Bandi Chor Divas Mabarak
Happy Divali
An investigation:
Several years ago this event was very confusing to me.
1.) A Hindu festival and an event in Sikh history seemed to coincide exactly which was a bit baffling to me for it to be just a coincidence.
2.) Both of these things are different. Divali predates Bandi Chor by a lot (thousands of years according to some).
3.) The event in Sikh history is that the 6th Emperor Teacher (Guru) of the Sikh people was about to leave prison but he would only go on the condition of 40 or more other powerful political prisoners of the Indian State (Mughal Government) also being released. They were held at Gwalior Fort which is located in Northern Madhya Pradesh, a centrally located state in the Indian Union. The Guru through his negotiating genius got himself and the political prisoners released. Bandi Chor literally means release from shackles.
4.) For Hindus Divali can mean so many different things depending on what kind of Hindu you are and where you are located...I will not get into all the nuances of it but generally to the common folk, overtime, it has become a celebration of some sort of a good thing beating a bad thing. Some Hindus even refuse to celebrate this festival (some folks from Tamil Nadu & Sri Lanka) due to the “bad thing” is actually the “good thing” to them and to the other folks its vice versa.
5.) Dates, Dates, Dates. There’s a million perspectives on true calendars and exact dates for these events but general consensus is its early autumn for both Bandi Chor and Divali but some argue otherwise...
6.) For Sikhs specifically why was this particular event celebrated with such disproportionate fervor? Guru Hargobind Sahib was not the only Guru arrested by the State and then got out. Guru Nanak Sahib was also arrested by the State and was put to hard labor for condemning the atrocities of Emperor Babar and then later got out. Also the anointment of Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh scripture), and Guru Harkrishan Sahib as Emperor Master is nearby...on top of all that Guru Gobind Singh Jis end of human life day (Joti Jot) is also nearby. In addition actually Bhai Mani Singh was also martyred in this time period.
7.) Maybe this was celebrated hardcore:
a. Because of the stance Guru Hargobind Sahib took on political prisoners (i.e. they should all be released)? This stance is a bit different compared to condemnation of atrocities which has far more examples of being done in Sikh history, but fact is the leader of the Sikhs was in jail in both circumstances so why one over the other?
b. Because Sikhs today ignore Guru Nanaks rebellious attitude toward the government and run ins with the law because they like the fantasy of him being a passive do gooder who played by the rules of those in power?
c. Because so many Hindu political prisoners were released by Guru Hargobind Sahib and it was seen as a triumph of a “good thing” over a “bad thing” which to some Hindus was the essence of Divali and this triumph happened close to Divali so it was seen as a “Divali Miracle” much like a “Christmas Miracle” in the west as such this release was heavily propagated by Hindus?
d. Or because we just becoming more and more assimilated by Hindus and their traditions under the guise of secularism? Perhaps history shows Kahan Singh Nabha was right in his fears when he wrote “Hum Hindu Nahi” (we are not Hindus) and when the entire Panth agreed to agitate for Anandpur Sahib Resolution which included the sentence “Whereas, the brute majority in India, in 1950, imposed a constitutional arrangement in India which denied the Sikhs of their political identity and cultural popularity, thus liquidating the Sikhs politically and exposing them to spiritual death and cultural decay leading inevitable to their submergence and dissolution into the saltish sea waters of incoherent Hinduism”
8.) BUT WAIT here is the real wrench in the entire mix....Sikhs were known to congregate on Divali since the times of Guru Ram Das Sahib several years before Guru Hargobind Sahib was even born let alone arrested and jailed!
a. They were known to congregate not celebrate Divali specifically though, as such an event (celebration of “good thing” beating a “bad thing”) makes no sense in accordance with Sikh Scripture because through the Guru’s lens there is no “bad thing” vs a “good thing” but rather a Sikhs entire life is supposed to be an internal and external wrestling match to control the 5 thieves (Sri Raag Guru Arjan Sahib Ji Ang 73-74 Guru Granth Sahib) not completely defeat them [Kaam (lust), krodh (anger), lobh (greed), moh (emotional attachment), ahankaur (pride)] with the weapons of virtue vested in Mool Mantar: Ek Onkar (universal oneness), Sat Naam (truth), Karta Purakh (Creativity), Nirbhao (fearlessness), Nirvair (hatelessness), Akal Moorat (Immortal Presense), Ajuni (beyond repetitive cycles), Saibhan (Autonomy/Sovereignty), & Gur Parsad (Teachers Grace). Our DAILY routines revolve around this.
9.) So what were Sikhs congregating for in the time of Divali? Well specifically in Panjab Divali and Vaisakhi were vacation times. Vacations in Panjab were dictated by the harvest as Panjab was and still somewhat is an agricultural community. Divali is the time of sugar cane harvest (traditionally) so everyone is bringing in a ton of cash and celebrating and taking a little vacation. Guru Ram Das Ji declared that Sikhs are to meet during these vacation times for giant all Sikh meetings. During these meetings projects to be worked on for the next 6 months and progress on the projects from the last 6 months would be evaluated and new decisions would be made by Sikhs as a whole as the Sangat was declared supreme. This was a functioning powerful governance structure for the Sikhs. This meeting twice year overtime became the time for Sarbat Khalsa (basically all Khalsa meeting post 10 Guru Period) to decide projects and take actions etc. Hindus would celebrate their good vs evil stuff while Khalsa and Gurus were doing projects, building, and remembering several historical events that took place in this time period. Overtime Sikhs have forgotten Sarbat Khalsa fervor because it was banned and destroyed by foreign governments who saw it as too powerful and now Sikhs have redirected all fervor solely toward Bandi Chor Divas (allowing it to get muddled with Divali festivities) while even ignoring the freedom of political prisoner’s part lesson from Bandi Chor. From my research this is the odd reason why this event is disproportionately celebrated. Ironically not having Sarbat Khalsa regularly is the root of all issues Sikhs have today. Somewhat of a somber time for me personally, not really a celebration.
It is my proposal to the Khalsa Panth and Sikhs as a whole to support projects and research devoted to bringing Sarbat Khalsa to the 21st century and push for the end of mass incarceration and push for the freedom of political prisoner’s worldwide.
Bhul Chuk Maaf Kardiyo (Please forgive my mistakes)