The new Nihangs: Academics to showbiz, wearing their faith on sleeves

Sahildeep Singh, a second-year music student at Punjabi University, Patiala, said he decided to become a Nihang during the Covid-19 lockdown. “During the lockdown, the police would not allow people to step out of their homes. But I would go to Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple) every day by sidestepping all the barriers. It was at Darbar Sahib that I met some Nihangs. They inspired me to become one of them,” said the 20-year-old.

Moving around in his traditional attire, Sahildeep breaks many stereotypes on the Punjabi University campus. “Initially, some students were taken aback when they saw me, but now few give me a second look. Anyway, no one has ever objected to my traditional attire on campus,” he said, adding that he is not attached to one jathebandi (body) and likes to visit different centres to learn from all.

Sahildeep Singh, a second-year music student at Punjabi University, Patiala, goes to Anandpur Sahib in Ropar on his days off to learn about the traditions of Nihangs. Seen here, 20-year-old Sahildeep at his university. (Express)

Over the past few years, Nihangs have often hit the headlines for the wrong reasons. In October 2021, a group of Nihangs claimed responsibility for the murder of a 35-year-old man at the Singhu border during the farmers’ protest. The man had allegedly disrespected the Sikh holy book. In April 2020, Nihangs had attacked a Punjab Police party in Patiala and chopped off the hand of an assistant sub-inspector when stopped for a curfew pass in the midst of the lockdown.

These incidents, says author Jagdeep Singh Faridkot, often end up stereotyping the community. “It is a stereotype that Nihangs only fight. There have been Nihang scholars in every stream. They are singers, writers, poets and even teachers. But the world mostly sees them as soldiers stuck in the past.  Nihangs are unaffected by modernity but our minds have become incapable of understanding something that is not ‘so-called modern,” says Faridkot, a 40-year-old whose novel on Nihangs, Hane Hane Patshahi, has made him one of the bestselling Punjabi authors.

Arvinder Singh, also called Nikka Singh, is pursuing his master’s degree in philosophy from Punjabi University, Patiala. Besides studying, he has also penned a book on Nihang poems and is reprinting old literature.

Nikka Singh (second from left in front row) is pursuing his master’s degree from Patiala’s Punjabi University. He was inspired to become a Nihang during the 2012 Hola Mohalla, a three-day festival started by Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Sikh Guru, in the 17th century (Express)

“Arvinder Singh is the name given to me by my parents. Nikka Singh is the name given to me by the Dal Panth (a Nihang community),” the 25-year-old shared. He added that he was inspired to become a Nihang during the 2012 Hola Mohalla, a three-day festival started by Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Sikh Guru, in the 17th century.

“It dawned on me that a bana is not just a robe but a blessing by Guru Gobind Singh,” he said, talking of the moment he decided to turn to spirituality and the Nihang way of life.

Over the past few years, Nihangs have often hit the headlines for the wrong reasons (Graphic: Express)

He added, “Many people think that Nihangs and universities have nothing in common. The truth is that Nihangs have played the role of teachers as well. Balwant Gargi (a famous Punjabi writer) wrote in his biography that a Nihang used to come to his village to teach children and that he received his first Gurmukhi lesson while the Nihang sat astride his horse.”

Tejbeer Singh was pursuing a diploma in civil engineering from a college in Fatehgarh Sahib when he came in contact with Udna Dal, a Nihang jathebandi.

“I can’t say for sure what attracted me to become a Nihang, but I have been with the Udna Dal for about eight years now. There is no specific reason why I became a Nihang. All I know is that a Nihang can have no motive other than serving Akal (the Timeless Being),” said the 24-year-old.

Calling it seva (service), Tejbeer said he works in the stable at Udna Dal. Active on Facebook earlier, he has gone offline now. He said it was because he understood that being a Nihang meant freedom from material possessions.

“My relatives are surprised to know that I take care of horses despite having a diploma in civil engineering. Little do they know that a stableman was appointed as a Nawab in the 18th century (Nawab Kapur Singh, a prominent military chieftain of the Sikh Confederacy). Every Nihang is considered equal and the Guru can shower his kirpa (blessings) on anyone,” he added.

Akal Tejbeer Singh (left) has a diploma in civil engineering from a college in Fatehgarh Sahib. He now works as a stableman at Udna Dal, a Nihang jathebandi, much to the surprise of his relatives (Express)

Jatinder Singh Bazidpur is a Nihang who works at a Nawanshahr-based private firm that specializes in immigration consultancy services. The 26-year-old said his company was founded by a highly qualified Nihang who had received job offers from numerous universities but had turned them down. Stating that priority for Nihangs was the Dal Panth, Bazidpur said he knows many Nihangs who prioritize their faith even as they work in offices or run their own businesses.

Bazidpur, who became a Nihang seven years ago, said it is common for Nihangs to avoid publicity and maintain a distance from the outside world. However, he added, social media has touched their lives too.

Several Facebook and Instagram pages run by admirers or acquaintances of Nihang jathebandia have started gaining popularity. Instagram handles like ‘Nihanglife’ and Facebook pages like ‘Budhadalfouj’, which have 66,500 and 47,000 followers respectively, show the life of Nihangs to bust myths about their stereotypical image.

In the palace of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, who established the Sikh Empire, as the king entertained a foreign guest, a group of Nihangs appeared out of nowhere (Graphic: Express)

Kuljit Kaur Khalsa, a 28-year-old resident of Ludhiana, manages a Facebook page named ‘Ladlian Faujan (Guru’s Beloved Army)’. Her page, which has nearly 68,000 followers, contains posts on Nihangs grooming their horses, preparing langar (community meals), meeting followers, their language, etc. Khalsa, whose family is a devotee of Baba Joginder Singh, is a kavishri, a singer of Punjabi folk music and ballads about valour. She said social media pages like hers help people understand and appreciate Nihangs better.