ÿþ<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>SARBATT KH&#256LS&#256 </TITLE> <style type="text/css"> .BODY { background-color: #EAF1F7; background-image: url('images/gtbh.jpg'); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-attachment: fixed; background-position: center; color: #0066CC;} .C1{text-align: justify;color: #0066CC;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} .BIB{text-align: center;color: #000099;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} .CONT{text-align: right;color: #FF0000;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} </style><META NAME="keywords" CONTENT="SARBATT"> <META http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"></HEAD> <BODY class="BODY" oncontextmenu="return false" ondragstart="return false" onselectstart="return false"> <FONT ALIGN="JUSTIFY" FACE="Tahoma"> <p class="C1">&#65279SARBATT <u>KH</u>&#256LS&#256 (<i>sarbatt</i> from Sanskrit <i>sarva/ sarvatas</i> meaning the whole or entire) is a term with a dual connotation. It is a concept as well as an institution. In the conceptual sense, <i><u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257</i> is the extension of <i>sa&#7749gat</i>, holy congregation, an institution which has been eulogized in the Sikh Scripture as symbolizing God's Own presence (GG,460, 1314, 1335). Sarbatt <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257 in this sense is a mystic entity representing the "integrated conscience" of the entire Sikh people imbued with the all-pervasive spirit of the Divine. Gur&#363 Gobind Si&#7749gh transformed <i>sa&#7749gat</i> into <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257 subserving God's will or pleasure. A verse in <i>Sarabloh Granth</i>, generally ascribed to the Gur&#363, declares:" <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257 is the army of the Ak&#257lpurakh, <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257 is born of the wish of the Supreme Spirit." Sarbatt <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257 as the Gur&#363 Panth, along with the Gur&#363 Granth S&#257hib, is held to be the true and eternal spiritual successor in the line of personal Gur&#363s ending with Gur&#363 Gobind Si&#7749gh. In the other, historical, sense, Sarbatt <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257 is the highest organ of the <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257 Commonwealth representing its "integrated will," which no Sikh commoner, <i>sard&#257r</i> or prince--- could dare defy. Sarbatt <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257, meeting in the presence of the Gur&#363 Granth S&#257hib, is the supreme sovereign body, with deliberative and executive powers, including authority to direct the affairs of the community. The institution of Sarbatt <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257 grew out of the needs and compulsions of the turbulent eighteenth century when Sikhs, driven away from their homes to find shelter in remote hills and forests in large or small batches, the able-bodied baptized Si&#7749ghs among each forming a fighting band, living off the land in defiance of the imperial might, it became customary for them to assemble at Amritsar, especially on the occasions of Bais&#257kh&#299 and D&#299v&#257l&#299. These gatherings of warriors and non-combatants considered to be representing the entire Panth, came to be called Sarbatt <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257. In this general sense, Sarbatt <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257 denoted, as it still does, the entire body or the whole commonwealth of Sikhs in whose name <i>ard&#257s</i> or the supplicatory prayer was offered individually or at public congregations. The Sarbatt <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257 discussed and took decisions by common counsel upon matters of policy and upon matters requiring action. Reports on the activities of different <i>jath&#257s</i> or groups were taken note of and strategies in respect of their continuing conflict with their Mu<u>gh</u>al and Af<u>gh</u>&#257n oppressors as well as in respect of their relationship with friendly powers such as the J&#257&#7789s and the Mar&#257&#7789h&#257s were worked out. The earliest known meeting of the Sarbatt <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257 took place on the occasion of D&#299v&#257l&#299 in 1723 when a clash between Tat <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257 and the Band&#257is(owing fealty to Band&#257 Si&#7749gh Bah&#257dur) was averted and amicably settled through the intervention and wise counsel of Bh&#257&#299 Man&#299 Si&#7749gh. The next notable Sarbatt <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257 held soon after the martyrdom of Bh&#257&#299 T&#257r&#257 Si&#7749gh of Dall-V&#257&#7749 in 1726 passed a <i>gurm&#257t&#257</i>, as the decisions of the Sarbatt <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257 were designated, laying down a three-fold plan of action, viz. to plunder government treasures in transit between local and regional offices and the central treasury; to raid government armouries for weapons and stables for horses and carriages; and, to eliminate government informers and lackeys. Another Sarbatt <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257 assembled in 1733 deliberated upon and accepted the government offer of a Naw&#257bship and <i>j&#257g&#299r</i> to the Panth. Under a <i>gurmat&#257</i> of the Sarbatt <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257 on 14 October (D&#299v&#257l&#299 day) 1745, the active fighting force of