WANTED: A WANTED: A CLEAN-CLEAN-

SHAVENSHAVEN SIKH SIKH

Why in matrimonial columns? Why in matrimonial columns?

why do Sikhs advertise, why do Sikhs advertise, ““Wanted: A Clean-shaven SikhWanted: A Clean-shaven Sikh” ”

in matrimonial columns? in matrimonial columns?

Keeping uncut hair is an essential Keeping uncut hair is an essential requirement for a Sikh.requirement for a Sikh.

Then why do Sikhs advertise, Then why do Sikhs advertise, ““Wanted: A Clean-shaven SikhWanted: A Clean-shaven Sikh” in ” in matrimonial columns? matrimonial columns?

This is a very common question asked This is a very common question asked at Sikh youth camps. at Sikh youth camps.

The QuestionThe Question

A trainee asked a simple question, “Is it OK if a Sikh A trainee asked a simple question, “Is it OK if a Sikh cuts his hair?” cuts his hair?”

My quick response was, “My quick response was, “Nahin Nahin (No). Hair is the identity (No). Hair is the identity of a Sikh.” of a Sikh.”

““Then why do people advertise: Then why do people advertise: Wanted Match for Wanted Match for a a CClean-shaven Sikh” lean-shaven Sikh”

“ “Anyway what has long hair to do with the faith of a Anyway what has long hair to do with the faith of a person?person?

One can be honest, truthful, and religious without One can be honest, truthful, and religious without keeping long hair.”keeping long hair.”

Search for the Answer:Search for the Answer:

A bearded European with long hanging hair passed A bearded European with long hanging hair passed by us. by us.

I asked the youth, “Is he a Sikh?”I asked the youth, “Is he a Sikh?” The answer was quick and firm “No” from the whole The answer was quick and firm “No” from the whole

group.group. I continued, “You mean that just keeping long hair I continued, “You mean that just keeping long hair

does not make a person Sikh. Probably, this is your does not make a person Sikh. Probably, this is your argument.” argument.”

““If keeping long hair does not make one a Sikh, then If keeping long hair does not make one a Sikh, then who is a Sikh and why should a Sikh keep long hair?”.who is a Sikh and why should a Sikh keep long hair?”.

He implied that God He implied that God does not judge us does not judge us as Hindus, Muslims as Hindus, Muslims or of any other or of any other denomination.denomination.

Before Him, we all Before Him, we all are simple human are simple human beings and equal.beings and equal.

The Sikh faith was The Sikh faith was founded when Guru founded when Guru Nanak, after coming out Nanak, after coming out of the river, told the of the river, told the people, “people, “Na koi Hindu, Na koi Hindu, na koi Musalmanna koi Musalman.”.”

The faithThe faith

The word ‘The word ‘sikh’ sikh’ is a is a common noun and it common noun and it means a disciple, a means a disciple, a follower. Nanak, follower. Nanak, having revealed a new having revealed a new philosophy, became philosophy, became popular as a guru.popular as a guru.

The perception The perception regarding the word regarding the word 'Sikh', a member of the 'Sikh', a member of the new community which new community which exists today, had not exists today, had not developed thendeveloped then

The people, Hindu or The people, Hindu or Muslim, high caste or Muslim, high caste or low caste, male or low caste, male or female, who accepted female, who accepted his teaching and lived his teaching and lived accordingly, were accordingly, were called Nanak’s called Nanak’s sikhssikhs

sikhsikh . . A A sikh sikh (follower of the guru), (follower of the guru),

continued to be considered a continued to be considered a member of his original member of his original community. community.

Bhai Mardana and Rai Bular were Bhai Mardana and Rai Bular were Muslims; Baba Budha was a Muslims; Baba Budha was a Hindu, and Bhai Lalo was a low Hindu, and Bhai Lalo was a low caste, but they were all disciples, caste, but they were all disciples, sikhs,sikhs, of the guru. of the guru.

The folk saying: The folk saying: “Nanak Shah “Nanak Shah Fakir, Hindu ka Guru, Musalman Fakir, Hindu ka Guru, Musalman ka Pir.ka Pir.”” became popular became popular wherever he went.wherever he went.

Both communities joined the Both communities joined the congregation to listen to guru congregation to listen to guru Nanak. Nanak.

Bhai Mardana

Rai Bular

‘‘Guru’Guru’

Later the title ‘Guru’ was Later the title ‘Guru’ was used specifically for Guru used specifically for Guru Nanak and his successors. Nanak and his successors.

