NAME : HARSHDEEP SINGH

GURU NANAK : RELEVANCE OF HIS TEACHINGS IN PRESENT

TIMES

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 GURU NANAK : RELEVANCE OF HIS TEACHINGS
IN PRESENT TIMES

Harshdeep Singh

Student

Abstract: The 21st century is an age of Globalisation. The whole world has
become a global village. The world is advancing in every aspect at a very fast rate
but the thing that is taken into consideration is that many of us are living with
insecurities. There are challenges like terrorism, environmental pollution,
communal strife, human rights violation etc. We are somewhat discarding and
forgetting what we inheriting from our past and our ancestors. This paper
attempts to present the relevance of teachings of Guru Nanak in the age when we
have entangled ourselves with hatred , jealousy and suspicion. Guru Nanak's
teachings of "share with needy" (wandd chhakna) are the need of the hour.

Keywords: 21st century, challenges, past, teachings, rights.

I. INTRODUCTION
"With the emergence of the true Guru Nanak , the mist cleared and the light
scattered all around.

As if, at the Sun rise, the stars disappeared and the darkness dispelled."

This phrase by Bhai Gurdas, writer of Adi Granth, tell us that Guru Nanak is like a
Sun with whose appearance darkness of the world dispelled. He further says that
Guru Nanak is like a lion with whose roar the flock of sheep ran away. It is more
like when a bigger thought comes to the mind, the smaller thoughts go away.
Guru Nanak upheld the idea of equality and advocated a casteless society. He was
apostle of Universal brotherhood and he condemned caste and class. A notable

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aspect of the social improvement effected by him was the emancipation of
women. For him men and women are equal not only before God but also before
one another. He also spoke highly against the religious bigotry of the time.

II. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The findings of this study will redound to the benefit of society considering that
rights of a person should not be suppressed. The purpose of the study is to
provide a clear and concise understanding of the issues faced by the people
globally and it will provide a way to eradicate the social evils in the society.
Problems to be discussed in the paper are as under:

a). Gender equality

b). Casteism and Untouchability

c). Peace and brotherhood

d). Environment

e) Religious bigotry

III. LITERATURE REVIEW

Concept of human rights in Guru Nanak bani, Nirmaljit Kaur, pub;2010: This
research work attempts to bring before the world Guru Nanak's contribution in
securing the basic human rights of the people. It gives a good understanding of
what human rights are and how to connect them with Guru Nanak's teachings.

Guru Nanak in History, J S Grewal, reprint 1998: This work gives a detailed
account of socio-political conditions of the time and the methods adopted by
Guru Nanak to challenge the evils of the time.

IV. OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

1. To study the importance of teachings of Guru Nanak

2. To focus on the social evils present in modern times

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3. To review the challenges faced by Guru Nanak in eradicating these evils

V. RESEARCH METHOLOGY

 The data is collected from both primary and secondary sources. Although
the main focus is on primary sources.
 A critical and analytical approach is applied while doing research

VI. TEACHINGS
GENDER EQUALITY: It is said that Guru Nanak was the greatest emancipator of
women in this country. The notion of equality in Guru Nanak's teachings comes
from the very thing that combines all of us i.e God (or whatever you call
it),which is gender neutral.

Five hundred years ago, when women were considered inferior to men, Guru
Nanak spoke of women's rights. When birth of a girl child was not welcomed,
Guru Nanak raised his voice and said,

"From woman, man is born; within woman a man is conceived; to woman

man is engaged and married.

Woman becomes his friend; through woman, the future generations come

When his woman dies, he seeks another woman; to woman he is bound.

So why call her bad? From her, kings are born.

From woman, woman is born; without woman, there would be no one at all.

O Nanak, only true Lord is without a woman........................"

Female infanticide was also prohibited by Guru and Sikhs were told to socially
boycott those who would kill their daughter.

The practice of Dowry, which was the main reason for female infanticide, was
also condemned by Guru Nanak. Third Nanak, Amardas took several measures to
uproot the evil practice of Sati.

