Iqbal Singh Lalpura
The Sikh tradition, founded by Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji in the 15th century, is not merely a religion, it is a spiritual revolution. Guru Nanak Dev Ji gave humanity a path of truth, compassion, fearlessness, and service. This divine vision of life was institutionalized by the ten Gurus, culminating in the creation of the Khalsa by Guru Gobind Singh Ji in 1699. The Khalsa was not simply a religious group, but a living ideal, an army of the Almighty God, a reflection of divine light on earth, created to protect humanity from tyranny and injustice. Its members were saint-soldiers, bearing unshorn hair, turbans, the five Kakkas, and lives filled with humility, courage, and clarity of purpose.
For centuries, this ideal flourished. From Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, who established rule based on justice and equality, to the golden age of the Sikh Empire under Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Sikh identity remained central to Punjab’s civil, military, and cultural life. The turban symbolized dignity, unshorn hair was a mark of devotion, and receiving Amrit was considered a spiritual rebirth. During British colonial rule, Sikhs faced systematic efforts to erode their identity, including attempts to convert Sikh royalty. Yet they held firm. In fact, Sikhs led in nearly every area: military service, education, agriculture, and the struggle for Indian independence. Most Ghadarites, Akali reformers, and freedom fighters were Amritdhari Sikhs who lived and often died ,with “Waheguru” on their lips. Their identity was never in doubt.
Even after India’s independence, and well into the 1980s, the pride of Sikh identity remained intact. Political leaders such as Master Tara Singh, Jathedar Mohan Singh Tur, Partap Singh Kairon, and Giani Kartar Singh were Amritdhari Sikhs who upheld the highest values of Sikh Rehat Maryada. Sikh officers in the police and armed forces wore turbans with honour, and their presence on the front lines inspired both fear in enemies and confidence in the nation. Sports icons like Milkha Singh, Balbir Singh Sr., and Bishan Singh Bedi wore turbans and maintained long hair with pride. Punjabi singers and artists took to the stage in traditional turbans, beginning performances with Shabad kirtan or spiritual verses. Even non-Sikh performers respected this norm. In Hindi cinema too, Sikh characters were typically shown with full beards and turbans, presenting a respectful and noble image.
This cultural strength began to deteriorate after the 1980s. A visible and painful decline in Sikh identity can now be seen across all sectors. Political leadership in Punjab and Delhi, which once reflected Khalsa values, today includes few Amritdharis. Many politicians trim or dye their hair and beard, reflecting neither the discipline nor the spiritual essence of the Khalsa. In the bureaucracy, once dominated by proud Gursikhs, officers from Sikh families now often appear clean-shaven, disconnected from the Rehat Maryada. The police, too, have drifted from tradition, some jawans and officers adopting western style caps, ignoring the Hukam of Guru Sahib that a Sikh must not wear a cap.
The cultural decline extends to the fields of sports, stage, and media. Young Sikh athletes increasingly present themselves clean-shaven, separating achievement from tradition. The stage, once sacred, has lost its spiritual foundation. Punjabi music now centres around alcohol, weapon glorification, and vulgarity, a complete departure from the Gurbani-inspired content of the past. Many singers not only ignore Sikh values but actively distort them for commercial success. Worse still, some descendants of Guru Sahiban, Sikh generals, and Sikh royalty have themselves trimmed or cut their hair, breaking the lineage of visible commitment to Sikh ideals.
This erosion is not merely about individual choices, it signals a broader cultural and spiritual reversal. The situation is compounded by the trauma of the militancy era in Punjab during the 1980s and early 1990s. Though rooted in complex socio-political factors, the violent period tarnished the global image of Sikhs. The portrayal of Sikh youth as militant, extremist, and dangerous cast a shadow that lingers even today. No peace-loving person wants to be mistaken for a militant. Sadly, the Sikh leadership has failed to rise above the blame game. Instead of introspection or presenting a united moral vision, it remains divided, defensive, and directionless, unable to offer a plan for renewal or to inspire confidence among Sikhs or others.
Globalization has further accelerated the decline. Abroad, where Sikhs have achieved material success, Western beauty norms have influenced how younger generations perceive their own appearance. Trimmed beards, designer clothing, and clean-shaven looks have become synonymous with professionalism and respectability. In many corporate and media settings, visible Sikh symbols are seen as barriers, not strengths.
Meanwhile, Gurdwaras have become ritual-centric rather than value-centric. Daily path, kirtan, and katha are often delivered without depth or purpose, more a performance than a message. Sikh educational institutions have failed to connect youth with the spiritual power of Gurbani. Too often, guilt and rules are imposed in place of guidance and understanding. The management of many Gurdwaras has also come under scrutiny, with allegations of corruption and mismanagement of vast resources, further weakening public trust. The failure to invest Gurdwara funds in Sikh education, outreach, and academic research is a missed opportunity. Rather than promoting Sikh history and philosophy, some spaces have become platforms for pseudo-secularism and even communist thought, sidelining the core values of the Gurus.
Few public figures today represent Sikh ideals with both conviction and excellence. The absence of inspiring role models in politics, academia, culture, and sports has created a vacuum. Without examples of modern success grounded in Sikh principles, younger generations are left directionless. The media, especially Punjabi music and cinema, promote a distorted image of Punjabi life,loud, aggressive, and materialistic eroding values of modesty, service, and remembrance of Naam.
In schools, police academies, and civil institutions, Sikh identity is rarely celebrated as a source of honour. Instead of being uplifted, young Sikhs are often subtly encouraged to conform to mainstream appearances.
Yet the solution to this crisis does not lie in forced conformity or shaming people into tradition. The path forward must be grounded in spiritual renewal and cultural inspiration. Guru Nanak Dev Ji envisioned a world where every human being had divine potential. He transformed ordinary people into living angels. As he said in Asa di Vaar, “Jin mānas te devte kie, karat na lāgī vār” .He turned men into angels in an instant.”
The five Kakkas of the Khalsa are not external decorations, but instruments of divine awakening. Keeping unshorn hair is not a ritual, it is surrender to divine Hukam. Wearing a turban is not a burden, it is a crown bestowed by the Guru. The decline we witness today is not just about appearance, it reflects the fading of the divine spark, the “Jot” that every Sikh is meant to carry within.
We need a bold and compassionate strategy to reclaim our path. Scholarly research must document the 50-year shift in Sikh identity, across politics, media, institutions, and public behaviour. Youth workshops and camps should help connect young Sikhs to their roots, not with pressure but with inspiration. Artists, singers, and filmmakers who honour Sikh values should be supported through recognition, funding, and community patronage. Sikh history should be taught in schools not as dates and battles, but as a philosophy of love, courage, and service.
Uniform rules and public policy should protect Sikh articles of faith. Public events should once again begin with Shabad or spiritual reflections, as was once the norm in Punjab. We must celebrate Sikhs who embody their faith while excelling in modern fields ,scientists, civil servants, entrepreneurs, and soldiers who live with discipline, humility, and service.
Guru Nanak’s message was not to build walls between communities but to awaken the angelic light within every human being. The Khalsa is not a sect, it is the living mission of the Guru. The decline of Sikh identity is real, but not irreversible. What is needed is vision, courage, and a collective will to renew our commitment to truth.
Let this not be a time of mourning for what was lost, but a time to rise again with the radiant spirit of Guru Nanak. Let us walk with grace, speak with truth, serve with humility, and shine with divine light. We are not here to merely remember history, we are here to reclaim our destiny.
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