Sikh - wikipedia Sikh This article is about the Sikh people. For information about the Sikh religion, see Sikhism. Sikh Total population 27 million Founder Guru Nanak Regions with significant populations India ( predominantly Punjab ) 20,815,730 United States of America 500,000 -- 700,000 Canada 468,673 United Kingdom 432,429 Malaysia 100,000 Australia 125,900 Italy 70,000 Thailand 70,000 Pakistan 50,000 United Arab Emirates 50,000 Philippines 50,000 New Zealand 19,191 Germany 10,000 -- 20,000 Singapore 15,000 Hong Kong 10,000 Fiji 2,577 Religions Sikhism Scriptures Guru Granth Sahib Languages Punjabi A Sikh ( / sɪk / ; Punjabi : ਸਿੱਖ sikkh ( sɪkkh ) ) is a person associated with Sikhism, a monotheistic religion that originated in the 15th century based on the revelation of Guru Nanak. The term `` Sikh '' has its origin in the Sanskrit words शिष्य ( śiṣya ), meaning a disciple, or a student. A Sikh, according to Article I of the Sikh Rehat Maryada ( the Sikh code of conduct ), is `` any human being who faithfully believes in One Immortal Being ; ten Gurus, from Guru Nanak to Guru Gobind Singh ; Guru Granth Sahib ; the teachings of the ten Gurus and the baptism bequeathed by the tenth Guru ''. The greater Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent has been the historic homeland of the Sikhs, and was ruled by the Sikhs for significant parts of the 18th and 19th centuries. Today, the Punjab state in northwest India has a majority Sikh population, and sizable communities of Sikhs exist around the world. Many countries, such as the United Kingdom, recognize Sikhs as a designated ethnicity on their censuses. The American non-profit organization United Sikhs has sought to have Sikh included on the U.S. census as well, arguing that Sikhs `` self - identify as an ' ethnic minority ' '' and believe `` that they are more than just a religion ''. Male Sikhs generally have `` Singh '' ( Lion ) as their middle or last name ( not all Singhs are Sikhs ), and female Sikhs have `` Kaur '' ( Princess ) as their middle or last name. Sikhs who have undergone the Khanḍe - kī - Pahul ( the Sikh initiation ceremony ) may also be recognized by the five Ks : Kesh, uncut hair which is kept covered, usually by a turban ; Kara, an iron or steel bracelet ; Kirpan, a sword tucked into a gatra strap or a kamal kasar belt ; Kachehra, a cotton undergarment ; and Kanga, a small wooden comb. Initiated male and female Sikhs must cover their hair with a turban. Contents 1 History 2 Culture and religious observations 2.1 Daily routine 2.2 Five Ks 2.3 Music and instruments 3 Demographics 3.1 Castes 4 Occupation 5 In the Indian and British armies 6 Diaspora 7 Sikh nationalism and the Khalistan movement 8 Art and culture 8.1 Painting 9 See also 10 Footnotes 11 References and notes 12 Further reading 13 External links History Main article : History of Sikhism Gurdwara Nankana Sahib Guru Nanak ( 1469 -- 1539 ), founder of Sikhism, was born to Mehta Kalu and Mata Tripta, in the village of Talwandi, now called Nankana Sahib, near Lahore. Guru Nanak was a religious leader and social reformer. However, Sikh political history may be said to begin with the death of the fifth Sikh guru, Guru Arjan Dev, in 1606. Religious practices were formalised by Guru Gobind Singh on 30 March 1699. Gobind Singh initiated five people from a variety of social backgrounds, known as the Panj Piare ( the five beloved ones ) to form the Khalsa, or collective body of initiated Sikhs. During the period of Mughal rule in India ( 1556 -- 1707 ) several Sikh gurus were killed by the Mughals for opposing their persecution of minority religious communities including Sikhs. Sikhs subsequently militarized to oppose Mughal rule. The Samadhi of Emperor Ranjit Singh in Lahore, Pakistan Golden Temple A Sikh Khalsa Army sowar 's battle helmet After defeating the Afghan and Mughal, sovereign states called Misls were formed, under Jassa Singh Ahluwalia. The Confederacy was unified and transformed into the Sikh Empire under Maharaja Ranjit Singh Bahadur, which was characterised by religious tolerance and pluralism, with Christians, Muslims and Hindus in positions of power. The empire is considered the zenith of political Sikhism, encompassing Kashmir, Ladakh and Peshawar. Hari Singh Nalwa, the commander - in - chief of the Sikh Khalsa Army in the North West Frontier, expanded the confederacy to the Khyber Pass. Its secular administration implemented military, economic and governmental reforms. Sikh armour and weapons After the annexation of the Sikh kingdom by the British, the latter recognized the martial qualities of the Sikhs and Punjabis in general and started recruiting from that area. During the 1857 Indian mutiny, the Sikhs stayed loyal to the British. This resulted in heavy recruiting from Punjab to the colonial army for the next 90 years of the British Raj. The distinct turban that differentiates a Sikh from other turban wearers is a relic of the rules of the British Indian Army. According to Mahmud, the British did not discover the Martial race of the Sikh, it was rather created by the British The British colonial rule saw the emergence of many reform movements in India including Punjab. This included formation in 1873 and 1879 of the First and Second Singh Sabha respectively. The Sikh leaders of the Singh Sabha worked to offer a clear definition of Sikh identity and tried to purify Sikh belief and practice. The later part of British colonial rule saw the emergence of the Akali movement to bring reform in the gurdwaras during the early 1920s. The movement led to the introduction of Sikh Gurdwara Bill in 1925, which placed all the historical Sikh shrines in India under the control of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee ( SGPC ). The months leading up to the partition of India in 1947 were marked by conflict in the Punjab between Sikhs and Muslims. This caused the religious migration of Punjabi Sikhs and Hindus from West Punjab, mirroring a similar religious migration of Punjabi Muslims from East Punjab. The 1960s saw growing animosity between Sikhs and Hindus in India, with the Sikhs demanding the creation of a Punjab state on a linguistic basis similar to other states in India. This was promised to Sikh leader Master Tara Singh by Jawaharlal Nehru, in return for Sikh political support during negotiations for Indian independence. Although the Sikhs obtained the Punjab, they lost Hindi - speaking areas to Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan. Chandigarh was made a union territory and the capital of Haryana and Punjab on 1 November 1966. Tensions arose again during the late 1970s, fueled by Sikh claims of discrimination and marginalisation by the Hindu - dominated Indian National Congress party and