A Hindu raja of Kangra A Hindu raja of Kangra became a became a sikh, sikh, a disciple a disciple of Guru Amar Das, and of Guru Amar Das, and supplied timber to build supplied timber to build the town of Goindwal.the town of Goindwal.

Mian Mir, a Muslim holy Mian Mir, a Muslim holy man, was a man, was a sikh sikh of Guru of Guru Arjan Dev. Painda Khan, a Arjan Dev. Painda Khan, a general of Guru Hargobind, general of Guru Hargobind, was a Muslim. was a Muslim. Saint Mian Mir

It may be It may be mentioned here that mentioned here that some Hindus, some Hindus, particularly holy particularly holy persons, already persons, already kept their hair long kept their hair long and sported turbans, and sported turbans, even before Guru even before Guru Nanak was born.Nanak was born.

Muslims had beards Muslims had beards and wore turbans in and wore turbans in their own style their own style

As Guru Nanak kept uncut As Guru Nanak kept uncut hair, his disciples, the shair, his disciples, the sikhs ikhs whether Hindus or Muslims, whether Hindus or Muslims, also started keeping long also started keeping long hair and wearing turbans as hair and wearing turbans as their identity.their identity.

In the Rajasthan archives, a reference to the In the Rajasthan archives, a reference to the visit of Guru Nanak Dev states, “Guru Nanak visit of Guru Nanak Dev states, “Guru Nanak associated with all people without any associated with all people without any discrimination but did not approve those who discrimination but did not approve those who used razors (shaved their beards or cut their used razors (shaved their beards or cut their hair).”hair).”

Guru Nanak did not introduce the custom of Guru Nanak did not introduce the custom of keeping long hair and wearing turbans; this was keeping long hair and wearing turbans; this was a part of the culture all over the world before the a part of the culture all over the world before the time of Guru Nanaktime of Guru Nanak..

Europeans also wore turbans, and this is Europeans also wore turbans, and this is mentioned in the Bible as a religious mentioned in the Bible as a religious requirement while praying requirement while praying

The Sikhs, a new communityThe Sikhs, a new community

To be a Sikh, a member of the To be a Sikh, a member of the Panth, all Panth, all sikhssikhs had to take had to take amrit, amrit, wear the 5K uniform, wear the 5K uniform, adopt a new surname (Singh adopt a new surname (Singh for male, Kaur for female), and for male, Kaur for female), and agree to follow a prescribed agree to follow a prescribed code of conduct, the Khalsa code of conduct, the Khalsa Rahit. Rahit.

In every faith, members are In every faith, members are required to follow a specified required to follow a specified code of conduct. The same code of conduct. The same was the case for the members was the case for the members of the Panth.of the Panth.

In 1699, Guru Gobind In 1699, Guru Gobind Singh founded a new Singh founded a new order called the Khalsa order called the Khalsa Panth, which came to Panth, which came to be known as the Sikh be known as the Sikh Panth or more often, Panth or more often, simply the Sikhs (with simply the Sikhs (with capital ‘S’).capital ‘S’).

Not all Not all sikhs, sikhs, believers believers in the in the gurmat gurmat philosophy, became philosophy, became Sikhs, members of the Sikhs, members of the Panth.Panth.

According to the According to the intelligence reporter of intelligence reporter of the Mughal court who the Mughal court who was deputed to cover was deputed to cover the 1699 the 1699 Vaisakhi Vaisakhi function, about 20,000 function, about 20,000 sikhs sikhs (the numbers (the numbers differ with different differ with different historians) joined the historians) joined the Khalsa Panth and Khalsa Panth and became Sikhs, the became Sikhs, the members of the new members of the new community.community.

1699 1699 Vaisakhi Vaisakhi function, about function, about 20,000 20,000 sikhssikhs joined joined the Khalsa Panth and the Khalsa Panth and became Sikhs, the became Sikhs, the members of the new members of the new community.community.

Thus, there were three Thus, there were three distinct communities, distinct communities, the Hindus, the the Hindus, the Muslims, and the Sikhs. Muslims, and the Sikhs.

The first five The first five amritdhari amritdhari Sikhs were known as Sikhs were known as the the Panj PyarasPanj Pyaras, and the , and the GurushipGuruship was passed on was passed on to them. They were to to them. They were to be guided by the be guided by the eternal Guru, Guru eternal Guru, Guru Granth Sahib.Granth Sahib.

