300+ years ago
From the time of Guru Hargobind Ji, who fought 4 wars against
the mughals and won all 4. Logic suggests that there must have been great weapon
makers who helped make those wins possible.
Having been in close contact with the Guru, they also must
have been very passionate Sikhs!
Later records (sakhi) tell us about Makhan Shah, a trader, whose
ship was going to sink and he prayed to Guru Sahib and then about the sakhi of Guru
Ladho Ray, Guru Ladho Ray. He was a Vanjara - Trader – A very Rich one
! In his wisdom he promised a donation of 500 Gold coins to the True Guru Sahib
(many of us have not
even seen a single Gold coin, forget gifting 500 away!)
Later it seems, Guru Gobind Singh ji had these Sikligar Sikhs
specially summoned towards Deccan, thus we find them spread all over India..
The contribution to the Sikh Panth
Once upon a time - Lakhi Sah Vanjara - was rich enough to own a
bungalow. After Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, sahidi, this courageous Guru Ka
Sikh, took away Guru Sahibs tonsured body to his house and to cremate he set
his entire house ablaze. Where that bungalow was, today is Gurdwara Rakab Ganj
Sahib.
Another Vanjara, took away remains of Guru Sahebs head and
earned the name, Rangreta, Guru Ka Beta.
Today
Because of Nomadic existence, there is no real count. It varies
from 2 crores to 5 crores. Those working on the ground tell us Sikligars are at
least 20 lakhs. These are sizable nos for any community.
Times have changed, in the last 60 years, the panth has been
busy in affixing marbles, topped with Gold. Panth totally forgot about these Guru
Ke Betas. We Sikhs have become are a laughing stock, because we have
failed to take care of our best.
More often than not, we boast about fictitious, cooked up
figures that help inflate our ego “Sikhs
contribute 33% to Income Tax, 66% donations come from Sikhs, 59,000 Gurdwaras
that serve Langar. Utter crap of this kind on FB” No substantiation of facts. Even SGPC does not know how many
Gurdwaras all there in India. Somehow people on FB know more and blind
people keep sharing such crap.
The story of Sikligars is one of utter shame and neglect.
Today they still hope, some day, someone will come and help
them.
True enough, Waheguru has listened, today Christians are coming; Christians are coming simply, because we Sikhs, (including me) we
all are sleeping and simply refuse to wake us. They have started to poach in
their own way. Educate and introduce them to their ways, promise them the world
if they like their ways. I have seen Christians working from close
quarters.
130 years ago Lahore Singh Sabha (1879) movement started when 5
boys took to Christianity!! We used to be so aware.
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