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Difficulty: HardThe Development and Spread of Sikhism

Source: Guru Gobind Singh, *Zafarnama* (Epistle of Victory), letter to the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, 1705.

"When all other means have failed, it is lawful to take to the sword. ... I have no faith in your oaths, even if you swear on the Quran. You [Emperor Aurangzeb] are neither sincere in your faith nor do you practice justice. ... Under the protection of the One True Creator, the Khalsa has been established to stand against oppression. No longer will the people of the Punjab submit to the cruelty of local governors or the imperial court."

Which of the following historical developments in South Asia during the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries best explains the change in the Sikh movement described in the passage?

  1. A
    The conscious effort of Sikh leaders to merge elements of Hindu bhakti devotion and Islamic Sufism to create a syncretic religion that could unify the Mughal empire
  2. B
    The spillover of the Sunni-Shi'a sectarian conflict between the Ottoman and Safavid empires into the Punjab, which forced Sikhs to adopt defensive military postures
  3. The growing political conflict and persecution by the Mughal state, which led Sikh leaders to organize a militarized community to resist imperial authorityAnswer
  4. D
    The assimilation of Sikh communities into the Mughal devshirme system, which compelled them to serve as military elites in exchange for regional autonomy

Answer

The growing political conflict and persecution by the Mughal state led Sikh leaders to organize a militarized community (the Khalsa) to resist imperial authority.
The correct answer is correct because the passage reflects the final stage of Sikhism's transition from a pacifist devotional movement into a militarized community (the Khalsa) under Guru Gobind Singh. This transformation was a direct response to increasing political conflict, taxation, and religious persecution by Mughal authorities in the seventeenth century, notably the execution of Guru Tegh Bahadur by Emperor Aurangzeb.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the stimulus context and perspective.
The passage is a letter from the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, to the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in 1705, defending the establishment of the Khalsa (a militarized community of faithful Sikhs) and the resort to armed struggle.
Understanding the source's origin and message allows us to place it within the timeline of Sikh-Mughal relations.
2
Evaluate the transition of Sikhism over time.
Sikhism originated in the late fifteenth century under Guru Nanak as a peaceful, devotional monotheistic faith. By the late seventeenth century, Mughal efforts to consolidate control over Punjab and religious persecution (including the executions of Gurus) drove the movement to militarize for self-defense.
This establishes the historical cause-and-effect relationship behind the transition described in the text.
3
Examine the distractors for common errors.
Discard the misconception of Sikhism being a simple Hindu-Islamic syncretic blend, eliminate geographically incorrect conflicts (Ottoman-Safavid Sunni-Shi'a split), and avoid conflating Ottoman institutions (devshirme) with Mughal ones.
Ensures the selected answer is historically accurate and directly addresses the prompt.

Key Concept

The militarization of the Sikh community (the Khalsa) arose in the context of political conflict and state persecution by the land-based Mughal Empire in South Asia.
Estimated Time:2m 0s
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Topics

The Development and Spread of Sikhism

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