The first five The first five amritdhari amritdhari Sikhs were known as the Sikhs were known as the Panj PyarasPanj Pyaras, and the , and the GurushipGuruship was passed on to was passed on to them.them.

shardhaloosshardhaloos

Deciding not to join the Khalsa Panth did not Deciding not to join the Khalsa Panth did not mean the mean the sikhs, sikhs, the disciples, were no longer the disciples, were no longer followers of the Sikh faith, an impression that followers of the Sikh faith, an impression that some Sikhs mistakenly express about them today. some Sikhs mistakenly express about them today.

They were welcome to take further time before They were welcome to take further time before formally joining the Panth. formally joining the Panth.

They were mentioned as They were mentioned as sehajdharissehajdharis; now, they ; now, they are better known as are better known as shardhaloos, shardhaloos, believers of the believers of the Sikh faith.Sikh faith.

Being disciples of the Guru and followers of Being disciples of the Guru and followers of ggurmat, urmat, they were well-wishers and supporters of they were well-wishers and supporters of the Guru Khalsa Panth.the Guru Khalsa Panth.

They always sided with the Panth and suffered They always sided with the Panth and suffered with them. with them.

““Who is a Sikh?”Who is a Sikh?”

The above historical review gives us The above historical review gives us the answer to the question, “Who is the answer to the question, “Who is a Sikh?” a Sikh?”

A person who believes in A person who believes in gurmatgurmat,, takes takes amrit, amrit, wears the 5K uniform, wears the 5K uniform, and follows the and follows the Rahit, Rahit, becomes a becomes a Sikh.Sikh.

Otherwise, a believer in Otherwise, a believer in gurmat gurmat is a is a shardhalooshardhaloo, (but not a Sikh), a , (but not a Sikh), a person person on his wayon his way to taking to taking amritamrit, , for becoming a Sikh and thus being for becoming a Sikh and thus being a full and identifiable member of a full and identifiable member of the Sikh Panth. the Sikh Panth.

'Sehjdhari Sikh' is a 'Sehjdhari Sikh' is a contradiction in terms. contradiction in terms.

'Sehjdhari Sikh' is a contradiction in 'Sehjdhari Sikh' is a contradiction in terms. terms.

Having become Having become a a Sikh, one is no more Sikh, one is no more a a sehjdhari sehjdhari (slow adopting).(slow adopting).

In the other caseIn the other case, ‘sehjdhari, ‘sehjdhari sikh’ the sikh’ the word ‘sikh’ is redundant because word ‘sikh’ is redundant because sehjdhari means a ‘sikh’ moving on the sehjdhari means a ‘sikh’ moving on the path to be a Sikh (Singh)path to be a Sikh (Singh);;

there is no need for adding the word there is no need for adding the word Sikh because there is no Sikh because there is no sehjdhari sehjdhari Muslim or Muslim or sehjdhari sehjdhari Hindu.Hindu.

SehjdharisSehjdharis

SehjdharisSehjdharis are members, well-wishers and are members, well-wishers and supporters of the Sikh faith, and they supporters of the Sikh faith, and they have to be respected as such. have to be respected as such.

They deserve it, and it is obligatory for They deserve it, and it is obligatory for Sikhs to treat them as members of their Sikhs to treat them as members of their community. community.

Example.-During the British Raj, the Indian Example.-During the British Raj, the Indian Congress party, ordered its members to Congress party, ordered its members to wear wear khadi khadi (homespun cloth), and reject (homespun cloth), and reject the British manufactured cloth as part of the British manufactured cloth as part of their non-cooperation movement. their non-cooperation movement.

Almost all Indians supported the Congress, but Almost all Indians supported the Congress, but many of them did not want to express it publicly.many of them did not want to express it publicly.

However, they gave full moral, social, and economic However, they gave full moral, social, and economic support to the party and its goal.support to the party and its goal.

They were accepted as believers of the principles They were accepted as believers of the principles of the Congress philosophy.of the Congress philosophy.

Because these sympathizers were not visible Because these sympathizers were not visible members (did not wear members (did not wear khadi)khadi) and did not formally and did not formally join the Congress, they could not be given any join the Congress, they could not be given any office of the partyoffice of the party..

However, the Congress party listened to their However, the Congress party listened to their advice, and accepted and respected them as their advice, and accepted and respected them as their supporters.supporters.

status of the status of the sehjdharissehjdharis in the in the Panth. Panth.

Many people from all over the world have moved Many people from all over the world have moved into the USA and have become into the USA and have become residentresident--aliensaliens..

They are considered Americans for all purposes, They are considered Americans for all purposes, but they cannot vote because they haven’t but they cannot vote because they haven’t become citizens by taking the oath of loyalty to become citizens by taking the oath of loyalty to the nation. the nation.