tactics adopted by the Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. According to Katherine Frank, Indira Gandhi 's assumption of emergency powers in 1975 resulted in the weakening of the `` legitimate and impartial machinery of government, '' and her increasing `` paranoia '' about opposing political groups led her to institute a `` despotic policy of playing castes, religions and political groups against each other for political advantage. '' Sikh leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale articulated Sikh demands for justice, and this triggered violence in the Punjab. The prime minister 's 1984 defeat of Bhindranwale led to an attack on the Golden Temple in Operation Blue Star and to her assassination by her Sikh bodyguards. Gandhi 's assassination resulted in an explosion of violence against Sikh communities and the killing of thousands of Sikhs throughout India. Since 1984, relations between Sikhs and Hindus have moved toward a rapprochement aided by economic prosperity. However, a 2002 claim by the Hindu right - wing Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh ( RSS ) that `` Sikhs are Hindus '' disturbed Sikh sensibilities. The Khalistan movement campaigns for justice for the victims of the violence, and for the political and economic needs of the Punjab. During the 1999 Vaisakhi, Sikhs worldwide celebrated the 300th anniversary of the creation of the Khalsa. Canada Post honoured Sikh Canadians with a commemorative stamp in conjunction with the 300th anniversary of Vaisakhi. On April 9, 1999, Indian president K.R. Narayanan issued a stamp commemorating the 300th anniversary of the Khalsa. Culture and religious observations Daily routine From the Guru Granth Sahib, One who calls himself a Sikh of the Guru, the True Guru, shall rise in the early morning hours and meditate on the Lord 's Name. Upon arising early in the morning, he is to bathe, and cleanse himself in the pool of nectar. Following the Instructions of the Guru, he is to chant the Name of the Lord, Har, Har. All sins, misdeeds and negativity shall be erased. Then, at the rising of the sun, he is to sing Gurbani ; whether sitting down or standing up, he is to meditate on the Lord 's Name. One who meditates on my Lord, Har, Har, with every breath and every morsel of food - that GurSikh becomes pleasing to the Guru 's Mind. That person, unto whom my Lord and Master is kind and compassionate - upon that GurSikh, the Guru 's Teachings are bestowed. Servant Nanak begs for the dust of the feet of that GurSikh, who himself chants the Naam, and inspires others to chant it. -- Fourth Mehl ( Guru Ram Das ), Guru Granth Sahib, Pg 305 Five Ks Main articles : Khalsa and Sahajdhari Kanga, Kara and Kirpan : three of the five Sikh articles of faith The five Ks ( panj kakaar ) are five articles of faith which all baptized Sikhs ( Amritdhari Sikhs ) are obliged to wear. The symbols represent the ideals of Sikhism : honesty, equality, fidelity, meditating on Waheguru and never bowing to tyranny. The five symbols are : Kesh : Uncut hair, usually tied and wrapped in a Dastar Kanga : A wooden comb, usually worn under a Dastar Kachera : Cotton undergarments, historically appropriate in battle due to increased mobility when compared to a dhoti. Worn by both sexes, the kachera is a symbol of chastity. Kara : An iron bracelet, a symbol of eternity. Kirpan : An iron dagger in different sizes. In the UK Sikhs can wear a small dagger, but in the Punjab they might wear a traditional curved sword from one to three feet in length. Music and instruments Woman playing the dilruba Main article : Sikh music The Sikhs have a number of musical instruments : the rebab, dilruba, taus, jori and sarinda. Playing the sarangi was encouraged by Guru Hargobind. The rebab was played by Bhai Mardana as he accompanied Guru Nanak on his journeys. The jori and sarinda were introduced to Sikh devotional music by Guru Arjan. The taus was designed by Guru Hargobind, who supposedly heard a peacock singing and wanted to create an instrument mimicking its sounds ( taus is the Persian word for peacock ). The dilruba was designed by Guru Gobind Singh at the request of his followers, who wanted a smaller instrument than the taus. After Japji Sahib, all of the shabad in the Guru Granth Sahib were composed as raags. This type of singing is known as Gurmat Sangeet. When they marched into battle, the Sikhs would play a Ranjit Nagara ( victory drum ) to boost morale. Nagaras ( usually two to three feet in diameter, although some were up to five feet in diameter ) are played with two sticks. The beat of the large drums, and the raising of the Nishan Sahib, meant that the singhs were on their way. Demographics Main article : Sikh diaspora India 's Sikh population and their percentage of the total population Numbering about 27 million worldwide, Sikhs make up 0.39 percent of the world population ; approximately 83 percent live in India. About 76 percent of all Sikhs live in the north Indian State of Punjab, where they form a majority ( about two - thirds ) of the population. Substantial communities of Sikhs live in the Indian states or union territories of Chandigarh where they form 13.11 % of the population, Haryana ( more than 1.2 million ), Rajasthan, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Assam and Jammu and Kashmir. Sikh migration from British India began in earnest during the second half of the 19th century, when the British completed their annexation of the Punjab. The British Raj recruited Sikhs for the Indian Civil Service ( particularly the British Indian Army ), which led to Sikh migration throughout India and the British Empire. During the Raj, semiskilled Sikh artisans were transported from the Punjab to British East Africa to help build railroads. Sikhs emigrated from India after World War II, most going to the United Kingdom but many to North America. Some Sikhs who had settled in eastern Africa were expelled by Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in 1972. Economics is a major factor in Sikh migration, and significant communities exist in the United Kingdom, the United States, Malaysia, East Africa, Australia, Singapore and Thailand. Due to this, Canada is the country that has the highest number of Sikhs in proportion to the population in the world at 1.4 % of Canada 's total population. Map showing world Sikh population areas and historical migration patterns ( 2004 estimate ). Although the rate of Sikh migration from the Punjab has remained high, traditional patterns of Sikh migration favouring English - speaking countries ( particularly the United Kingdom ) have changed during the past decade due to stricter immigration laws. Moliner ( 2006 ) wrote that as a consequence of Sikh migration to the