Gender discrimination brings cultural, social, economic and educational differences in the nation which pushes the country backwards. One of the most efficient ways to ensure the “Right to Equality” enshrined in India’s Constitution is to empower women.

In today’s world, we all talk about “Women Empowerment” and promise to elevate women’s standing. During this time, Namdhari Samaj, following in the footsteps of its current Guru Shri Satguru Dalip Singh ji, offered several such instances to all of us, as a result of which women have gained high standing and respect in society. The Namdhari Sikhs have launched a specific campaign to secure women’s full engagement in all aspects of society, as well as their highest status and respect. Women’s admission into male-dominated areas is secured under this system.

Satguru Dalip Singh Ji, the head of Namdhari Samaj, has taken a number of innovative efforts to empower women. In this he has made Namdhari Singhanis (women) sit like men, reciting, staging, Ardas, preparing nectar, drinking nectar, performing Havan-yagna, giving shoulder to the departed, offering fire, and so on.

Detailed information about the “Women Empowerment” activity done by Namdhari Sangat on Satguru Dalip Singh Ji’s (current Namdhari Guru) orders:

1. The Namdhari Sikhs pioneered a unique programme by empowering women to create and consume nectar. Previously, only men were responsible for this task. The important point to note here is that women created nectar and nectar drinks for males as well as women. While this task is still done by males in some Sikh sects, it is still done by women in other Sikh sects.
2. Generally, in the Sikh Panth, all religious rites relating to marriage (Anand Karaj) are done exclusively by men (Gurdwara’s granthi), with no women participating in any way. The Namdhari sect, on the other hand, has authorised the women in their society to undertake all marriage ceremonies, including marriage, Ardas, reading Char Lava, performing Havan-Yagna, and cooking langar. Women did all of the work, including preparing honey and obtaining nectar.
3. Thakur Dalip Singh ji told the Namdhari women that they should carry the bier and can also gave fire during the death rituals. By encouraging Thakur Dalip Singh ji’s lecture, Naamdhari ladies have begun to pursue this activity. Previously, in our male-dominated society, only men gave the shoulder to the meaning of someone’s death, and only men gave fire.
4. The Namdhari sect has enhanced women’s participation in social arenas in addition to their active participation in religious traditions and beliefs. Satguru Dalip Singh Ji feels that only by educating women will we be able to educate our society. Because the child spends more time with his mother, and if the mother is educated, she will instil positive ideals in her child. As a result, the Namdhari Sangat is carrying out numerous projects for the education of women, as directed by Satguru Dalip Singh ji. Women in cities such as Delhi, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh are taught free education and stitching needlework.

Only when a religious leader sets an example that provides people a new direction in their thoughts will society be rescued. Only until society accepts a woman entirely can she claimed to be empowered.

The Namdhari Gurus, particularly the Present Spiritual Head Satguru Dalip Singh Ji, have always encouraged the Namdhari Sangat to become intellectuals. He said a lot of new things that will influence people’s attitudes, intelligence, and thinking towards women in the future.

The Namdhari society has enthusiastically and totally accepted the concept of “women empowerment.” That’s a major issue in and of itself. Because, while bringing change to a society is challenging, adopting new thoughts and new traditions from an existing tradition is far more difficult. The Namdhari’s, on the other hand, have enthusiastically accepted “Women’s Empowerment” as per their Guru’s commands. Which is both startling and a source of joy.