Photo by Soubhagya Maharana: https://www.pexels.com/photo/the-golden-temple-at-sunset-in-amritsar-india-18563707/
In recent weeks, conversations within Sikh communities around the world have raised difficult but necessary questions about identity, practice, and purpose, particularly in the context of public expressions of faith in multicultural societies. At the heart of these reflections lies a deeper concern: are we, as a community, remaining true to the philosophical core of Sikhism as articulated by Sri Guru Nanak?
A thoughtful message shared by Colonel Iqbal Singh offers an opportunity to pause and reflect not to provoke, but to contemplate the direction in which the Sikh community is moving.
Sikhism as a Universal Philosophy
Sri Guru Nanak’s teachings emerged in a time of religious division, yet his message sought to transcend boundaries rather than harden them. Rejecting rigid ritualism and exclusivity, he emphasized compassion, humility, equality, and the oneness of humanity. His journeys across South Asia, the Middle East, and beyond reflected a worldview rooted in dialogue rather than dominance, and inclusion rather than separation.
Many followers across faiths were drawn to this philosophy not because it demanded identity markers, but because it spoke to universal human values.
Identity, the Khalsa, and Continuity
The formation of the Khalsa under Sri Guru Gobind Singh is often misunderstood when viewed in isolation. Historically, it emerged as a response to persecution and existential threat as a disciplined framework to protect the faith and its adherents. Yet it was never intended to replace or negate Guru Nanak’s foundational philosophy.
Sri Guru Gobind Singh’s final declaration, Guru Maneo Granth, reaffirmed continuity rather than rupture placing spiritual authority in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib and underscoring that Sikhism’s essence lies in ethical living, not exclusion.
A Growing Tension Within the Community
Today, a visible tension exists between Sikhism’s universal roots and an increasingly narrow understanding of identity. In practice, this has sometimes resulted in the marginalization of followers who identify with Sri Guru Nanak’s teachings but do not conform to specific external markers or codes.
Such exclusion has real consequences. Communities fracture. Younger generations feel alienated. Some drift away from Sikhism altogether, while others seek belonging elsewhere. When places of worship become sites of restriction rather than welcome, the spirit of the faith is at risk.
Faith in a Global Context
Living as a minority in many parts of the world presents its own challenges. Public expressions of faith especially in pluralistic societies require sensitivity, self-awareness, and respect for local contexts. When cultural or religious practices are perceived as intrusive rather than invitational, they can inadvertently generate resistance rather than understanding.
History offers many examples of spiritual traditions that spread globally not through assertion, but through example by embodying values that resonate universally.
The Call for Introspection
The reflections shared by Colonel Iqbal Singh do not offer easy answers, nor do they claim final authority. Instead, they pose a question worth holding: have we allowed identity to overshadow ideology?
Returning to Guru Nanak does not mean abandoning tradition. It means re-centering compassion over conformity, ethics over exhibition, and humility over assertion. It means asking how Sikh values are lived, not just displayed.
Looking Ahead
Sikhism has endured for over five centuries because it speaks to enduring human truths. Its future, however, depends on the community’s willingness to engage in honest introspection and thoughtful dialogue.
In revisiting Guru Nanak’s philosophy with openness and humility, there is an opportunity not for decline, but for renewal.