UK `` becom ( ing ) virtually impossible since the late 1970s '', migration patterns evolved to continental Europe. Italy is a rapidly growing destination for Sikh migration, with Reggio Emilia and Vicenza having significant Sikh population clusters. Italian Sikhs are generally involved in agriculture, agricultural processing, the manufacture of machine tools and horticulture. Johnson and Barrett ( 2004 ) estimate that the global Sikh population increases annually by 392,633 ( 1.7 percent per year, based on 2004 figures ) ; this percentage includes births, deaths and conversions. Primarily for socio - economic reasons, Indian Sikhs have the lowest adjusted growth rate of any major religious group in India, at 16.9 percent per decade ( estimated from 1991 to 2001 ). The Sikh population has the lowest gender balance in India, with only 903 women per 1,000 men according to the 2011 Indian census. Castes Guru Nanak in Sri Granth Sahib calls for treating everyone equally. Other Sikh Gurus also denounced the hierarchy of the caste system. However they all came from just one caste, the Khatris. Despite that social stratification exists in the Sikh community. Over 60 % of Sikhs belong to the Jat caste, Tohar caste is sub caste of jutt, which is an agrarian caste. Despite being very small in numbers, the mercantile Khatri and Arora castes wield considerable influence within the Sikh community. Other common Sikh castes include Sainis ( kshatriyas ), Rajputs, Ramgarhias ( artisans ), Ahluwalias ( formerly brewers ), Kambojs ( rural caste ), Labanas ( merchants ), Kumhars and the two Dalit castes, known in Sikh terminology as the Mazhabis ( the Chuhras ) and the Ravidasias ( the Chamars ). According to Surinder Singh Jodhka, the Sikh religion does not advocate discrimination against any caste or creed, however, in practice, Sikhs belonging to the landowning dominant castes have not shed all their prejudices against the Dalit castes. While Dalits would be allowed entry into the village gurdwaras they would not be permitted to cook or serve langar ( Communal meal ). Therefore, wherever they could mobilise resources, the Sikh Dalits of Punjab have tried to construct their own gurdwara and other local level institutions in order to attain a certain degree of cultural autonomy. In 1953, Sikh leader, Master Tara Singh, succeeded in persuading the Indian Government to include Sikh castes of the converted untouchables in the list of scheduled castes. In the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, 20 of the 140 seats are reserved for low - caste Sikhs., Occupation Soldiers of the Indian Army 's Sikh Light Infantry regiment According to a 1994 estimate, Punjabis ( Sikhs and non-Sikhs ) comprised 10 to 15 percent of all ranks in the Indian Army, although the state contained less than 3 % of the country 's population. The Indian government does not release religious or ethnic origins of the military personnel, but a 1991 report by Tim McGirk estimated that 20 percent of Indian Army officers were Sikhs. Together with the Gurkhas recruited from Nepal, the Maratha Light Infantry from Maharashtra and the Jat Regiment, the Sikhs are one of the few communities to have exclusive regiments in the Indian Army. The Sikh Regiment is one of the most - decorated regiments in the army, with 73 Battle Honours, 14 Victoria Crosses, 21 first - class Indian Orders of Merit ( equivalent to the Victoria Cross ), 15 Theatre Honours, five COAS Unit Citations, two Param Vir Chakras, 14 Maha Vir Chakras, five Kirti Chakras, 67 Vir Chakras and 1,596 other awards. The highest - ranking general in the history of the Indian Air Force is a Punjabi Sikh, Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh. Plans by the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence for a Sikh infantry regiment were scrapped in June 2007. Historically, most Indians have been farmers and 66 percent of the Indian population are engaged in agriculture. Indian Sikhs are employed in agriculture to a lesser extent ; India 's 2001 census found 39 percent of the working population of the Punjab employed in this sector. The success of the 1960s Green Revolution, in which India went from `` famine to plenty, from humiliation to dignity '', was based in the Punjab ( which became known as `` the breadbasket of India '' ). The Punjab is the wealthiest Indian state per capita, with the average Punjabi income three times the national average. The Green Revolution centred on Indian farmers adopting more intensive and mechanised agricultural methods, aided by the electrification of the Punjab, cooperative credit, consolidation of small holdings and the existing, British Raj - developed canal system. According to Swedish political scientist Ishtiaq Ahmad, a factor in the success of the Indian green revolution was the `` Sikh cultivator, often the Jat, whose courage, perseverance, spirit of enterprise and muscle prowess proved crucial ''. However, not all aspects of the green revolution were beneficial. Indian physicist Vandana Shiva wrote that the green revolution made the `` negative and destructive impacts of science ( i.e. the green revolution ) on nature and society '' invisible, and was a catalyst for Punjabi Sikh and Hindu tensions despite a growth in material wealth. A Sikh temple, Nanaksar Gurudwara, in Richmond, British Columbia Punjabi Sikhs are engaged in a number of professions which include science, engineering and medicine. Notable examples are nuclear scientist Piara Singh Gill ( who worked on the Manhattan Project ), fibre - optics pioneer Narinder Singh Kapany and physicist, science writer and broadcaster Simon Singh. In business, the UK - based clothing retailers New Look and the Thai - based Jaspal were founded by Sikhs. India 's largest pharmaceutical company, Ranbaxy Laboratories, is headed by Sikhs. UK Sikhs have the highest percentage of home ownership ( 82 percent ) of any religious community. UK Sikhs are the second - wealthiest ( after the Jewish community ) religious group in the UK, with a median total household wealth of £ 229,000. In Singapore Kartar Singh Thakral expanded his family 's trading business, Thakral Holdings, into total assets of almost $1.4 billion and is Singapore 's 25th - richest person. Sikh Bob Singh Dhillon is the first Indo - Canadian billionaire. The Sikh diaspora has been most successful in North America. Sikh intellectuals, sportsmen and artists include poet and Bollywood lyricist Rajkavi Inderjeet Singh Tulsi, writer Khushwant Singh, England cricketer Monty Panesar, former 400m runner Milkha Singh, Indian wrestler and actor Dara Singh, former Indian hockey team captains Ajitpal Singh and Balbir Singh Sr., former Indian cricket captain Bishen Singh Bedi, Harbhajan Singh ( India 's