As a resident-alien needs to take an oath to claim As a resident-alien needs to take an oath to claim membership of the nation, a membership of the nation, a sehjdharisehjdhari (a resident (a resident of the Sikh Panth) needs to take aof the Sikh Panth) needs to take amrit mrit (oath) to (oath) to be a member (citizen), of the Panth before he be a member (citizen), of the Panth before he can participate in the decision making process can participate in the decision making process (voting and becoming a member of the Sikh (voting and becoming a member of the Sikh institutions/gurdwaras). institutions/gurdwaras).

Faith and the practice of the Faith and the practice of the Rahit Rahit which make one a Sikh. which make one a Sikh.

That keeping long hair and wearing a turban That keeping long hair and wearing a turban alone does not make one a member of the alone does not make one a member of the Panth. Panth.

It is both the faith and the practice of the It is both the faith and the practice of the Rahit Rahit which make one a Sikh. which make one a Sikh.

Those who do not believe in Guru Gobind Those who do not believe in Guru Gobind Singh and the Singh and the amrit amrit ceremony founded by ceremony founded by him are not members of his Khalsa Panth. him are not members of his Khalsa Panth.

We all know that Radha Swamis, fake We all know that Radha Swamis, fake Nirankaris, communists, and others who do Nirankaris, communists, and others who do not believe in not believe in amrit, amrit, even if they keep uncut even if they keep uncut hair and wear turbans, are not Sikhs. hair and wear turbans, are not Sikhs.

Radha Swamis, fake Nirankaris, Radha Swamis, fake Nirankaris, communistscommunists

They are not even They are not even sehjdharissehjdharis because they do not believe in because they do not believe in gurmat gurmat preached by Guru Nanak. preached by Guru Nanak.

They believe in another faith and They believe in another faith and they practice what the Guru rejected. they practice what the Guru rejected.

One cannot be a member of two One cannot be a member of two faiths at the same time, for example, faiths at the same time, for example, a Hindu and a Muslim, a Sikh and a a Hindu and a Muslim, a Sikh and a Hindu, or a Sikh and a Radha Swami. Hindu, or a Sikh and a Radha Swami.

Another aspectAnother aspect

Another aspect of the gAnother aspect of the gurmaturmat needs to be stated needs to be stated before completing this discussion.before completing this discussion.

According to the Sikh faith, as already stated, it According to the Sikh faith, as already stated, it does not matter in the court of the Lord whether does not matter in the court of the Lord whether one is a Sikh, a one is a Sikh, a sehjdharisehjdhari, a Muslim, a Hindu, or , a Muslim, a Hindu, or someone else.someone else.

People are judged only by the deeds they do.People are judged only by the deeds they do. Being an Being an amritdhari amritdhari is the honor of being a is the honor of being a

member of the Panth, but it is not a passport to member of the Panth, but it is not a passport to Heaven (anyway, Sikhs do not believe in places Heaven (anyway, Sikhs do not believe in places like Heaven or Hell).like Heaven or Hell).

Being a Being a sehjdharisehjdhari or being born in any other faith or being born in any other faith is not a disqualification for realizing Truth. is not a disqualification for realizing Truth.

Baba Farid, Bhagat Nam Dev, and many other Baba Farid, Bhagat Nam Dev, and many other holy devotees whose hymns are included in the holy devotees whose hymns are included in the Guru Granth Sahib, are examples before us. Guru Granth Sahib, are examples before us.

Another questionAnother question

At the close of the discussion, a new question At the close of the discussion, a new question cropped up. Were the cropped up. Were the BhagatsBhagats, whose hymns are , whose hymns are included in the Guru Granth Sahib, Sikhs or not? included in the Guru Granth Sahib, Sikhs or not? They did not take They did not take amritamrit,, a requirement for the a requirement for the Sikhs.Sikhs.

To find the answer, one must understand, as To find the answer, one must understand, as mentioned in the beginning, that the words ‘guru’ mentioned in the beginning, that the words ‘guru’ and ‘sikh’ were in use much earlier than the time and ‘sikh’ were in use much earlier than the time of Guru Nanak Dev. of Guru Nanak Dev.

They meant a teacher (guide) and a disciple, They meant a teacher (guide) and a disciple, respectively. The famous scholar, Bhai Gurdas, respectively. The famous scholar, Bhai Gurdas, mentions Kabir and Sen as sikhs. (Var 10 -16.)mentions Kabir and Sen as sikhs. (Var 10 -16.)

