Guru Nanak (1469–1539) was the visionary founder of Sikhism. He was a poet, a singer, a social reformer, and a deeply compassionate soul who wished to lessen the communal strife that was all too common in the world he was born into.

Born in a village in present-day Pakistan, Nanak lived during a time of deep religious conflict between Hindus and Muslims. But from an early age, he questioned rigid rituals and social divisions. At 30, after a mystical experience in which he disappeared in a river and reemerged days later, Nanak declared, “There is no Hindu, there is no Muslim”—only one universal God who loves all equally (Singh, The Sikhs, 2006).

This simple but radical idea became the foundation of Sikhism. Guru Nanak taught that the divine dwells within all people, and that we connect with God not through rituals, but through remembering God’s name (Naam), living honestly, and serving others. He rejected caste, condemned religious hypocrisy, and elevated the status of women—revolutionary ideas for his time (McLeod, Guru Nanak and the Sikh Religion, 1968).

For over two decades, Nanak traveled thousands of miles—on foot—to share his message across South Asia and the Middle East. He engaged with Hindus, Muslims, Sufis, and yogis, often using poetry and music to teach. His hymns, later compiled in the Sikh scripture, continue to inspire millions today.

Guru Nanak didn’t just start a new religion—he offered a new way to see the world: as a place where all are equal, the divine is near, and justice begins with compassion.

Sources:

• McLeod, W.H. Guru Nanak and the Sikh Religion. Oxford University Press, 1968.

• Singh, Khushwant. The Sikhs. Rupa Publications, 2006.