most successful off spin cricket bowler ), Navjot Singh Sidhu ( former Indian cricketer turned politician ). Bollywood actresses include Neetu Singh, Simran Judge, Poonam Dhillon, Mahi Gill, Esha Deol, Parminder Nagra, Gul Panag, Mona Singh, Namrata Singh Gujral and director Gurinder Chadha, Parminder Gill. Sikhs have migrated worldwide, with a variety of occupations. The Sikh Gurus preached ethnic and social harmony, and Sikhs comprise a number of ethnic groups. Those with over 1,000 members include the Ahluwalia, Arain, Arora, Bhatra, Bairagi, Bania, Basith, Bawaria, Bazigar, Bhabra, Chamar, Chhimba, Darzi, Dhobi, Gujar, Jatt, Jhinwar, Kahar, Kalal, Kamboj, Khatri, Kumhar, Labana, Lohar, Mahtam, Mazhabi, Megh, Mirasi, Mochi, Mohyal, Nai, Rajput, Ramgarhia, Saini, Sansi, Sudh, Tarkhan, Kashyap Rajput. An order of Punjabi Sikhs, the Nihang or the Akalis, was formed during Ranjit Singh 's time. Under their leader, Akali Phula Singh, they won many battles for the Sikh Confederacy during the early 19th century. In the Indian and British armies French postcard depicting the arrival of the 15th Sikh Regiment in France during World War I ; the bilingual postcard reads, `` Gentlemen of India marching to chasten the German hooligans ''. Main article : Sikhs in the Indian and British Armies Sikhs supported the British during the Indian Rebellion of 1857. By the beginning of World War I, Sikhs in the British Indian Army totaled over 100,000 ( 20 percent of the force ). Until 1945 fourteen Victoria Crosses were awarded to Sikhs, a per - capita regimental record. In 2002 the names of all Sikh VC and George Cross recipients were inscribed on the monument of the Memorial Gates on Constitution Hill, next to Buckingham Palace. Chanan Singh Dhillon was instrumental in campaigning for the memorial. Japanese soldiers shooting blindfolded Sikh prisoners During World War I, Sikh battalions fought in Egypt, Palestine, Mesopotamia, Gallipoli and France. Six battalions of the Sikh Regiment were raised during World War II, serving in the Second Battle of El Alamein, the Burma and Italian campaigns and in Iraq and receiving 27 battle honours. Around the world, Sikhs are commemorated in Commonwealth cemeteries. In the last two world wars 83,005 turban wearing Sikh soldiers were killed and 109,045 were wounded fighting for the British Empire. During shell fire, they had no other head protection but the turban, the symbol of their faith. -- General Sir Frank Messervy British people are highly indebted and obliged to Sikhs for a long time. I know that within this century we needed their help twice ( in two world wars ) and they did help us very well. As a result of their timely help, we are today able to live with honour, dignity, and independence. In the war, they fought and died for us, wearing the turbans. -- Sir Winston Churchill Diaspora Main article : Sikh diaspora Sikhs celebrating Vaisakhi, the birth of the Khalsa Toronto During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Sikhs began to emigrate to East Africa, the Far East, Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. In 1907 the Khalsa Diwan Society was established in Vancouver, and four years later the first gurdwara was established in London. In 1912 the first gurdwara in the United States was founded in Stockton, California. Since Sikhs ( like many Middle Eastern men ) wear turbans and keep beards, some people in Western countries have mistaken Sikh men for Muslim or Arabic and Afghan men since the September 11 attacks and the Iraq War. Several days after the 9 / 11 attacks Sikh Balbir Singh Sodhi was murdered by Frank Roque, who thought Sodhi was connected with al - Qaeda. CNN suggested an increase in hate crimes against Sikh men in the United States and the UK after the 9 / 11 attacks. Since Sikhism has never actively sought converts, the Sikhs have remained a relatively homogeneous ethnic group. The 3HO organisation claim to have inspired a moderate growth in non-Indian adherents of Sikhism. In 1998 an estimated 7,800 3HO Sikhs, known colloquially as ' gora ' ( ਗੋਰਾ ) or ' white ' Sikhs, were mainly centred around Española, New Mexico and Los Angeles, California. Sikhs and the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund overturned a 1925 Oregon law banning the wearing of turbans by teachers and government officials. In an attempt to foster Sikh leaders in the Western world, youth initiatives by a number of organisations exist. The Sikh Youth Alliance of North America sponsors an annual Sikh Youth Symposium, a public - speaking and debate competition held in gurdwaras throughout the U.S. and Canada. There are a number of Sikh office holders in Canada. In the United States, the current U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and former governor of South Carolina, Nikki Haley, was born and raised as a Sikh, but converted to Christianity after her marriage. She still actively attends both Sikh and Christian services. Sikh nationalism and the Khalistan movement Main article : Khalistan movement Flag used by the NGO Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization to represent Khalistan from 24 January 1993 to 4 August 1993 ; the membership was permanently suspended on 22 January 1995. The Khalistan movement is a Sikh nationalist movement, which seeks to create a separate country called Khalistān ( Punjabi : ਖਾਲਿਸਤਾਨ, `` The Land of the Pure '' ) in the Punjab region of South Asia. The territorial definition of the proposed country ranges from the Punjab state of India to the greater Punjab region, including the neighbouring Indian states. The Punjab region has been the traditional homeland for the Sikhs. Before its conquest by the British it had been ruled by the Sikhs for 82 years ; the Sikh Misls ruled over the entire Punjab sporadically from early 1700s and from 1767 to 1799, until their confederacy was unified into the Sikh Empire by Maharajah Ranjit Singh. However, the region also has a substantial number of Hindus and Muslims who were always well represented in the governance and military under Sikh rule. Before 1947, the Sikhs formed the largest religious group only in the Ludhiana district of the British province. When the Muslim League demanded a separate country for Muslims via the Lahore Resolution of 1940, a section of Sikh leaders grew concerned that their community would be left without any homeland following the partition of India between the Hindus and the Muslims. They put forward the idea of Khalistan, envisaging it as a theocratic state covering a small part of the greater Punjab region. After the partition was announced, the majority of the Sikhs migrated from the Pakistani province of Punjab to the Indian province of Punjab, which then included the parts of the present - day Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. Following India 's independence in 1947, the Punjabi Suba Movement led by the Akali Dal aimed at creation of a Punjabi linguistic state ( Suba ) in the Punjab region of India in the 1950s, consistent with the policy of linguistic states ( States Reorganisation Act, 1956 ) applied elsewhere in India. Concerned that creating a Punjabi - majority state would effectively mean creating a Sikh - majority state, the Indian government initially rejected the demand. After a series of protests, violent clampdowns on the Sikhs, and the Indo - Pakistani War of 1965, the Government finally agreed to partition the state, creating a new Punjabi speaking Punjab state and splitting the rest of the region to the states of Himachal Pradesh, the new state Haryana. Subsequently, the Sikh leaders started demanding more autonomy for the states, alleging that the Central government was discriminating against Punjab ( such as denying the state control over its waters, disproportionate extraction of its water resources to benefit other Indian regions, leaving significant Punjabi speaking regions outside of Punjab etc ). Although the Akali Dal explicitly opposed the demand for an independent Sikh country, the issues raised by it and the Indian state 's discrimination against the Sikhs ( and Punjab ) were used as a premise for the creation of a separate country by the proponents of Khalistan. The allegation of `` secessionism '' could have been overplayed by the Indian state to legitimise its brutal crushing of Sikh campaigns for rights or their dissent ( such as their disproportionate role in opposing the Indira dictatorship ( The Emergency ( India ) ) In 1971, the Khalistan proponent Jagjit Singh Chauhan travelled to the United States. He placed an advertisement in The New York Times proclaiming the formation of Khalistan and was able to collect millions of dollars from the Sikh diaspora. On 12 April 1980, he held a meeting with the Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi before declaring the formation of `` National Council of Khalistan '', at Anandpur Sahib. He declared himself as the President of the Council and Balbir Singh Sandhu as its Secretary General. In May 1980, Jagjit Singh Chauhan travelled to London and announced the formation of Khalistan. A similar announcement was made by Balbir Singh Sandhu, in Amritsar, who released stamps and currency of Khalistan. The inaction of the authorities in Amritsar and elsewhere was decried by Akali Dal headed by the Sikh leader Harchand Singh Longowal as a political stunt by the Congress ( I ) party of Indira Gandhi. The Khalistan movement reached its zenith in the 1970s and 1980s, flourishing in the Indian state of Punjab, which has a Sikh - majority population and has been the traditional homeland of the Sikh religion. Various pro-Khalistan outfits have been involved in a separatist movement against the government of India ever since. There are claims of funding from Sikhs outside India to attract young people into these pro-Khalistan militant groups. In the 1980s, some of the Khalistan proponents turned to militancy as a consequence of state violence and heavy handedness, resulting in counter-militancy operations by the Indian security forces. In one such operation, Operation Blue Star ( June 1984 ), the Indian Army led by the Indian army General Kuldip Singh Brar and supervised by General Arun Shridhar Vaidya forcibly entered the Harimandir Sahib ( the Golden Temple ) on the pretext of overpowering armed militants and the alleged militant leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. The handling of the operation, damage to the Akal Takht ( which is one of the five seats of temporal physical religious authority of the Sikhs ), destruction of the Sikh Reference Library and loss of life on both sides, led to widespread criticism of the Indian Government. Many Sikhs strongly maintain that the attack resulted in the desecration of the holiest Sikh shrine. The Sikh Reference Library was also destroyed by the Indian forces during this attack. The Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her two Sikh bodyguards in retaliation. Although the accused of the assassination were tried, found guilty and punished by the legal system, following her death, thousands of Sikhs were massacred in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in Delhi and multiple places in India in an orchestrated attempt at genocide. In January 1986, the Golden Temple was occupied by militants belonging to All India Sikh Students Federation and Damdami Taksal. On 26 January 1986, a gathering known as the Sarbat Khalsa ( a de-facto parliament ) passed a resolution ( gurmattā ) favouring the creation of Khalistan. Subsequently, a number of rebel militant groups in favour of Khalistan waged a major insurgency against the government of India. Indian security forces suppressed the insurgency in the early 1990s, but Sikh political groups such as the Khalsa Raj Party and SAD ( A ) continued to pursue an independent Khalistan through non-violent means. Pro-Khalistan organisations such as Dal Khalsa ( International ) are also active outside India, supported by a section of the Sikh diaspora. In November 2015, a Sarbat Khalsa, or congregation of the Sikh community was called in response to recent unrest in the Punjab region. The Sarbat Khalsa adopted 13 resolutions to strengthen Sikh institutions and traditions. The 12th resolution reaffirmed the resolutions adopted by the Sarbat Khalsa in 1986, including the declaration of the sovereign state of Khalistan. Art and culture Main articles : Sikh art and culture and Punjabi culture Opaque watercolour - on - paper Nakashi art ; about 1880, by an unknown artist from Lahore or Amritsar, and used to decorate the walls of Harmandir Sahib Harmindar Sahib, circa 1870 Sikh art and culture are nearly synonymous with that of the Punjab, and Sikhs are easily recognised by their distinctive turban ( Dastar ). The Punjab has been called India 's melting pot, due to the confluence of invading cultures from the rivers from which the region gets its name. Sikh culture is therefore a synthesis of cultures. Sikhism has forged a unique architecture, which S.S. Bhatti described as `` inspired by Guru Nanak 's creative mysticism '' and `` is a mute harbinger of holistic humanism based on pragmatic spirituality ''. During the Mughal and Afghan persecution of the Sikhs during the 17th and 18th centuries, the latter were concerned with preserving their religion and gave little thought to art and culture. With the rise of Ranjit Singh and the Sikh Raj in Lahore and Delhi, there was a change in the landscape of art and culture in the Punjab ; Hindus and Sikhs could