Iqbal Singh Lalpura
Silkligar Sikhs of Maharashtra – A forgotten entity of the Sikh Panth
Recently, I visited Uttar Pradesh and met a number of Pashde Jats or Sikhs whose forefathers had migrated and settled there in the late 18th century. Today, the majority of them have cut their hair, but their faith in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji remains strong. The village Gurdwaras, still standing with dignity, are silent testimony to their unbroken spiritual bond with Sikhism. These families told me with emotion that although they live as prosperous farmers, businessmen, and even successful politicians in state and national politics, they still feel incomplete. They yearn for recognition as Sikhs and want to return to the faith of their ancestors. Yet, sadly, they often feel ignored by mainstream Sikh institutions and unrecognized by the wider Panth.
This moving encounter raises a question that touches the very soul of our community: how do we reconnect Sikhs living outside Punjab, and bring them back to the fold of Guru Nanak’s universal message?
The foundation of Sikhism was never confined to Punjab. From the very beginning, Guru Nanak Dev Ji proclaimed a simple yet profound truth: there is only one God, who lives within every human being. One needs to light the inner lamp through meditation and Seva to find God inside. This was not a regional message, but a universal one.
Guru Nanak travelled widely across India and beyond — from Assam to Sri Lanka, from Tibet to Baghdad — holding discourses with saints, Sufis, yogis, and scholars. Many became his Sikhs, drawn by his message of divine oneness and human equality. The succeeding Gurus continued this mission. Guru Amar Das Ji established twenty-two Manjis across India, creating centres of Sikh learning and practice. Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji travelled to Bihar, Assam, and Bengal, inspiring countless followers. Guru Gobind Singh Ji carried this vision further, but seeing the threat to dharma, he gave the Sikhs arms, transforming them into saint-soldiers — defenders of humanity. Thus, the Sikh was never meant to be confined to Punjab. He was to be an angel on earth, serving and protecting humanity everywhere.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the Lion of Punjab, made efforts to secure Sikh historical places outside Punjab, like Takht Sri Patna Sahib and Takht Hazur Sahib at Nanded but the empire remained predominantly Punjab based. The British also focussed only on the Sikhs in Punjab since they provided the crucial manpower for their army and police services.
Today, the Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) is the custodian of Sikh shrines, but its influence is restricted mainly to Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh. The Delhi and Haryana Gurdwara Parbandhak Committees also follow in the footsteps of SGPC, functioning more as management bodies than missionary institutions. While the Akal Takht Jathedars issue guidance for the global Panth, they are rarely seen visiting struggling Sikh communities across India in UP, Bihar, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Bengal, or South India.
Elections to Gurdwara Committees have become politicised. Preachers and employees are paid servants of committees, often serving political agendas rather than the spiritual mission of the Gurus. Meanwhile, many Sikh communities outside Punjab are gradually losing their external identity, even though their hearts remain devoted to Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
In Bihar, Sikhs around Takht Patna Sahib still carry deep reverence for Guru Gobind Singh Ji, who was born there, but the younger generation struggles with modern challenges. In Maharashtra, the Sangat at Takht Hazur Sahib is strong, yet scattered Sikhs around the region feel disconnected. In Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, and South India, Sikhs often lack institutions and preachers to guide them. The million-dollar question remains: how do we reunite these Sikhs with the mainstream Panth?
Sikhs from Bihar – Fighting a Lonely Battle
If Sikhs across India are to be reunited, we must revive Guru Nanak’s model of outreach and apply it in today’s context. Just as the Gurus appointed Manjis, today Sikh institutions must send trained preachers to regions like UP, Bihar, Bengal, and Maharashtra to teach Gurbani, inspire the youth, and reconnect families. Setting up Sikh schools and colleges in areas with historic Sikh presence will anchor the younger generation in faith, language, and culture.
Sikhs outside Punjab who may not keep external symbols should still be recognised as members of the Panth if they bow before Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Embracing them first will inspire them to gradually return to the full Sikh way of life.
Online platforms and Punjabi channels can connect scattered Sikhs with live kirtan, Gurbani vichaar, and Sikh history classes. The Jathedars of the Takhats and respected Sikh scholars should regularly tour Sikh villages across India to show solidarity and encouragement.
In recent years, one organisation has taken encouraging steps in this direction — the Global Punjabi Association (GPA). Founded to promote Hindu-Sikh unity and Punjabi culture, the GPA recognises that the future of Sikhism lies not in narrow politics but in reconnecting Punjabis and Sikhs worldwide with their shared roots. Through seminars, outreach, and dialogue, GPA is striving to create a platform where Sikhs from Punjab and Sikhs living across India and abroad can come together. This effort must be strengthened and recognised, for it aligns directly with Guru Nanak’s universal vision.
The Sikh community has always been known for its courage, unity, and service. Yet today, divisions, politics, and neglect threaten to isolate Sikhs living outside Punjab. The yearning of the Pashde Jats of Uttar Pradesh is a reminder that Sikh roots are alive, but they need nourishment. It is time for our leadership to rise above politics and return to Guru Nanak’s message — there is only one God, who lives within every human being. One needs to light the inner lamp through meditation and Seva to find God inside. By reconnecting Sikhs across India through love, education, and recognition, we can revive their identity and strengthen the entire Panth. As Guru Nanak Dev Ji taught, true spirituality is not about division but about the welfare of all.
The future of Sikh unity lies in living this prayer: Nanak Naam Chardi Kala, Tere Bhaane Sarbat Da Bhala.
(Iqbal Singh Lalpura is former Chairman, National Commission for Minorities, Government of India – 9780003333)