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Difficulty: Very hardThe Development and Spread of Sikhism

Source: *Dabistan-i Mazahib* (School of Religions), an anonymous Persian treatise, mid-seventeenth century.

"The followers of Guru Nanak, known as Sikhs, do not recite Hindu mantras, nor do they worship Hindu idols, nor do they venerate their deities. Guru Nanak did not align himself with either Islam or Hinduism, but rather taught a distinct path of devotion to the one Creator. Over time, the nature of this community changed. In the time of Guru Hargobind, the sixth Guru, the Sikhs began to carry arms and engage in military training. The Guru himself wore two swords—representing spiritual authority and temporal power—and gathered around him a force of horsemen and soldiers, leading to armed clashes with the local governors of the Mughal Emperor."

Which of the following best explains the developments described in the passage regarding the changing nature of the Sikh community in the seventeenth century?

  1. The militarization of the Sikh community arose as a defensive response to the growing political hostility and centralization efforts of the Mughal Empire.Answer
  2. B
    The adoption of military practices reflected the Sikh leadership's desire to forcefully spread a syncretic blend of Hinduism and Islam across the subcontinent.
  3. C
    The transition was a direct consequence of Safavid Sufi missionaries converting Sikh leaders to militant Shi'ism during the Mughal-Safavid wars.
  4. D
    The creation of Sikh military units was modeled on the Ottoman devshirme system to serve as elite administrative guards for the Mughal court.

Answer

The militarization of the Sikh community arose as a defensive response to the growing political hostility and centralization efforts of the Mughal Empire.
The correct answer is correct because the militarization of the Sikh community under Guru Hargobind occurred in response to mounting Mughal state hostility, including the execution of the fifth Guru, Guru Arjan, by Emperor Jahangir. As the Mughal state attempted to centralize control and impose imperial authority, the Sikh community organized militarily to defend their religious autonomy and regional influence.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the stimulus passage.
The text identifies Sikhism as a distinct path separate from Hinduism and Islam, and notes a major shift under Guru Hargobind where the community militarized (carrying arms, training, and clashing with Mughal governors).
Understanding the core historical transition described is necessary to contextualize the change.
2
Connect the transition to the broader historical context of land-based empires in the early modern period.
In the early modern era, the Mughal Empire sought to consolidate power and centralize control over diverse regions. This process often led to conflict with local, highly organized communities like the Sikhs.
Mughal efforts to tax, regulate, or suppress regional centers of authority directly prompted defensive measures by those groups.
3
Evaluate the options and rule out distractors.
The option proposing that Sikhism was a syncretic blend fails because Sikhism is a distinct, independent revelation. The option involving Safavid missionaries and Shi'ism is geographically and historically inaccurate. The option invoking the devshirme system incorrectly applies an Ottoman administrative practice to the Mughal-Sikh conflict.
Applying historical knowledge of religious origins and regional geopolitics helps identify the correct relationship.

Key Concept

The consolidation and challenges of land-based empires, specifically the political conflict between the centralizing Mughal Empire and the developing Sikh community.
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The Development and Spread of Sikhism

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