build decorated shrines without the fear of destruction or looting. The Sikh Confederacy was the catalyst for a uniquely Sikh form of expression, with Ranjit Singh commissioning forts, palaces, bungas ( residential places ) and colleges in a Sikh style. Sikh architecture is characterised by gilded fluted domes, cupolas, kiosks, stone lanterns, ornate balusters and square roofs. A pinnacle of Sikh style is Harmandir Sahib ( also known as the Golden Temple ) in Amritsar. Sikh culture is influenced by militaristic motifs ( with the Khanda the most obvious ), and most Sikh artifacts -- except for the relics of the Gurus -- have a military theme. This theme is evident in the Sikh festivals of Hola Mohalla and Vaisakhi, which feature marching and displays of valor. Although the art and culture of the Sikh diaspora have merged with that of other Indo - immigrant groups into categories like `` British Asian '', `` Indo - Canadian '' and `` Desi - Culture '', a minor cultural phenomenon which can be described as `` political Sikh '' has arisen. The art of diaspora Sikhs like Amarjeet Kaur Nandhra and Amrit and Rabindra Kaur Singh ( the `` Singh Twins '' ) is influenced by their Sikhism and current affairs in the Punjab. Bhangra and Giddha are two forms of Punjabi folk dancing which have been adapted and pioneered by Sikhs. Punjabi Sikhs have championed these forms of expression worldwide, resulting in Sikh culture becoming linked to Bhangra ( although `` Bhangra is not a Sikh institution but a Punjabi one '' ). Painting Sikh painting is a direct offshoot of the Kangra school of painting. In 1810, Ranjeet Singh ( 1780 -- 1839 ) occupied Kangra Fort and appointed Sardar Desa Singh Majithia his governor of the Punjab hills. In 1813 the Sikh army occupied Guler State, and Raja Bhup Singh became a vassal of the Sikhs. With the Sikh kingdom of Lahore becoming the paramount power, some of the Pahari painters from Guler migrated to Lahore for the patronage of Maharaja Ranjeet Singh and his Sardars. The Sikh school adapted Kangra painting to Sikh needs and ideals. Its main subjects are the ten Sikh gurus and stories from Guru Nanak 's Janamsakhis. The tenth Guru, Gobind Singh, left a deep impression on the followers of the new faith because of his courage and sacrifices. Hunting scenes and portraits are also common in Sikh painting. See also List of Sikhs List of Sikh soldiers Guru Gobind Singh Mazhabi Sikh Ganga Sagar ( urn ) Turban training centre Footnotes Jump up ^ Guru Nanak has mentioned in his first composition of Jup Ji Sahib which is recited daily by all practicing Sikhs that all souls are to be treated with care and respect as Waheguru is the Giver of all souls. `` The Guru has given me this one understanding : there is only the One, the Giver of all souls. May I never forget Him ! '', Guru Granth Sahib, 2 Guru Nanak said that blessings are rained down when the lowly person, regardless of any background are cared for. `` In that place where the lowly are cared for - there, the Blessings of Your Glance of Grace rain down. '', Guru Granth Sahib, 15 Guru Nanak had spoken we need to prize humility above all and thus caste is not an issue. `` One who takes pride in wealth and lands is a fool, blind and ignorant. One whose heart is mercifully blessed with abiding humility, O Nanak, is liberated here, and obtains peace hereafter. '' Granth Sahib, 278 References and notes Jump up ^ James Minahan, Encyclopedia of Stateless Nations : Ethnic and National Groups around the World, 2nd Edition : Ethnic and National Groups around the World, 2016, p. 385. Jump up ^ `` Census of India ''. Retrieved 4 April 2008. Jump up ^ `` Sikhs express shock after shootings at Wisconsin temple ''. BBC News. 6 August 2012. Retrieved 6 August 2012. Jump up ^ Khyati Y. Joshi ( 2006 ). The Racialization of Hinduism, Islam, and Sikhism in the United States. Jump up ^ `` Learn About Sikhs ''. Jump up ^ `` 2011 National Household Survey ''. Statistics Canada. 8 May 2013. Retrieved 12 May 2013. Jump up ^ `` Table QS210EW 2011 Census : Religion ( Detailed ), local authorities in England and Wales ''. Office for National Statistics. 11 December 2012. Retrieved 8 April 2017. 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Futures. 36 ( 9 ) : 947 -- 960. doi : 10.1016 / j. futures. 2004.02. 009. Retrieved 4 April 2008. Jump up ^ Moliner, Christine ( 2006 ). `` Sikhs in France ''. Migration Patterns -- Workshop on Indian Migration. Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales ( EHESS ) : Laboratoire d'Anthropologie Urbaine / CNRS. abstract. Archived from the original on 17 November 2006. Jump up ^ Ciprani, Ralph ( 14 May 2006 ). `` Sikh Storia e immigrazione -- The Sikhs : History and Immigration ''. International Sociology. 21 ( 3 ) : 474 -- 476. doi : 10.1177 / 026858090602100331. Archived from the original on 10 April 2008. Retrieved 4 April 2008. Jump up ^ IANS ( 15 September 2004 ). `` Now, Sikhs do a Canada in Italy ''. NRIinternet. Retrieved 4 April 2008. Jump up ^ Singh, Kulwinder ( 11 August 2007 ). `` Italy may open VISA office in Chandigarh very soon ''. NRIinternet. Retrieved 4 April 2008. Jump up ^ `` Proportion and growth rate of population by religious communities, India, 1961 -- 2001 '' ( PDF ). Office of the Registrar General, India. CensusIndia. 6 September 2004. Archived from the original ( PDF ) on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 4 April 2008. Jump up ^ http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/census-shocker-sikhs-report-lowest-sex-ratio/125040.html Jump up ^ Singh Khalsa, Dr. Sant. `` Sri Guru Granth Sahib Translation, p. 2 ''. www.Srigranth.org. Srigranth.org. Retrieved 10 January 2017. Jump up ^ Singh Khalsa, Dr. Sant. `` Sri Guru Granth Sahib Translation, p. 15 ''. www.srigranth.org. Srigranth.org. Retrieved 10 January 2017. Jump up ^ Singh Khalsa, Dr. Sant. `` Sri Guru Granth Sahib Translation, p. 278 ''. www.srigranth.org. Srigranth.org. Retrieved 10 January 2017. Jump up ^ Oberoi, Harjot ( 1994 ). The construction of religious boundaries : culture, identity, and diversity in the Sikh tradition. Chicago : Oxford. p. 109. ISBN 978 - 0226615936. Retrieved 15 January 2017. Jump up ^ `` Sikhism History, Doctrines, Practice, & Literature ''. Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2017 - 12 - 26. Jump up ^ `` Dalits in sikhism ''. website = ( https://therearenosunglasses.wordpress.com/2009/06/17/when-sikhs-hate-dalits-because-of-caste-dalit-voice/ ). ThereAreNoSunglasses. June 17, 2009. Retrieved January 15, 2017. Jump up ^ Jodhka, Surinder S ( May 11 -- 17, 2002 ). `` Caste and Untouchability in Rural Punjab ''. Economic and Political Weekly. 