The sword must shun moral policing, uphold justice

THE recent killing of social media influencer Kanchan Kumari, who was better known as Kamal Kaur Bhabhi, has received widespread media attention. An investigation is in progress, even as the police have stated that it is a case of moral policing. The crime was allegedly committed by Amritpal Singh Mehron, a Nihang Sikh, and his accomplices. It is claimed that the victim was misrepresenting herself by using the middle name associated with Sikh women — ‘Kaur’ — while allegedly posting content considered vulgar or immoral.

This tragic incident has triggered a wide spectrum of reactions within the Sikh community and reignited deeper debates around identity, morality and justice. This article does not seek to pass judgment on any individual or group. Rather, it invites reflection on how Sikhs, as a community, can honour the legacy of the Khalsa and uphold justice in today’s India. The Gurus combined spiritual courage with moral restraint. In this moment of reckoning, the greater strength may lie not in action, but in waiting — in knowing when the sword must stay sheathed.

The Nihangs are a historic Sikh warrior order, renowned for martial skill, spiritual discipline and fearless devotion. As part of the original Sikh military tradition, they serve as guardians of the Panth. Living by a strict Rehat (code of conduct) that emphasises Naam Abhyaas (meditation), Gurmat knowledge and spiritual living, they are easily recognised by their blue bana, tall turbans and traditional weapons. They preserve the legacy of Shastar Vidya — the Sikh martial art.

In recent years, several incidents involving violence by Nihangs in enforcing religious or moral values have raised public concern. While such actions may not stem from malice, they raise serious questions about bypassing the rule of law. Taking the law into one’s own hands — even with sincere intent — is a criminal act in India.

As a result, many Nihangs now find themselves in jail, awaiting trial — when they might otherwise have been contributing meaningfully to society. Every Sikh, including Nihangs, can serve the Panth more effectively by embodying the Khalsa ideals of discipline, courage and restraint — outside the confines of prison.

Sikh warriors must remain vigilant against injustice — but the form of action must evolve. Restraint, knowing not only how to use a weapon but when not to, is more vital than ever. In today’s world, the most powerful weapon is not the Kirpan alone, but the law.

The enforcement of religious or moral values must follow legal processes — approached with the same reverence and discipline that the Kirpan symbolises. Upholding justice through lawful means is not a compromise of Sikh values; it is their modern embodiment.

A return to the legacy of the Gurus reveals how the law, when rightly used, reflects Sikh ideals. Guru Nanak challenged tyranny and orthodoxy through dialogue, poetry and truth — not violence.

Guru Arjan Dev was tortured by Emperor Jahangir for refusing to alter the Adi Granth. Despite immense suffering, he did not retaliate. His martyrdom was a spiritual and legal stand — the kind of religious freedom now enshrined in Article 25 of the Constitution.

Guru Teg Bahadur gave his life defending the rights of others to practise their faith. He wielded not a sword, but moral courage — a legacy echoed in civil resistance today.

Guru Gobind Singh, who established the Khalsa in 1699, upheld justice not only through arms but also through compassion. When Bhai Kanhaiya offered water to wounded soldiers on both sides of the battlefield, the Guru praised his actions and gave him balm — recognising seva over enmity.

Even after losing his father and all four sons, Guru Gobind Singh wrote Zafarnama to Aurangzeb — a letter not of rage but moral rebuke. “When all other means have failed, it is just to take up the sword,” he wrote. But in today’s India, all means have not failed. We have courts, lawyers and constitutional protections. Until every legal avenue has been pursued, the sword must wait.

In a democracy, justice must not be pursued through vigilante means but through legal and civic channels. A powerful way to defend the Panth is by working with lawyers, judges and public officials to file FIRs, report hate speech and pursue legal action against sacrilege and vulgar content — already recognised under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. Writ petitions can also help protect Sikh civil liberties.

Beyond legal advocacy, Nihangs and Sikh volunteers can support law enforcement, lead efforts for community security or engage in relief work. A compelling example is Khalsa Aid, which has provided humanitarian support during natural disasters, the Covid-19 pandemic and global conflicts. Their work — from oxygen supply to food kits — is a modern expression of seva. It shows how Sikh values can thrive through lawful, organised compassion.

Such roles preserve the martial and service-oriented legacy of the Khalsa while reinforcing the Sikh image as protectors — not through force, but through resilience and compassion. This is not dilution — it is redirection. A way to become defenders, not judges; enforcers of peace, not executioners.

In a time when actions are easily politicised, this model of service can both protect the Nihang legacy and strengthen the Sikh identity.

The Sikh Gurus teach us that Sikhism is not only about resistance, but about righteous resistance — guided by wisdom, compassion and discipline. From Guru Nanak’s spiritual defiance to Guru Gobind Singh’s creation of the Khalsa, our tradition shows that true strength lies not in arms alone, but in moral character.

Guru Gobind Singh proclaimed, “Shastar mere peeran ki rakhwali” — the sword is the protector of my robe of honour. For him, the Kirpan was a symbol of dignity and responsibility, not aggression.

In today’s India, the law can become our modern-day Kirpan — if we learn to wield it with integrity. Through the courts, civic discourse and public service, our warriors can rise again — not to destroy, but to uplift.

This is not weakness; it is strength with grace. This is the Khalsa in its modern form — fearless, yet lawful; devout, yet disciplined.

Let the sword remain sheathed until every legal path has been taken. Let us hold the Constitution with the same reverence as the Kirpan. In doing so, we do not betray our heritage — we fulfil it.

Amarpal Singh Dua is an advocate in the Supreme Court.