Ans. Politics is an inseparable part of religion. Efforts to separate the two (from time to time) have resulted in deterioration of morals and ethics. Just as the famous Urdu poet, Dr. Iqbal has said:
“Whether an autocratic system of government or a democracy, when religion is separated from politics, it results in a ruthless regime, like that of Changhez Khan”.
People could not realize how their culture was being trampled by another religion because it (the other religion) had the political power.
Guru Nanak Dev realized this and told that it was the subjugated religion that bore the blows (of oppression). He told that if the political power was against a particular religion and/or culture, then this culture of the slave religion would sustain a heavy loss. In ‘Aasa di Vaar’, Guru Nanak says (to Hindus), “In privacy of your homes you worship your gods (and goddesses), but in public you follow the customs dictated by the (Muslim) rulers whom you call “Malechhas” or evil. How could you save your culture this way? What is responsible for this ridiculous condition of yours”? The only answer would be, political power.
Guru Nanak’s concept of ‘Dharma’ (religion) was multi-faceted. He considered the personal as well as social duties of man and woman, government and public, Brahmin and Kshatriya etc., as Dharma (religion).
He raised his voice when he saw that neither Muslim religious leaders (Mullahs and Quazis) nor Hindu religious leaders (Brahmins, Yogis, Kshatriyas) were practicing or following their religions. His observations are clearly expressed in his words in Guru Granth Sahib:
ਖਤ੍ਰੀਆ ਤ ਧਰਮੁ ਛੋਡਿਆ ਮਲੇਛ ਭਾਖਿਆ ਗਹੀ॥
(SGGS, P. 663)
“The Kshatriyas have abandoned their religion and have adopted the language of the Malechhas”
ਕਾਦੀ ਕੂੜੁ ਬੋਲਿ ਮਲੁ ਖਾਇ॥
(SGGS, P. 662)
“The Quazi tells lies and eats filth”.
That is why in an answer to Murray’s question, the author of ‘Prachin Panth Prakash’ said, “Guru Nanak is true emperor.
Guru Har Gobind wore two swords (of Miri and Piri) and thus emphasized that religion and politics cannot be separated. When Guru Hari Rae called Guru Nanak, the sovereign, he actually meant that we have our own independent domain. The sword, that is an integral part of our code of conduct (rahit) also tells us that we have never surrendered our politics to any one, nor are we ever going to do that.
The ‘Khanda’ (the double-edged sword) that is resulted from the joining of Miri and Piri, cannot be separated by any one.
- There is, however, a prerequisite that the religion is not misinterpreted to serve the purpose of the politicians, as was the case at the time of Guru Nanak. In the modern time, the success of democratic type of government in USA, where the religion and politics are separate, seems to negate this hypothesis.