37 ( 19 ) : 1822. JSTOR 4412102. ^ Jump up to : `` The Scheduled Castes in the Sikh Community -- A Historical Perspective ''. ^ Jump up to : Harish K. Puri ( 2004 ). Dalits in Regional Context. ISBN 978 - 81 - 7033 - 871 - 0. Jump up ^ Puri, H.K ( 2003 ). `` Scheduled castes in Sikh community : A historical perspective ''. Economic and Political Weekly. 38 ( 26 ( Jun. 28 - Jul. 4, 2003 ) ) : 2693 -- 2701. JSTOR 4413731. ^ Jump up to : Kundu, Apurba ( Spring 1994 ). `` The Indian Armed Forces ' Sikh and Non-Sikh Officers ' Opinions of Operation Blue Star ''. Pacific Affairs. 67 ( 1 ) : 48 -- 49. doi : 10.2307 / 2760119. JSTOR 2760119. Jump up ^ `` Sikh Regiment ''. Retrieved 4 April 2008. ^ Jump up to : `` Excerpts from British High Commissioner Michael Arthur, talk ''. Retrieved 4 April 2008. Jump up ^ `` History of Sikh gallantry ''. The Daily Telegraph. London. 24 June 2007. Retrieved 4 April 2008. Jump up ^ Pillarisetti, Jagan. `` Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh ''. Archived from the original on 27 March 2008. Retrieved 4 April 2008. Jump up ^ Rayment, Sean ( 24 June 2007 ). `` Sikh regiment dumped over ' racism ' fears ''. Telegraph. London. Jump up ^ `` World Bank loan for India farmers ''. BBC NEWS. 27 June 2007. Retrieved 4 April 2008. Jump up ^ `` Agriculture and Allied Sector ''. Economy and Infrastructure. Punjab State. Archived from the original on 10 March 2008. Retrieved 4 April 2008. Jump up ^ `` Census 2001, data ''. Government of India. November 2002. Retrieved 9 September 2010. Jump up ^ `` Welcome to Official Web site of Punjab, India ''. Archived from the original on 18 March 2008. Retrieved 4 April 2008. Jump up ^ `` India 's `` breadbasket '' aims to be new IT hotspot ``. Reuters. 30 April 2007. Retrieved 4 April 2008. Jump up ^ `` Where Punjab Leads ''. Archived from the original on 23 March 2008. Retrieved 4 April 2008. Jump up ^ `` The Green Revolution ''. Agriculture. Punjab State. 2004. Archived from the original on 30 March 2008. Retrieved 4 April 2008. Jump up ^ Ishtiaq, Ahmad ( 8 February 2005 ). `` West and East Punjab agriculture : a comparison ''. Comment. Daily Times. Retrieved 4 April 2008. Jump up ^ Guus Geurts Studentnummer ( 5 March 2001 ). `` The cause and effects of the Green Revolution in Punjab ( India ) -- critical analysis of `` The Violence of the Green Revolution '' by Vandana Shiva ( 1991 ) '' ( MS Word ). Katholieke Universiteit Nijmegen. Jump up ^ `` JASPAL ''. About. Retrieved 4 April 2008. Jump up ^ `` # 24 Malvinder & Shivinder Singh ''. India 's Richest. Forbes.com. 16 November 2006. Retrieved 4 April 2008. Jump up ^ `` Housing : Sikhs most likely to own their own homes ''. Religion. UK National Statistics. 11 October 2004. Archived from the original on 26 February 2008. Retrieved 4 April 2008. Jump up ^ `` An Anatomy of Economic Inequality in the UK '' ( PDF ). Report of the National Equality Panel. The London School of Economics -- The Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion. 29 January 2010. Retrieved 1 February 2010. Jump up ^ `` # 25 Kartar Singh Thakral ''. Singapore 's 40 Richest. Forbes.com. 24 August 2006. Retrieved 4 April 2008. Jump up ^ Kennedy Trevaskis, Hugh ( 1928 ). The Land of Five Rivers : An Economic History of the Punjab from Earliest Times to the Year of Grace 1890. London : Oxford University Press. pp. 216 -- 217. Jump up ^ `` Memorial Gates Official Website ''. Retrieved 4 April 2008. Jump up ^ `` UK Government Report on the memorial ''. Archived from the original on 6 December 2008. Retrieved 4 April 2008. Jump up ^ `` India 's High Commission in London ' Sikhs pioneered Britain 's multi-cultural society ''. Retrieved 4 April 2008. Jump up ^ Quote from General Sir Frank Messervy K.C.S.I, K.B.E., C.B., D.S.O. from `` The Sikh Regiment in the Second World War '' by Colonel FT Birdwood OBE. Pub. in Great Britain by Jarrold and Sons Ltd., Norwich ( 1953 ). Pp. 1 -- 6. ASIN : B0007K5HJM Jump up ^ `` Archived copy ''. Archived from the original on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 11 November 2009. Jump up ^ Bhachu, Parminder ( Author ) ; Light,, Ivan ( Editor ) ( 1999 ). Immigration & Entrepreneurship, Chapter 8, Twice and direct Migrant Sikhs ( 1st paperback printing. ed. ). New Jersey : Transaction Publishers. pp. 163 -- 176. ISBN 9780765805898. Retrieved 16 January 2017. CS1 maint : Extra text : authors list ( link ) Jump up ^ Hansra, Harkirat ( 2007 ). Liberty at Stake : Sikhs : The Most Visible, Yet Misunderstood, Minority of America. iUniverse. p. 59. ISBN 9780595432226. ^ Jump up to : `` Hate crime reports up in wake of terrorist attacks ''. US News. CNN. 17 September 2001. Archived from the original on 15 April 2008. Retrieved 4 April 2008. ^ Jump up to : `` Sikhs urging action on faith hate ''. UK News. BBC News. 5 November 2006. Retrieved 4 April 2008. Jump up ^ `` 3HO Healthy Happy Holy Organisation ''. About 3HO. 3HO.org. Retrieved 4 April 2008. Jump up ^ `` Table of religious groups by alphabetical order ''. Adherents.com. 23 April 2007. Retrieved 4 April 2008. Jump up ^ Sikh Teachers Are Now Able to Teach in Oregon Public Schools `` SALDEF. Saldef.org ( 2 April 2010 ). Retrieved on 6 October 2011. Jump up ^ `` UNPO Official website ''. UNPO. Retrieved 26 May 2015. Jump up ^ `` An anthropology of NGOs ''. EuroZine. Retrieved 26 May 2015. Jump up ^ Dr. P.S. Ajrawat. `` Khalistan ''. khalistan.net. Jump up ^ `` Globalization and Religious Nationalism in India ''. books.google.com. Jump up ^ Crenshaw, Martha ( 1995 ). Terrorism in Context. Pennsylvania State University. p. 364. ISBN 978 - 0 - 271 - 01015 - 1. Jump up ^ The foreign policy of Pakistan : ethnic impacts on diplomacy, 1971 - 1994 ISBN 1 - 86064 - 169 - 5 - Mehtab Ali Shah `` Such is the political, psychological and religious attachment of the Sikhs to that city that a Khalistan without Lahore would be like a Germany without Berlin. '' Jump up ^ Amritsar to Lahore : a journey across the India - Pakistan border - Stephen Alter ISBN 0 - 8122 - 1743 - 8 `` Ever since the separatist movement gathered force in the 1980s, Pakistan has sided with the Sikhs, even though the territorial ambitions of Khalistan have at times included Lahore and sections of the Punjab on both sides of the border. '' Jump up ^ `` Questions / ''. Sikhs For Justice. Jump up ^ Jolly, Surjit ( 1988 ). Sikh Revivalist Movements. Gitanjali Publishing House. p. 6. Jump up ^ Sikh Gurdwara Elections ( PDF ). Our Delhi Letter. 