amar Das. The task set in motion by Guru Nanak after careful handling by Guru Angad, Guru Amar Das and Guru Ram Das - Blossomed at the time of fifth Nanak Guru Arjun.
Guru Arjun was a profound poet, philosopher and a man of great catholicity of outlook. The builder of Golden Temple, compiler of Guru Granth - The first Inter faith scripture and first martyr of the Sikhs with prayer, Sweet is thy will my Lord, Thy Grace only I be search. Guru Arjun selected a Muslim divine Hazarat Mian Mir for laying the foundation stone of our most Sacred Gurdwara Harmandir Sahib at Amritsar. Guru Arjun is reported to have himself served sangat visiting him, before they arrived to pay homage to him, with his own hands, and washed feet of his disciples. Guru Arjun also used the voluntary labour (kar sewa) in building the Golden Temple. Upto this day Sikhs join hands to wash Gurudwaras daily, clean carpets and sheets before sangat joins to pray early in the morning.
Guru Har Krishan, the eighth Guru, a child of eight, came to Delhi at a time when the town was in grip of a small pox epidemic. He daily visited the sick and suffering people and healed many by his compassion and benevolent touch; earning the reputation: jis ditthei sabh dukh jae: "Remember Hari Krishan, seeing whom all one’s suffering is dispelled."
Guru Tegh Bahadur (The Ninth Guru) made supreme sacrifice to protect Kashmiri Pandits from conversion by force and cruelty of Mughal King Aurangzeb. His martyrdom is unparalleled in the annals of history of mankind vowing to protect faith, righteousness and dignity of man, to vindicate freedom of worship and of conscience. Gurdwara Sis Ganj in Chandini Chawk, Delhi stands in his memory. His motto has been "We should fear none, nor frighten anyone."
Guru Gobind Singh kindled perpetual passion for brave deeds in love of God, to save downtrodden, which made Sikh people a distinct model for inspiration for all times. In performance of this divine mission his two sons fell fighting Mughal hordes and other two were bricked alive at Sirhand under orders of Mughal Governor. In all the Battles Guru fought he had no personal ambition or territorial aim. It was a struggle against tyranny:
O God bless me that nothing deters me from doing good deeds.
The principles of service as provided today, by modern Red Cross Society were initiated by Sikhs, some 300 years ago. During the battles for righteousness fought by Guru Gobind Singh, against the mighty Mughal Empire, a Sikh by name of Bhai Kanhaiya would go out giving water and medicine to the wounded soldiers of the Mughal Army, against whom the battle was being fought. This event implies that Sikhs are exhorted to serve mankind without any discrimination on the grounds of race and religion.
In the spirit of Guru Nanak s exhortation: "jete jiv tete sabh tere, vinn seva phal kisei nahi" (All Living things, O Lord, reflect your glory; there is no fruit nobler thank taking care of them.) began a remarkably humane mission when, in 1924, he picked up a four-year old polio-stricken child abandoned in Lahore. He carried on his mission until on partition of India. He moved to Amritsar with scores of sick and disabled patients to establish Pingalwara, where he ministered personally to their physical, mental and spiritual health to the end with financial help from far and wide. He breathed his last on 4th August 1992. Once nominated for Noble prize for Humanitarian service, his recent biography by Patwant Singh and Harinder Kaur Sekhon reveals a Titanic character.
The climax of SEVA is in God’s Name. Name denotes all-pervading divine spirit - the sustainer of Universe - and the remembrance of Lord’s attributes. Then one reaches the perfection where light blends with Light - Bliss of which is indescribable.