Manvir Singh Leamington

Manvir Singh Leamington Shares the Importance of this special year for Sikhs

This year a special year for Sikhs as it marks the 550th birth anniversary of the founder of the Sikh faith, Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Manvir Singh Leamington told us that local Sikh communities in Banbury and nearby Leamington-Spa will be celebrating the ‘Gurpurb’ or ‘day of the Guru’ in mid-November and celebrations will continue into the New Year. 

Leamington & Warwick Gurdwara Sahib

Leamington-Spa has a large Sikh population, whereas Banbury has a smaller Sikh population. However, both towns and nearby localities have always supported one another in celebrations. Leamington-Spa has a purpose built Gurdwara which was built in 2009 and caters for the communities needs of marriages, funerals, celebrations, festivities, religious education and communal worship. Most of the Sikh community of Banbury use Leamington-Spa Gurdwara for larger family events due to the constraints of the physical space of the locality that has been converted into a small Gurdwara.

Manvir Singh Leamington a Sikh Educationalist from Banbury told us that “this year there will be special event organised by the Sikh community at Leamington Spa on 16th November which will be aimed at bringing greater understanding and awareness of the life, history and teachings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji with the wider public.”

Manvir Singh Leamington added, “This year is a historic year as it is the 550 years. The message, teachings and love of Guru Nanak Dev Ji is not just for Sikhs but for all of humanity. Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s teachings and message is truly universal and much needed in today’s world which is being destroyed by greed, anger, intolerance, inequalities, selfishness and cruelty. These were causes of misery, hostility and inner-turmoil 550 years ago, and still today. The remedy for these problems has been given by Guru Nanak Dev Ji in Sikh scripture which is timeless and available for all to benefit from.”

Here are five facts about the teaching of Guru Nanak Dev Ji:

 

 1)  He promoted the Oneness of Humanity

 
Born in 1469, Guru Nanak Dev Ji lived in a time of huge inequality in 15th century Indian subcontinent. Religious segregation, slavery and caste and gender discrimination were rife. Guru Nanak Dev Ji openly talked and acted against this, humbling royalty and nobleman, whilst elevating the poor.

‘‘Recognise the Lord’s light within all, and do not consider social class or status; there are no classes or castes in the world hereafter”
– Guru Granth Sahib Ji (Ang 349)

2) He is one of the most traveled people in history

 
Guru Nanak Dev Ji traveled tens of thousands of miles to spread the message of the One Formless God. From His birthplace of Panjab, Guru Nanak travelled on foot and ship as far as the middle-east, Africa, Europe and East Asia. Only accompanied by His faithful follower, Bhai Mardana Ji, Guru Nanak Dev Ji is recorded as having visited the likes of the Vatican in Rome 1520, Mecca, Turkey, and Tibet. Millions of people across the globe become his followers, however, over time intolerant rulers destroyed memorials of Guru Nanak Dev Ji and killed his followers, particularly in the Middle East.

3) Championing Gender Equality

In the Indian subcontinent at the time Guru Nanak Dev Ji was around, women had very few rights and considered inferior to men. Widows were often burnt alive as their husbands were cremated and women in general were not allowed to remarry. Guru Nanak preached against this discrimination and sought to improve the respect of women:

‘‘From a woman, man is born; within a woman, man is conceived; to a woman he is engaged and married. A woman becomes his friend; through woman, the future generations come. When his woman dies, he seeks another woman; to a woman man is bound. So why call her women bad? From her, kings are born. From a woman, a woman is born; without a woman, there would be no one at all.”
– Guru Granth Sahib Ji (Ang 473)

4) He has different names in different cultures

Guru Nanak is revered in many different cultures and as such has been given various names. In Afghanistan He is commonly called Nanak Peer. He is also known as Nanak Rishi in Nepal, Baba Nanak in Iraq, Nanaka-Chraya in Sri Lanka and Nanak Lama in Tibet. These are just a few examples.


Sikh shrine where Guru Nanak visited in Baghdad, Iraq.

5) He invented Langar

 
Guru Nanak Dev Ji started the Sikh concept of “Langar” over 500 years ago as a child. Langar is the Sikh concept of volunteers selflessly providing free food to anyone, regardless of faith or background. This is essentially a free vegetarian meal served all day, every day, in every Sikh Gurdwara (communal place of worship). In recent years, to ensure this service gets to those who really need it, many volunteers take their work onto the streets to the homeless and hungry.

   “One who works hard for what they eat, and from that shares with others- O Nanak! They know recognize the true way of living.”
– Guru Granth Sahib Ji (Ang 1243).

 Langar being served

Manvir Singh told us, “Guru Nanak Dev Ji challenged the minds of those who had divorced themselves from society and public life and lived the lives of recluses. Guru Nanak Dev Ji asked spiritual people and people who had attained inner peace to share their goodness with the world and be of public service to beautify society, rather than escape it.”

Inder M Singh, Chairman of Chardi Kalaa Foundation writes, “Guru Nanak’s vision is a World Society comprising God-conscious human beings. To these spiritual beings the earth and the universe are sacred; all life is part of a Universal Unity.  We are all connected. According to Guru Nanak the reality humans create around themselves is a reflection of their inner state. The current instability of the natural system of the earth – the external environment of human beings – is only a reflection of the instability and pain within humans. The increasing barrenness of the earth’s terrain is a reflection of the emptiness within humans…”

He adds, “Guru Nanak advocated a highly disciplined life with a focus on spiritual progress, while remaining engaged fully in the world around one and upholding one’s responsibilities.”