The final point which is still being discussed in many societies is Female
Menstruation cycle. Guru Nanak said that female menstruation cycle is not
filthy, it is not dirty. He says,

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 "As the woman has her periods months after months, so does the
falsehood dwells in the mouth of the false"

Guru Nanak says that if you think that woman is dirty because she her periods
every month, how often is that filthy thoughts that are coming your minds
recurrently. That is the thing we need to talk about. How often ego, falsehood,
corruption, lies come to our mind that we keep on repeating. He says,

"They are not called pure, who merely wash their bodies.

Only those are pure, O Nanak, who have divine essence in their mind."

Guru Nanak said these things more than more than 500 years ago. Today, in
2019, we are afraid to even discuss these issues. In India, this issue was firstly
tackled in a Bollywood movie 'Padman' in 2018. In India, was tolerated but in
Pakistan, this movie was banned which discussed the natural cycle of women's
body.

This shows that where we are on Global level.

CASTEISM AND UNTOUCHABILITY: Another issue which was tackled by Guru

Nanak was casteism and untouchability. He preached to recognise the Lord's
light in all, and do not consider social class or status as there are no classes or
castes in the afterworld. Pride in social status is empty and pride in personal
glory is useless. Guru Nanak preferred to visit the hut of an honest carpenter,
Lalo, rather than visiting the house of a corrupt government official, malik
bhago. He says

"What good is social class and status?

Truthfulness is measured within"

Guru Nanak also condemned untouchability. one of the reason for starting
langar pratha was to remove distinctions between people. During Langar
everyone would sit down side by side irrespective of the caste or class to which
they belong. This pangat was also shared by MUGHAL EMPEROR Akbar.

Guru Nanak says that he prefers to stay in company of the low class because
that's where the blessings of God's glance of grace rain down.

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PEACE AND BROTHERHOOD: Guru Nanak was the advocate of the peace and
brotherhood in the world. Bhai Gurdas writes that when Guru Nanak went to
Mecca, some religious persons asked him which that religion is better, Hinduism
or Islam, Guru Nanak replied that without good deeds both will have to weep
and wail. According to Guru Nanak, speaking insipid words, the body and mind
become insipid.

ENVIRONMENT: Today we facing a great challenge of climate change that has

the potential of leading mankind towards the brink of extinction. Here we can
find a solution to this Global challenge in the writings of Guru Nanak. He says

" Air is the Guru, Water is the Father, and the Earth is the great mother of
all........."

Guru Nanak describes in his writings the greatness of the Creator and his
Creation that Creator and Creation are One. So, by destroying creation we are
hurting Creator.

RELIGIOUS BIGOTRY: Guru Nanak condemned every religious bigot belonged to

either sect. He was never in favour rituals and hypocrisies which are seen, are
plundered by the Messenger of, the ultimate tax collector. He preached to sing
the Kirtan of the Creator's Praises, contemplating Him in meditation, in the state
of NIrvaana.

VI. CONCLUSION

Guru Nanak always spoke against the injustice whether it was done to a gender,
class or caste. He even raised his voice against the atrocities committed by the
rulers of the time. His approach and methods of seeing and tackling an issue are
still lesson for us. By following his teachings we can surely tackle the global
problems which we are facing today. The importance and relevance of Guru
Nanak's teachings can be found from last lines of Allama Iqbal's poem NANAK
(BAANG E DARA).

FER UTHI AKHIR SADAA TOUHEED KI PUNJAB SE,

HIND KO EK MARD E KAMIL NE JAGAYA KHWAAB SE.

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REFERENCES

1. Concept of human rights in Guru Nanak bani, Nirmaljit Kaur, pub;2010

2. Guru Nanak in History, J S Grewal, first pub,1969, reprint 1998:

3. Guru Granth Sahib

4. Writings of Bhai Gurdas

5. Nanak, Baang e Dara, Iqbal