There is a word used in Sikhism - Sanatani Sikhism - those who practice a syncretism of Hinduism and Sikhism. But, there is another word used for them - conservative. If those practicing syncretism are traditionalist Sikhs, who are the new crop of Sikhs who declared they are not Hindu?
Further elaborating on the previous article, a closer look at the churning happening inside the Sikh religion may be need some special attention.
Singh Sabha was founded by Khem Singh Bedi, a direct descendant of Guru Nanak and a landlord of note whose standing increased after he led British and Sikh troops in the 1857 Rebellion. This is a common theme you would see – leaders of Khalsa Raj or their descendants leading British Armies in 1857 so that they will be able to keep their estates. Many prominent Khalsa Raj commanders like Jawahar Singh Nalwa did the same thing.
In 1873, he founded the Singh Sabha, coincinding with the British anger against Sikhs because of Kuka Rebellion. He is a Sanatani Sikh or a Traditional Sikh who followed the Hindu-Sikh Syncretism unlike the 19th Century Tat Khalsa creed which rejected every Hindu influence – including Guru Gobind Singh’s Dasam Granth. Bedi was one of the last powerful backers of the traditional Sikh System and his death in 1905 gave a massive impetus to the opposing faction. In fact, there was opposition even to him by the Tat Khalsa upholders. For instance, when he wanted to rename Singh Sabha as Sikh Sabha in 1883 to include Sahajdharis as well, there was a massive resistance and he wasn’t able to convince the Amritsar Khalsa Diwan. But, Rawalpindin Khalsa Diwan accepted the proposal. Things came to a breaking point and Gurmukh Singh, the Chief Secretary of Amritsar Khalsa Diwan set up his own Khalsa Diwan at Lahore in 1886. Avtar Singh Vahiria is one of his main proteges of Bedi and a prominent figure in Rawalpindi Khalsa was invited to Amritsar to draft the Constitution. The traditionalist he is, his views over syncretism were troublesome to the Khalsa Diwan which was trying to maintain a position not as extreme as the Tat Khalsa. He too spliced off to form Anin Sikhi di Sangat Bhaichara and brought out a code of conduct, Khalsa Dharam Sastra. This was later expanded it became the first standardized code of conduct for Sikhism. But, the rift was only growing. In 1898, Avtar Singh formed Chadra Vahir, a moving band of preachers which visited villages to exhort Sikhs not to fall for the new ideas of Singh Sabha and asked them to follow their traditional customs, Being head of the Vahir, he came to be known as Vahiria. But, the death of Bedi in 1905 crashed his efforts. It’s a matter of time the Singh Sabha’s new Sikhism will become the only mainstream version. One can notice this from the fact that Keshdhari Sikhs who formed around 40% of Sikh population became 97% by 1931 clearly indicating the coercive marginalization of Sahajdhari Sikhs.
Though Avtar Singh is criticized in the modern Sikh narrative, the words used for him are “Sanatani”(traditional) and conservative. If he is a conservative Sikh, what does this Tat Khalsa represent? On the other hand, if Gurudwaras are run in the Sanatani way, what does Gurudwara Reform Movement represent?
A brief look at what Avtar Singh wrote in Khalsa Dharam Shastar clearly tells what “conservative” Sikhism means and what “Khalsa” Sikhism means.
In fact, the Udasis were also Sanatani Sikhs and the violent takeover of Gurudwaras by Singh Sabha should come as no surprise looking at how different the traditionalist Sikhs were, from the Tat Khalsa.
The anger of the Udasis over their dethronement is noticed even into 2000s and it’s not surprising.
Maharaj [Baba Sri Chand] preaching of Guru Granth that the Udasis have done in India all over. In all places, history shows, using Gutkas [small Sikh prayer books] we spread. We taught all to read Sikh scriptures. This is the gift of the holy men, the Udhasis. They [S.G.P.C. Akalis] cannot even in seven lifetimes preach as much as the Udhasis and Nirmalas have done and are still doing now. Even now, whenever we preach [to Hindus] we always without exception include teachings from [Adi] Guru Granth Sahib. We give examples [from Sikh history] of how you should follow the footsteps of the Gurus. Then your suffering shall be removed. Only then can your thinking and mind can come pure. That is if you desire Oh Brother, otherwise, it is up to you. – Baba Gobind Das, transcript of a recording, 16-02-2001
William McLeod puts it aptly –
The Sikhism preached by the people such as Khem Singh Bedi and Avatar Singh Vahiria is difficult to envisage today, so comprehensive has been their defeat by the Tat Khalsa. For them Sikhism tolerated variety and upheld the right of Sikhs to participate in folk religion. Caste was maintained and idol worship was tolerated. There were different forms of marriage for different castes and, different rituals could be practised by various members of the Panth. All manners of customs, such as those involving astrology, horoscopes and incantation, were acceptable. Visits to the sacred shrines of Hindus and Muslim as well as those of the Guru’s were entirely approved. Sanatan leaders might not follow these customs themselves, but certainly they were prepared to tolerate them in others. They were part of the immense variety which characterised the world they had known and the world they hoped would continue. All this was anathema to the Tat Khalsa
The ultimate question then would be, who did more for Sikhism – the Sanatani Sikhs or the Tat Khalsa and if it is Sanatani Sikhs, what can be done to wean the Sikhs away from the Tat Khalsa ideology. And more importantly, who are the true Sikhs – Modern Akalis of the Tat Khalsa mould or the Sanatani Sikhss.
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