Topper of her batch and a former secretary to the Government of India, Ms. Rajni Sibal, a retired IAS officer from the Haryana cadre, recently launched her latest book ‘The Guru: Guru Nanak’s Saakhis’, an ode to the preaching of the great Guru Nanak Dev.

Ms. Sibal’s book explores events in Guru Nanak Dev’s life that give insight into the ideas and ideals of a wise and compassionate person – an enlightened soul. This book is a collection of saakhis, or stories, concerning the life of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism.

SYMBOL OF EQUALITY 

“The stories, which are based on oral recollections, highlight the insight of a kind, gentle spirit with a sensible worldview.  Guru Nanak was a seeker of the Ultimate Truth. The Guru upheld equality and the worth of every person, regardless of caste, class, colour, religion, or gender,” Ms. Sibal shared in an exclusive conversation with Indian Masterminds.

The book is a compilation of 500-year-old anecdotes about: – a curious child who questioned the world around him; a discerning adolescent who thought logically in an irrational environment; an informed young person who sought the reasoning behind the existing rules and mores; an intelligent and compassionate person who worked to eradicate deeply ingrained prejudices in society and a kind, peaceful, and pure soul who promoted harmony, peace, and compassion

RESEARCH WORK

Since she was a little child, Ms. Sibal has been greatly inspired by the life and work of Guru Nanak Dev, having heard many of her grandmother’s tales about him. To spread the reach of his spiritual wisdom and teachings, she felt compelled to write down his sermons since they stuck with her and supported her in all of the work she did.

She recalled her memories and started thoroughly studying the tales, their veracity, the dates that the incidents occurred, and any other pertinent information she could find. 

“The Guru’s legends had been passed down orally for more than five centuries, so they were destined to gather moss. In order to reflect his genuine lectures and viewpoints towards the world we would inherit, I made sure to cut out any rumours of magical and mystical elements that might have been included in some of the stories,” shared Ms. Sibal.

A SUCCESSFUL SERMON

Both Ms. Sibal’s work and Guru Nanak Dev’s teachings revolve around the concept of compassion. He has a logical, liberal, and compassionate worldview, which the retired IAS officer portrays brilliantly. He was a strong supporter of equality and believed that the true definition of religion is one in which everyone is treated equally.

The short stories about Guru Nanak Dev give readers a glimpse into the life and teachings of a spiritual master who lived five centuries ago. His sermons were bold and immensely pertinent in the stratified society of his day, and they still hold true even today.

The book was launched at India International Centre in the presence of Justice SS Saron, ex-Punjab & Haryana high court, Chairman of Gurudwara election commission, and former ambassador to Germany Gurjit Singh, along with Manjeev Puri, former ambassador to European Union.