Col Iqbal Singh
Religious conversions in Punjab—particularly from Sikhism to Christianity—have sparked growing unease among community leaders and observers. But this issue is not confined to Sikhism alone, nor is it unique to Punjab. Across India, including within Hindu communities, similar trends are emerging. The real question we must confront is, “why are some people drawn away from their ancestral faiths toward new ones?”
To understand this phenomenon, we need to revisit the roots of Sikhism. Founded over five centuries ago by Guru Nanak, Sikhism was a revolutionary response to a deeply fragmented society plagued by casteism and social inequality. Guru Nanak envisioned a community grounded in equality, compassion, and spiritual unity—where caste, class, and religious divisions held no place. His teachings resonated with the persecuted and marginalized, and many Hindus and Muslims alike embraced his message.
Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru, took this vision further by founding the Khalsa and giving his followers the common surname “Singh,” symbolizing equality and the rejection of hereditary privilege. As the historian M. W. McLeod has noted, many were drawn to Sikhism not only for its spiritual message but also for the enhanced social dignity it conferred—particularly those seeking liberation from caste-based oppression.
This wasn’t new to Indian history. In earlier centuries, many tormented Hindus converted to Buddhism and Jainism for similar reasons: to escape entrenched social hierarchies and find dignity in a more inclusive spiritual space.
So why, despite this noble foundation, are some Sikhs—especially those from marginalized backgrounds—now turning to Christianity?
The uncomfortable truth is that while Sikhism was born as an egalitarian movement, its institutions have not always lived up to those ideals.
Social discrimination, though subtler than in rigid caste systems, still persists within Sikh society. When people continue to feel excluded, judged, or denied opportunities for advancement, they begin to look elsewhere—not just for spiritual guidance, but for social acceptance, education, healthcare, and dignity.
Christian missions often provide these things—especially in under-served rural areas. Many parts of the North-East have already converted to Christianity. The shift, then, is not merely religious; it is deeply socio-economic and psychological. It is a search for belonging and respect, often absent in their own religious communities.
Can this trend be stopped? Perhaps not entirely.
As long as inequality and discrimination continue to exist within any faith tradition, religious conversion will remain a coping mechanism for the marginalized. Outlawing or condemning conversion is not the answer. The solution lies in introspection and reform: in living the values our Gurus, saints, and prophets taught—compassion, equality, and justice.
Until we do that, people will continue to walk away, not because they’ve lost faith in God, but because they’ve lost faith in us.
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