Women in Sikhism
Sikhism is one of the few world religions which has had a very egalitarian and mature approach towards women. Women in Sikhism are regarded as equal to men in every way, are allowed to recite the religious scriptures and lead religious congregations. According to Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, all creatures were equal in the eyes of God. Thus, gender equality is a given in Sikhism.
Women in Sikhism were encouraged to supervise disciplines, were discouraged from wearing a veil and even educated against the practice of Sati (of widows being burnt on her husband’s funeral pyre) that was prevalent in India in those times, and female infanticide was prohibited. In fact, to discourage the practice of sati, women in Sikhism who were widows were encouraged to remarry, which was a very progressive concept in India in those times. Women in Sikhism also vote along with men to elect their religious body.
There are several famous women in Sikhism in ancient times, who are revered to this day, starting from the mother of the founder himself, Mata Tripta Ji. Another such famous woman is Bebe Nanaki Ji, who was Guru Nanak’s only sister, who had a prescience about her brother’s divine mission in life. Mai Bhago is another woman who is respected for her immense bravery and valor in leading soldiers, who had turned deserters, back into the battle of Muktsar, where they achieved martyrdom.
Women in Sikhism are encouraged to take an active role in all social, cultural and religious activities of the places of worship called Gurudwaras. Women in Sikhism have another interesting facet, in that once they are married they are given a name “Kaur” which means lioness or princess. This was given specifically to married women to give them an identity of their own and do not have to take their husband’s name. This shows the world that they were not the “property” of their husbands, as was the case in other religions at that time.
Women in Sikhism were empowered in every way by almost every Guru, from Guru Nanak (who admitted them into religious congregations without any segregation), to Guru Angad (who encouraged equal education), Guru Amar Das (who condemned sati, wearing a veil or pardah, female infanticide, and encouraged widow remarriage), Guru Gobind Singh (who made the “Khalsa” initiation ceremony open to women and forbade women who were taken as prisoners in battle to be treated as slaves).
It remains to be seen whether the modern women in Sikhism take advantage of these radical teachings that were way ahead of their times and seize them to make their way into this world as equal to men in every respect, as envisaged by their Gurus!
Article by Karishma J. Anand
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