Motivated by the honorable status obtained by Motivated by the honorable status obtained by Kabir, another person, Sen, a barber, also became Kabir, another person, Sen, a barber, also became his ‘sikh’, a disciplehis ‘sikh’, a disciple

Guru and Sikh have a specific Guru and Sikh have a specific meaning in the Sikh faithmeaning in the Sikh faith

Kabir was the first disciple, a 'sikh' of 'guru' Rama Kabir was the first disciple, a 'sikh' of 'guru' Rama Nand (note that Rama Nand was a ‘guru’, not Nand (note that Rama Nand was a ‘guru’, not Guru). Guru).

There were (and are today) many ‘gurus’ and There were (and are today) many ‘gurus’ and innumerable ‘sikhs’, disciples of their respective innumerable ‘sikhs’, disciples of their respective 'gurus'.'gurus'.

However, the word Guru and Sikh have a specific However, the word Guru and Sikh have a specific meaning in the Sikh faith. ‘Guru’ means one of the meaning in the Sikh faith. ‘Guru’ means one of the ten Gurus, besides Guru Granth Sahib and Guru ten Gurus, besides Guru Granth Sahib and Guru Khalsa Panth;Khalsa Panth;

‘ ‘Sikh’ means a member of the Sikh Panth, not just Sikh’ means a member of the Sikh Panth, not just any disciple. Kabir, Nam Dev, Sen, and others any disciple. Kabir, Nam Dev, Sen, and others were not Sikhs, members of the Khalsa Panth, were not Sikhs, members of the Khalsa Panth, which was founded by Guru Gobind Singh much which was founded by Guru Gobind Singh much later in 1699. later in 1699.

position of the position of the sehjdharissehjdharis (without turban) regarding (without turban) regarding

gurdwara managementgurdwara management.. : As only a citizen (not a resident-alien of a : As only a citizen (not a resident-alien of a

country can vote, and as only a person who has country can vote, and as only a person who has joined the party can be its office bearer, so only joined the party can be its office bearer, so only a Sikh (a citizen of the Sikh faith), not a a Sikh (a citizen of the Sikh faith), not a sehjdharisehjdhari (a resident of the Sikh faith) is entitled (a resident of the Sikh faith) is entitled to be an office bearer of the Sikh institutions and to be an office bearer of the Sikh institutions and gurdwaras. gurdwaras.

SehjdharisSehjdharis, of course, should be consulted, their , of course, should be consulted, their views duly respected, and they should be views duly respected, and they should be associated in the management of the Sikh associated in the management of the Sikh institutions. institutions.

They should not be considered as foreigners, but They should not be considered as foreigners, but members members of the Sikh community as explained of the Sikh community as explained earlier. earlier.

Sikh Sikh Rahit Maryada Rahit Maryada requires every devotee to requires every devotee to be a practising Sikh to perform as a be a practising Sikh to perform as a granthi, granthi, ragi, ragi, or or parcharak parcharak of the Sikh faith.of the Sikh faith.

Every Every sehjdharisehjdhari should be welcome to should be welcome to become an office bearer but only after become an office bearer but only after joining the Sikh Panth by taking joining the Sikh Panth by taking amrit. amrit.

. . Further, when Sikhs hear in the prayer Further, when Sikhs hear in the prayer Those who sacrificed their heads, got Those who sacrificed their heads, got themselves cut joint by joint ...themselves cut joint by joint ...but lived their but lived their faith along with their uncut hairfaith along with their uncut hair,” they would ,” they would wonder, why did the Sikhs suffer so much wonder, why did the Sikhs suffer so much and sacrifice their lives for living with uncut and sacrifice their lives for living with uncut hair? hair?

cutting one’s hair means giving cutting one’s hair means giving up the membership of the up the membership of the

PanthPanth . .

The answer, which nobody can change, is that letting The answer, which nobody can change, is that letting someone cut one’s hair means giving up the someone cut one’s hair means giving up the membership of the Panth (even if he continues to membership of the Panth (even if he continues to read read gurbanigurbani and support the Panth as a and support the Panth as a shardhalooshardhaloo). ).

Therefore, he loses his privileges of being an office Therefore, he loses his privileges of being an office bearer of a gurdwara management or any Sikh bearer of a gurdwara management or any Sikh institution. institution.

We should not ignore the fact that this has been We should not ignore the fact that this has been practised (keeping uncut hair, symbolic of their belief practised (keeping uncut hair, symbolic of their belief in Sikh faith) even during very harsh days for the in Sikh faith) even during very harsh days for the Sikh Panth when it meant an invitation to death. Sikh Panth when it meant an invitation to death.

Why should it be disregarded now?Why should it be disregarded now?