Amar Chitra Katha - Guru Nanak

Guru Nanak the founder of Sikhism was born in a critical period of Indian history. On the one hand, the people were divided into castes, sects and factions; on the other the Muslim rulers perpetrated atrocities on • the Hindus and the weaker sections of society. The masses in their hardships and miseries cried for a saviour. Nanak came·as God's messenger in the common man's hour of dire need. was a period of transition from medievalism to modernism. Men of action and men of thought explored the world of matter and spirit. Guru Nanak revealed the secret of man's spiritual potentiality. At the same time, he accepted the struggles and hardships of life and pioneered a movement of reform in social and religious conduct. The means by which he reformed the dregs of society were argument, conviction and personal example. His followers called 'Sikhs' formed a group of God-fearing men and women devoted to the service of the people. He laid down simple rules of conduct through which man could lead a humane and meaningful life and find his-. own fulfilment. He was revered alike by Hindus and Muslims. His life is an inspiring example of the practice of truth , love and humility. It

Script approved bl( Shlromani Gur'CI_ra Prabandhak Committee, Aml'itaar .

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Published by H.G. Mirchandan i, for India Book House Educat ion T rust. 29. Wodehouse ~oa~~ Bornbay·400039 and printed by H.K. NaMa at IBH Printers, Maral Naka. Mathuradas Vl ssanJI Road. Andheri (East). Bombay-400 059. Editor : Anant Pai Retold by: C . S. Manaukhani & Naniki MaAaukb.ani. Artwork: Devender

"tHEIR (5000

WHEN HE IMo'IS BORN, PEOPLE FLOCKED n::i

",..-:---;-.---

SEE,

WHAT A CHARMING BAB~!

HOW HE SMILES.

THE FAMILY PR.IEST, HAR..?AYIlL WAS IMPR.E5SEP BY THE BABy'5 HOR.05COPE. NANAK

WHAT WILL 'YOU CALL HIM?

AFTER HIS SISTER NANKI.

THE CHILP WILL BE A GREAT

SEER AN17 PROPHET. HIS FAME WILL SPREA17 FAR AN17 WI17E.

NI'NKI LOVE.? HER BI'\8)1-BR..OTHER, WI\itP SOCW €i.eEIIII liP INTO

A.

CHEeRAUL,

r-~----------~

HEALTHY, r:::~~ BOY.

HOW GENE.ROUS!" ~~~-I HOW LIKE A SAINT HE. LOOKS!

1= c4r

CAN I "'r-I~tlOUR SON IS·AN . EXCEPTIONAL CHILP'. HE HAS MASTEREI7 ALL THAT I CAN TEACH HIM .

--,........J NANAK

170ES NOT NEEI7 ME AN~""ORE.

I

MUST SPEAK TO HIS FATHER.

AFTER HE LEFTIT IS NOT 6000 TO LEAVE NANAK II7LE. I SHALL MAKE HIM

LEARN PERSIAN.

BUT THE SAME THIN HOPE SHE

SUCCEEI7S IN MAKING

NANAK A PRACTICAL ANI? WORLDL'Y ,MAN

MA.ePIlNA, NANA.t::'5 FeleNP. CAME TO THE WEt?PIN6. WHAT GIFT WILL 'YOU ~'GIVE ME TO RE.ME.MS:ER THIS OCCASION

WHAT 61FT CAN BE MORE APT FOR 'YOU THAN AN IN's :rRUMENT TO MAKE MUSIC WITH!? YOU CAN HAVE. THIS REBECK.

THE 61FT WAs NOT FOR MARt?ANA ALONE. rOR IN THe ElleNIN6S, ArTEe TffE P/lYS WORK, N/lNAK wOULP HU,e,ey TO WHERE e:'117 'IOU VANISH?

GURU NANAK: TOL!:> HIS TALE.

AN!:> GURU NANAK. BE6AN HIS

TEACHIIV6S. THERE 15 NO HINOU OR MUSSULMAN!

HOW l?ARE HE SA'l SUCH THINGS~ I SHALL

COMPLAIN TO THE KHAN.

I HAVE RECEIVEl? A l?IVINE COMMAN l? TO 60 OUT INTO THE WORLl7 ANCl TEACH MEN THE PATH OF LOVE AN!?

UWEN ~E I(Ht'IN HeAR&' THE .a::l~~'Nr HE SENr POIi!

GURU NANAA:" . .

THEN COME ANt? PRAY WITH US AT THE MOSQUE.

liT THE MOSQUe THe I HIM!

E>ET ME SOME SWEETS FROM 'YOUR · TABLE. I'LL E)("PLAIN.