the Sikhs was reorganized into 25 <i>jath&#257s</i> or bands of about 100 each. A further reorganization into 11 divisions or <i>misls</i> forming the Dal <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257 was made by Sarbatt <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257 on Bais&#257kh&#299, 29 March 1748. Thus, Sarbatt <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257 became the central body of what J.D. Cunningham, <i>A History of the Sikhs</i>, terms a "theocratic confederate feudalism" established by the <i>misls</i>. But as the <i>misl</i> chiefs settled down in their respective territories, with the threat of invasion or intervention from outside eliminated, they began to bicker and fight amongst themselves. In that situation, Sarbatt <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257 gatherings became less frequent and less important. Their constitution also changed. Whereas formerly all present could take part in the deliberations, now it was only the <i>misl</i> chiefs or their <i>vak&#299ls</i> (representatives) who mattered. With the establishment of monarchy under Mah&#257r&#257j&#257 Ra&#7751j&#299t Si&#7749gh, the institution fell into desuetude. The last known Sarbatt <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257 assembly took place in 1805 to deliberate upon the question of policy to be adopted towards Jasvant R&#257o Holkar, the Mar&#257&#7789h&#257 chief who, defeated by the British, had sought the Sikhs' help. Only chosen Sikh chiefs were invited by Ra&#7751j&#299t Si&#7749gh to take part in the convention. Opinions were freely expressed, but the role of the assembly was only advisory, the final word resting with the new sovereign, Ra&#7751j&#299t Si&#7749gh.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Some details about the working of the Sarbatt <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257 have come down to us through the writings of near contemporaries. According to them, the Sarbatt <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257 was invariably convened at the Ak&#257l Ta<u>kh</u>t. The participants after ablutions in the holy <i>sarovar</i> and obeisance at the Harimandar, assembled in the open space in front of the Ta<u>kh</u>t where Gur&#363 Granth S&#257hib was seated attended by Ak&#257l&#299 (Niha&#7749g) officiants. According to John Malcolm, <i>Sketch of the Sikhs</i>:</p> <blockquote class="C1"><p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;When the chiefs and principal leaders meet upon this solemn occasion, it is concluded that all private animosities cease and that every man sacrifices his personal feelings at the shrine of general good and actuated by the principles of pure patriotism, thinks of nothing but the interests of the religion and the commonwealth to which he belongs.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</blockquote></p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;After the prayers (<i>ard&#257s</i>) and distribution of <i>ka&#7771&#257h pras&#257d</i>, the session commenced:</p> <blockquote class="C1"><p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Then distinction of original tribes, which are on other occasions kept up, are on this occasion laid aside in token of their general and complete union in one cause. The Ak&#257l&#299s then exclaim, "Sard&#257rs (chiefs), this is a <i>Gurmata</i>" on which prayers are again said aloud. The chiefs after this sit closer and say to each other, 'the sacred <i>Granth</i> is betwixt us, let us swear by our scripture to forget all internal disputes and to be united'. This moment of religious fervour and ardent patriotism is taken to reconcile all animosities. They then proceed to consider the danger with which they are threatened, to settle the best plans for averting it and to choose the generals who are to lead their armies against the common enemy.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</blockquote></p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In recent years efforts have been made to revive the institution of Sarbatt <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257 to discuss important political issues confronting the Panth but no consensus on its constitution or commonly accepted sanction has so far emerged.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;.</p> </font> <p class="BIB"> BIBLIOGRAPHY<p class="C1"><ol class="C1"><li class="C1"> Malcolm, John, <i>Sketch of the Sikhs</i> [Reprint]. Patiala, 1970<BR> <li class="C1"> Forester, George, <i>A Journey from Bengal to England</i>. London, 1798<BR> <li class="C1"> Prinsep, Henry T., <i>Origin of the Sikh Power in the Punjab and Political Life of Mah&#257r&#257j&#257 Ra&#7751j&#299t Si&#7749gh</i>. Calcutta, 1834<BR> <li class="C1"> Ganda Si&#7749gh, ed., <i>Early European Accounts of the Sikhs</i>. Calcutta, 1962<BR> <li class="C1"> Gupta, Hari Ram, <i>History of the Sikhs</i>, vol. II. Delhi, 1978<BR> <li class="C1"> Khuswant Si&#7749gh, <i>A History of the Sikhs</i>, vol. I. Princeton, 1963<BR> <li class="C1"> Harbans Singh, <i>The Heritage of the Sikhs</i>. Delhi, 1983<BR> <li class="C1"> Sinha, N.K, <i>Rise of the Sikh Power</i>: Calcutta, 1960<BR> <li class="C1"> Bha&#7749g&#363, Ratan Si&#7749gh, <i>Pr&#257ch&#299n Panth Prak&#257sh</i>. Amritsar, 1914<BR> <li class="C1"> Gi&#257n Si&#7749gh, Gi&#257n&#299, <i>Panth Prak&#257sh</i> [Reprint]. Patiala, 1970<BR> <li class="C1"> Sukhdi&#257l Si&#7749gh, <i>Ak&#257l Ta<u>kh</u>t S&#257hib</i>. Patiala,1984<BR> </ol><p class="CONT">Major Gurmukh Si&#7749gh (Retd.)<br></p><BR> </font><img src="counter.aspx" width="1px" height="1px" alt=""></HTML></BODY>