The Punjab Police has made a proposal to the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, suggesting that the birth anniversary, or Gurpurab, of Guru Nanak Dev be named ‘World Pedestrian Day’. This move is aimed at promoting road safety. The 552nd Gurpurab of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, will be celebrated on November 19th, 2021.
Guru Nanak Dev’s Message and Journey
As part of his mission to promote unity and engage in interfaith dialogues, Guru Nanak Dev undertook long journeys during the 15th and 16th centuries. During this time, transportation modes were primarily limited to boats and animals such as horses, mules, camels, and bullock carts. However, it is believed that Guru Nanak Dev and his companion, Bhai Mardana, did most of their travels on foot.
Guru Nanak Dev visited hundreds of spiritual sites related to various religions, including Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, and Jainism. His travels took him from Mecca to Haridwar, from Sylhet to Mount Kailash. Many gurdwaras were established at these locations to honor his visits, which were later documented in texts known as ‘janamsakhis’. These sites are now spread across nine nations: India, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Tibet (China), Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan.
Significance of the Proposal
The proposed move underlines the government’s dedication to pedestrian rights, often referred to as the “Right to walk”. By introducing the ‘Save Pedestrian’ pledge, the initiative also seeks to encourage citizen participation for prioritizing pedestrian safety. A society that protects its pedestrians is considered developed and contributes to achieving sustainable development goals.
Road safety is a serious concern in Punjab, with reports of over one thousand pedestrian deaths each year.
About Guru Nanak
Guru Nanak was born in 1469 at Talwandi Rai Bhoe village near Lahore. He was the founder of Sikhism and was followed by nine other Gurus. His teachings emphasized the oneness of God and stated that all humans could directly access God without the need for rituals or priests.
Guru Nanak denounced the caste system and advocated equality for all individuals, regardless of their caste or gender. He introduced the concept of ‘Vahiguru’, a formless, timeless, omnipresent, and invisible entity as god. Other names for God in Sikhism include Akal Purakh and Nirankar. Guru Nanak promoted ‘Nirguna’ bhakti, which involves the worship of a formless divine.
Guru Nanak passed away in 1539 at Kartarpur, Punjab, currently located in Pakistan. The Sikh’s holiest book, the Guru Granth Sahib, includes 974 hymns composed by Guru Nanak.