Nishan Sahib is the name for the tall Sikh Flag which marks all Gurdwaras and other religious premises of Sikhs.  Nishan is a Persian word with multiple meanings, one of these being a flag or standard. Sahib, an Arabic word with the applied meaning of Lord or Master, is here used as an honorific. Nishan Sahib in the Sikh tradition means the holy flag or exalted ensign.  A synonym term is Jhanda Sahib– implying a flag or a banner.  The recent portrayal of Nishan Sahib atop the historic Red Fort and the denigration, without understanding, by governmental authorities, a vast section of the media and even by the Kissan Ekta Morcha leadership has hurt many as every argument has been biased and out of context.  International training coach Harpreet Kaur Ahluwalia tells us what the Nishan Sahib is and what it stands for.

THE SIKH PENNANT, made of Kesri -light yellow coloured cloth, occasionally out of blue coloured, mainly in the case of Nihangs, the cloth is triangular in shape, normally each of the two sides being double than the shorter one. The pennant is stitched to the mast sheath at the top which is also of the same cloth. On it is commonly printed or embroidered the Sikh emblem comprising Khanda -two-edged sword and a Chakar –edged circular weapon, or disc or Quito, and two kirpans which cross each other at the handles, with the blades flanking the Chakar.

One end of the sword symbolizes divine justice while the outer edge symbolizes freedom and authority governed by moral and spiritual values. On the outside of the two-edged sword, one observes two swords -on the left is the sword for spiritual sovereignty –Piri -while on the right the sword signifies political sovereignty =Miri. The balance between the two is emphasized by the Chakar– circle inside, denoting oneness, unity of justice, humanity and immorality.

Sometimes the flag would have inscribed on it Ik Onkar, the term in the Mool Mantra, signifying the Supreme reality. The flagstaff has steel Khanda fixed on top of it. The two flags standing adjacent to each other betwixt the Harmandar Sahib and the Akal Takht at Amritsar are, approximately 40 meters high. Nishan Sahib is hoisted either in the compound of a Gurdwara or on the top of the building itself.

Outside the Gurdwara, Nishan Sahib is seen carried at the head of Sikh processions. In such public marches, which generally take place on religious occasions, five Sikhs designated as Punj Piare, carry one each of the five Nishan Sahibs in front of the palanquin in which the Sri Guru Granth Sahib is seated. Sikh public congregations open with the flag hoisting ceremony in which Nishan Sahib is unfurled by an eminent member of the Panth or a Sikh devout.

In the times of Guru Gobind Singh and during the eighteenth century, the Sikh armies, when on the march or in the battlefield, had the Sikh standard carried in front by niscanchis –standard flag bearers.

The origin of Nishan Sahib is traced to the time of Guru Hargobind Sahib, who hoisted a flag over the Akal Takht in 1606 at Amritsar. The flag, the first of its kind in Sikh traditions, was called Akal Dhuja -the immortal flag or Satguru ka Nishan- standard of the true Guru. The flag on top of the Harmandir Sahib was first installed by Sardar Jhanda Singh of Bhangi clan in 1771.

Why should one get offended by the Nishan Sahib -the banner of Sikhs, as Sikhs have studiously maintained that this is the banner of the unique character of their religion without undermining any other religion or political thought?

Nishan Sahib represents the values of the Sikh faith. It is shown respect by Sikhs as it symbolizes the inherent values, tenets of the Sikh ethos -the oneness of God, equality of all, love, compassion, self-respect and protecting the self-worth of all and leading a life of service and dedication for humanity.

It’s not only a physical marker of the Sikh place of worship but is also a spiritual marker of Sikh identity and philosophy. It’s not merely a symbol of sovereignty but also spiritual sovereignty.

It proclaims the fundamental rights of Sikhs to practise their faith and lead their lives according to the tenets of Sikh Gurus and being free from persecution and interference of others. It’s a symbol of Sikh faith not limited to the Indian subcontinent where it originated, but across the spectrum.

Nishan Sahib represents the values of the Sikh faith. It is shown respect by Sikhs as it symbolizes the inherent values, tenets of the Sikh ethos -the oneness of God, equality of all, love, compassion, self-respect and protecting the self-worth of all and leading a life of service and dedication for humanity.

Why should one get offended by the Nishan Sahib -the banner of Sikhs, as Sikhs have studiously maintained that this is the banner of the unique character of their religion without undermining any other religion or political thought? The flag colour being Kesri -light yellow is identified with sacrifice and martyrdom.

Gently fluttering of the Nishan Sahib is a call to the needy and all those who are turned away, rejected, scorned, met with disdain, that they are most welcome.

Nishan Sahib is a symbol of pride for all Sikhs. It unfurls in our heart and our mind. It is there wherever a Sikh upholds the dignity and respect of the unique religio-political distinction of the Sikh faith. It proclaims peace, equality and respect, not just for the Sikhs but for everyone who chooses to be under its refuge -in peace and in war.

Harpreet Kaur Ahluwalia is a corporate coach and mentor, a major in economics, a public speaker on corporate affairs and an expert advisor in Empowerment, Entrepreneurship, Relationship Management and Adolescence challenges.