Introduction
While beginning contemplation on the socio economic outlook of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the subject poses a new challenge due to various reasons. First challenge is that everyone is aware of the fact that the Bani of Guru Nanak Dev ji is a spiritual treasure and everyone seeks spiritual guidance from the holy shabad. Why do we want to try to find economics in such a spiritual scripture? Before we move sociology and further, this remains to be discussed. The tradition of academic study of Gurbani is not older than six or seven decades. Before this, there were treatise on Gurbani like Giani Badan Singh's Faridkot Tika(first draft prepared in 1883) are very old. But the treatise interpreting Gurbani according to social, economic, political outlook are not older than fifty years. In undivided Punjab, no university offered a course in academic study of Gurbani. For a long time, the idea was debated if Gurbani is a literary production or not. The idea is beyond doubt that Guru Nanak Dev ji himself declared these shabad as the discourse on Brahm rather than ordinary works of music. It may be mentioned that the idea that Gurbani may be subject of critical academic study was actively discouraged. The first systematic academic research on Guru Nanak Dev ji was published as result of 500 years of Guru Nanak Dev Ji Parkash Utsav in 1969. This was the year when government of India and government of Punjab encouraged organizing wider scale seminars and published hundreds of research papers, monographs, articles, lectures etc. Once it began and paved way for academic study of Sikh Gurus and Guru Granth Sahib. Every scripture or holy book in the world revolves around two themes. One is the idea of God and how ordinary mortals can follow the command of God to lead a life based on the principles of religion. Other is the outline of an ideal life which is approved by the voice of God through his rishi munis or prophets. The questions of life are very much addressed in the world scriptures. Where ever there is scope for interpretation, sayings, narratives, janam sakhis are used to solve the points. We know that every community's personal laws are based on the sayings of their prophets or law givers. Guru Nanak Dev ji was not confined to the concerns of spiritual up-lifting of his people, though it was the main mission of his life. He was very much concerned about the socio-economic well being of people also. We can very much seek guidance from Gurbani for finding out an outline of ideal life based on truthful conduct. Guru sahib has treated truth as the highest value but the idea of a truthful living is even higher in his world view. Why it is difficult to prepare an outline of socio-economic philosophy of Guru Nanak Dev ji? One of the reasons is that we do not have any prose written by Guru Nanak Dev ji. All his Bani is about singing the greatness of Parmatma. And the only authentic shabdas of Guru Nanak Dev ji are part of Guru Granth Sahib. This slim volume is a humble attempt to see how we can learn from Guru Nanak Dev Ji while understanding the idea of social condition including its economic concerns. As small beginning, we can see how Guru Nanak Bani treated the theme of Maya or wealth. The discipline of economics revolves around the idea of money, capital or wealth. We all know that this idea was given by Adam Smith in his book Wealth of Nations which was published in 1776. Money is a medium of exchange and capital is medium of investment and accumulation. Guru Nanak Dev ji has used word ZAR for wealth. For money, he has used word Maya. Guru Nanak Dev ji does not deny the significance of money for use value, but he is opposed to its accumulation.
About The Book
Guru Nanak Dev Ji was a great spiritual light for the mankind. He spread the message of true religion and true devenon to almighty He did not believe in a life of renunesation. He had warned the world that men of god should not behave like social parasites. Earning one's Irving and sharing its fruits with the world are essential responsibilities of true followers of religion. Guru Nanak Dev Ji spoke for spiritualism combined with social responsibility. His sacred compositions are full of such commentaries on his contemporary times. He exposed religious hypocrisy of priestly class and corrupt behavior of state officials. This book is a brief outline of social thought of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. His life, travels and sacred Bani is a great source of such thoughts. Written in a lucid style, this book is useful reading for lay readers not well versed with the subject
About The Author
Jaswinder Singh (Dr.) is professionally trained as Economist. He acquired his PhD. from JNU and spent 20 years teaching Economics at Sri Guru Nanak Dev Khalsa College, Dev Nagar, Delhi. Currently serving as Principal, Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Khalsa College, North Campus, Delhi University, he has made significant contribution in education policy making at UGC. He is member of NAAC and convener, Courses Committee, CBSE. He has authored books on Managerial Economics and edited a recent volume on the life of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji Amanpreet Singh Gill, Assistant Professor in the department of Political Science, Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Khalsa College, Delhi has authored seven books on Punjabi literature, Sikh history, Punjab Politics and Political Theory.
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