1960. p. 1. Jump up ^ Singh, Atamjit. `` The Language Divide in Punjab ''. South Asian Graduate Research Journal, Volume 4, No. 1, Spring 1997. Apna. Retrieved 4 April 2013. Jump up ^ Haresh Pandya ( 11 April 2007 ). `` Jagjit Singh Chauhan, Sikh Militant Leader in India, Dies at 80 ''. The New York Times. Retrieved 28 August 2008. Jump up ^ Nayar, Kuldip ; Kushwant Singh ( 1985 ). Tragedy of Punjab. Vision Books. p. 51. ISBN 1 - 85127 - 069 - 8. Jump up ^ Singh, Satinder ( 1982 ). Khalistan : An Academic Analysis. Delhi & Punjab : Amar Prakashan. p. 114. Jump up ^ `` Sikh separatists ' funded from UK ' ''. BBC. 4 March 2008. Retrieved 28 August 2008. Jump up ^ Deol, Harnik ( 2000 ). Religion and nationalism in India : the case of the Punjab. Psychology Press. p. 109. ISBN 978 - 0 - 415 - 20108 - 7. Retrieved 22 July 2011. Jump up ^ Sikh Temple Sit - In Is a Challenge for Punjab, The New York Times 2 February 1986 Jump up ^ `` Amnesty International report on Punjab ''. Amnesty International. 20 January 2003. Archived from the original on 3 December 2006. Retrieved 11 January 2010. Jump up ^ `` The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Punjab ''. Tribuneindia.com. Retrieved 2015 - 09 - 27. Jump up ^ `` SAD ( A ) to contest the coming SGPC elections on Khalistan issue : Mann ''. PunjabNewsline.com. 14 January 2010. Archived from the original on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 22 January 2010. Jump up ^ Punj, Balbair ( 16 June 2005 ). `` The Ghost of Khalistan ''. Sikh Times. Retrieved 11 January 2010. Jump up ^ `` Official Resolutions From Sarbat Khalsa 2015 ''. Sikh24.com. Retrieved 2015 - 11 - 12. Jump up ^ `` The Magnificence of Sikh Architecture ''. Archived from the original on 14 December 2007. Retrieved 4 April 2008. Jump up ^ Sian, Katy ( 2013 ). Unsettling Sikh and Muslim Conflict : Mistaken Identities, Forced Conversions, and Postcolonial Formations. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 32. ISBN 9780739178744. Jump up ^ Srivastava, RP ( 1983 ). Punjab Painting : Study in Art and Culture. Abhinav Publications. p. 13. ISBN 9788170171744. Jump up ^ `` ' Art and Culture of the Diaspora ' ''. Retrieved 4 April 2008. Jump up ^ `` Singh Twins Art Launches Liverpool Fest ''. Retrieved 4 April 2008. Jump up ^ `` Bhangra & Sikhi by Harjinder Singh ''. Retrieved 4 April 2008. Further reading The Sikhs In History : A Millennium Study by Sangat Singh, Noel Quinton King. New York 1995. ISBN 81 - 900650 - 2 - 5 A History of the Sikhs : Volume 1 : 1469 -- 1838 by Khushwant Singh. Oxford India Paperbacks ( 13 January 2005 ). ISBN 0 - 19 - 567308 - 5 The Sikhs by Patwant Singh. Image ( 17 July 2001 ). ISBN 0 - 385 - 50206 - 0 The Sikhs of the Punjab by J.S. Grewal. Published by Cambridge University Press ( 28 October 1998 ). ISBN 0 - 521 - 63764 - 3. The Sikhs : History, Religion, and Society by W.H. McLeod. Published by Columbia University Press ( 15 April 1989 ). ISBN 0 - 231 - 06815 - 8 The Sikh Diaspora : Tradition and Change in an Immigrant Community ( Asian Americans -- Reconceptualising Culture, History, Politics ) by Michael Angelo. Published by Routledge ( 1 September 1997 ). ISBN 0 - 8153 - 2985 - 7 Glory of Sikhism by R.M. Chopra, Sanbun Publishers, 2001, OCLC 499896556, Glory of Sikhism at Google Books. The Philosophical and Religious Thought of Sikhism by R.M. Chopra, 2014, Sparrow Publication, Kolkata, ISBN 978 - 81 - 89140 - 99 - 1 The construction of religious boundaries : Culture, identity, and diversity in the Sikh tradition - H Oberoi - 1994 University of Chicago press, ISBN 0 - 226 - 61592 - 8 `` Architectural Heritage of a Sikh State : Faridkot '' by Subhash Parihar, Delhi : Aryan Books International, 2009, ISBN 978 - 81 - 7305 - 386 - 3 `` A Study of Religions '' by R.M. Chopra, Anuradha Prakashan, New Delhi, 2015. ISBN 978 - 93 - 82339 - 94 - 6. External links Look up Sikh in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sikhs. This article contains Indic text. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks or boxes, misplaced vowels or missing conjuncts instead of Indic text. The BBC page on Sikhism ☬ Sikh topics ☬ Gurus Guru Nanak Guru Angad Guru Amar Das Guru Ram Das Guru Arjan Guru Hargobind Guru Har Rai Guru Har Krishan Guru Tegh Bahadur Guru Gobind Singh Guru Granth Sahib ( Sikh holy book ) Philosophy Beliefs and principles Guru Maneyo Granth Sikh Rehat Maryada Prohibitions Cannabis and Sikhism Diet in Sikhism Practices Khalsa Ardās Kirtan Langar Naam Karan Anand Karaj Amrit Sanchar Amrit Velā Antam Sanskar Three Pillars Kirat Karo Naam Japo Vand Chhako Sikh practices The Five Ks Simran Sewa Charhdi Kala Dasvand Jhatka Scripture Guru Granth Sahib Dasam Granth Gurbani Mul Mantar Japji Sahib Chaupai Jaap Sahib Rehras Sukhmani Sahib Tav - Prasad Savaiye By country Australia Afghanistan Belgium Canada Vancouver Fiji France Germany India Indonesia Iraq Italy Malaysia Nepal Netherlands New Zealand Pakistan Singapore Switzerland Thailand United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Other topics History Gurmukhi script Ik Onkar Waheguru Khanda Gurdwara ( Harmandir Sahib ) Panj Pyare Literature Music Names Places Politics Nanakshahi calendar Ramananda Fariduddin Ganjshakar Kabir History of the Punjab Sardar Dastar Islam Jainism Hinduism Sikh Empire Mela Maghi Maghi Vaisakhi Hola Mohalla Sikhs Women in Sikhism Sikhism and sexual orientation Idolatry in Sikhism Criticism Punjab Punjabis Punjabi language ( Gurmukhī ) Takht Akal Takht Damdama Sahib Kesgarh Sahib Hazur Sahib Patna Sahib ☬ Sikhism portal ☬ Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sikh&oldid=856558665 '' Categories : Sikhs Punjabi words and phrases Ethnoreligious groups Ethno - cultural designations Religious identity Hidden categories : All articles with dead external links Articles with dead external links from September 2010 Webarchive template wayback links Articles with Punjabi - language external links CS1 Punjabi - language sources ( pa ) Articles with dead external links from May 2016 CS1 maint : Extra text : authors list Use dmy dates from July 2012 Articles containing Punjabi - language text All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from July 2018 Articles with unsourced statements from November 2015 All articles with failed verification Articles with failed verification from October 2017 Articles with unsourced statements from October 2017 Articles with unsourced statements from May 2018 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Languages অসমীয়া বাংলা Bikol Central Български Català Español Fiji Hindi Français Gaeilge ગુજરાતી गोंयची कोंकणी / Gõychi Konknni Հայերեն हिन्दी Bahasa Indonesia Íslenska ქართული मैथिली മലയാളം मराठी მარგალური Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Norsk nynorsk ਪੰਜਾਬੀ پنجابی Русский Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски தமிழ் Українська اردو 中文 23 more Edit links This page was last edited on 26 August 2018, at 02 : 36 ( UTC ). 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Question: sikh is a word with its root originated from
Answer: the Sanskrit words शिष्य (śiṣya), meaning a disciple, or a student