| Nishan
Sahib or the Sikh
flag is the symbol of sovereignty
of Sikh ideology. Every Gurdwara flies a Nishan Sahib
which indicates that in these premises, only the Order
of Waheguru prevails. In fact, if there is no Nishan Sahib
flying it is not considered a Gurdwara. This is also a
part of Sikh ideology that where Nishan Sahib is flying,
only the Khalsa army can enter fully armed, because Khalsa
is the "army of Waheguru", Akal Purkh ki Fauj.
And hence obeys His order, which reigns where Nishan Sahib
flies. No governmental army or police force can enter
the Gurdwara armed, and this forms a pillar of Sikh ideology.
In the light of this, it is easy to
understand why the Sikhs reacted with outrage and hurt
when the Indian army had attacked Harmandar Sahib in
1984. It was seen as a deliberate attack on Sikh ideology.
The way the ground was prepared for this attack further
angered the Sikh Panth. As this entry of the armed forces
of an earthly government, in the Gurdwara premises,
is being repeated again and again in order to make it
"nothing out of the ordinary", the Sikh sense
of alienation is becoming more pronounced.
The Nishan Sahib is a saffron-coloured
(kesri) triangular piece of cloth with Sikh insignia,
the Khanda, in the middle in blue colour. It is mounted
on a long bamboo / steel pole which is covered with
saffron cloth from top to bottom. This pole is topped
with a double edged sword, the Khanda, from which the
Sikh insignia derives its name. The Nishan Sahib is
often situated near the entrance to the Gurdwara, standing
firmly on a platform, overlooking the whole building.
Sikhs show great respect to Nishan Sahib, as it symbolises
the freedom of the Khalsa.
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