Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-11-25
Geographic News
Bulletins By the
National Geographic Society
SIKH sHRINEs

Trouble over Sikh Shrfnes,
cable dispatches continue to inform
us, is the greatest immediate dam
ger to the peace of India.
Does Sikh mean a religion or a
nationality" is apt to be the first
question asked in a discussion of
the subject.
"While Sikhism primarily is a re-
ligion 1t has placed its mark strong
" on its adherents who inhabit
northwest India" says a bulletin
from the Washington, D. c., head
quarters of the National Geograph-
ic Society.
Gwen today, when the Sikh COM
monwealth no longer exists, their
religion sets Sikhs apart practically
as a distinct people from the fol-
lowers of the Hindu and Moham-
medan religions who surround
them.
"sikhism originated in the i'm
portant plains country of the Pun
jab in northwestern India, not far
from the great Indus river and the
dairy between India and Afghanis-
tan; and this has remained the re-
gion of its greatest strength. 1t
arose toward the close Of the If
teenth century. The immediate
cause for the birth of Sikhism seems
to have been the need for a protest
against the idolatry. caste system,
and cruel practices of Hinduism,
the fanaticism Of Mohammedan-
practiced by both those dominant
religions.
"Nanek, the 'Guru' or Teacher,
who founded Sikhism struck out
boldly against abuses in the reli-
gtons about him. He taught there
is one God, though He may be call
ed by many names. Simplicity was
emphasized. Unlike Hindus. Sikhs
could eat meat, though beef was
excepted.
"A phase of sikhism far-reaching
In its results was its insistence on
the observance Of rules of health.
In addition to eating what most
Westerners regard as a more
strengthening diet than the vege-
tartan fare OF the Hindu, Sikhs
were to ban alcoholic beverages and
tobacco, were to battle daily in cold
water, and were not to make pill
grimages to Hindu holy places. The
practice Of making pilgrimages is
considered an important factor in
the spreading of disease in India.
Good Works Insisted Upon
Inc i've great virtues SlresSeu
by the Sikh teachers were content
ment, compassion. piety, patience,
and morality. The five deadly sins
to be Stunned were lust, anger,
covetousness, worldly love, and
pride. The Sikh faith could almost
be condensed into the injunction:
Love God and your fellow man;
keep a pure heart; lead a temper
ate, wholesome, normal life. Be-
cause of these simple fundamentals
it has been called the most occi-
Eastern religions.
"At first Sikhism developed
peacefully. After several genera
tons the Mohammedan Mogul m
perors in control of northern India
began to prosecute the new sect.
Under persecution the Sikhs were
knitted together more firmly and
finally about the close of the seven
tenth century. after Of their
Gurus was martyred, their future
was changed by a new leader, Guru
Gobind Singh, from a peaceful to a
militant religion.
Baptism of the Sword
"AIl men who were willing to die
for their religion were given this
baptism, with holy water, sprinkled
from a two-edged sword. These,
the picked men of the Sikhs, were
trained as soldiers. not for purposes
of aggression or to extend their
faith by force, but to protect their
religion. After a while the Sikhs,
in spite Of their wonderful army,
were driven from the Punjab plains
by the Mohammedans; but hidden
away in the hills and held together
by their militant religion, they pros
pered. When the Mogul empire
collapsed the Sikhs again took pos
session Of the plains country and by
about 1900 had built up a great
Sikh commonwealth under the rule
OF a Sikh Maharaja with hts capital
at Lahore.
"In the early part OF the nine
teenth century the Sikhs came into
collision with the British. After
two wars which constituted the
most serious military opposition
which the British encountered in
India, the Sikhs were defeated and
their territory was made a part of
British India. The Silks then be-
came adherents of the British. and
thanks to military ability, their
most valuable supporters among the
Indian peoples. They remained loyal
and assisted with their armies dur
ing the Indian Mutiny in 1857 and
are credited with having saved In
dia to Great Britain during that try
ing period"