GURU NANAK TOOA:: OUT A PK.Y Cl?t.lST OF SI?EAl?, WHICH HE HAP BI?OlI6HT FI?OM LALO's HOUSE ANI? SWEeTS FK'OM •..

LALO'S BREAt" WAf'> EARNEt" BV HARt" WORK SWEETs WERE 6OU6HT'~'=o,"'" OUT OF THE;:.,t"::::;;;~ TOIL ANt" \l SWEAT OF THE POOR •

.•. 8HAGO'S TABLE ANP 5QUEEZEP BOTH. PROPS OF MILK. FELL FROM THE BREAP ANP PROPS OF BLOOP FROM THE SWEET5 .

BHA60 WAS HUMBLE/? HE BeCAME CONTK'ITE. HOL'! SIR, I SHALL GIVE MY ILL-60TTEN WEALTH BACK TO THE POOR ANt" NEEV'Y.I SHALL SPENV THE REST OF M'I VA'IS SERVIN6 THEM.

GURU NANAK ANP MA.ePANA CONTINUEO THEIK' cJOUK'NEY TILL THEY!?EACHEO HARPWA!? THE!?E_ .--....,---- - -- -----1

WE ARE THROWING WATER TOWARVS THE SUN FOR THE 50ULS OF OUR ANCESTORS.

GURU NANAK PIP Nor SAY A WORP Bur BENT POWN ANP

&.

HAUNTIN0 VOICE CUTS THROUGH MY HEART. WHO IS THE 5IN0ER'? BRINE> HIM TO ME!

6URU NANAK. WAs BROUf5HT BErORE BABAR. WHAT MAI?E YOU SIN0 THAT SON0'?

I WAS CALLlN6 ON 0017 TO WITNESS THE INJUSTICES METEV' OUT TO HIS CHILt7REN.

BA8A12 WAS FULL OF REMO/2SE.

o

HOL'! MAN, WHAT SHOUL17 I DO? AOVISE ME. SET THE PRISONERS FREE AN17 RESTORE THEIR PROPERT'! TO THEM.

BA8A12 IMMEP/ATEL Y OBEYEP THE COMMANP. ...--------< HOL'l MAN, I'VE PONE AS YOU BA17E ME. PRAY BLESS ME THAT I BECOME THE EMPEROR ' OF IN17IA.

'YOUR WISH WILL BE FULFILLE17. BUT REMEMBER TO BE A JUST RULER WHOSE SOLE INTEREST IS THE HAPPINESS OF HIS PEOPLE.

AFTE12 THIS 0URLI NANAK MAPE A PECISION. HE WAS NOW 52 YEARS OLI? I MUST PRACTISE AS A HOUSEHOL17ER,ALL THAT I HAVE PREACH EO.

50 HE CAeT OFF HIS ORAN6E FMMER\;; LIFE AT KARTARPUIi?-.

~OBEs

AND SETTLED !?OWN TO A

HE ESTA8L1SHED A COMMUNITY KITCHEN Of!. 'LANGill? 'WHE.eE ALL WERE' WELCOME. SIR,15 THERE

ROOM FOR ME '?

IN THE E()ENINS ALL WOULD COLLECT IiRQUNt? guRU HANAK ANP HIS ASSOCIATes. COME, M'Y SONS . LET'S BE61N 51NGIN6 THE PRAISES OF 6OD.

WE HAVE ENOU6H ROOM FOR ALL WHO WISH TO WORK ANI7 EAT. IT IS oNL'lI II7LER5 FOR WHOM WE HAVE NO ROOM.

ONE PAY,GURU NANAX: WANTEIJ TO TEST HIS C?ISCfPLES TO APPOINT A SUCCESSOR.

MY

BOWL HAS FALLEN INTO THE SEWER.

WITHOUT HESITATIN6.LEHNA. ONE OF HIS DISCIPLES, BROUGHT OUT TIlE BOWL. . GURU,HERE 15 YOUR BOWL.

6U/?U NANAK. MAOE HIS DECISION• . r--~-_.J:

t-lEITHER OF MY . SONS CAN

~~:::~~6ECOME GURU ~ AFTER ME. LEHNA,MY MOST FAITHFUL DISCIPLE, SHALL BE MY 5UCCESSOR. ...~,

,....

ONE EVEN/Alf!L I APPOINT LEHNA AS MY

SUCCESSOR. HE WILL BE CALLEI/

GURU ANGAl?

I HAVE COMPLETE~ M'Y LIFE'S WORK. I MA'Y NOW GIVE UP M'Y B017'Y.

THEN ON SEPTEMBE12 2.2, 1539 6URU NIlNIlI