Guru Granth Sahib: A Unique Source of Mass Communication

Abstract

This paper primarily gives a brief outline of the Sikh ideology in context of women and her status in society. This is illustrated in the Bani of Guru Nanak and other Sikh Gurus and Bhagats as is recorded in Guru Granth Sahib. The object is to describe how this ideology differs from the earlier traditions, and to highlight how Guru Nanak completely rejected the world-view of earlier impressions about women and her status in society, religion, family and instead gave a new ideology combining the spiritual life with the practical life of man, based on his own revelation. This research paper focuses on the situation of women in the ancient
India and medieval India and how the message of equality of women and her importance in every sphere of life was mass communicated through Guru Granth Sahib. Various authors in Shri Guru Granth Sahib, have written about various issues which women at that time were facing including inequality in all fields, whether marriage, decision making or her life in case her
husband is no more and was merely considered a thing of loot during wars and surrender of kingdoms. Various authors of Guru Granth Sahib have thrown light on how a woman should be looked at by the society and what important role she has to play when it comes to religion or day to day life. Guru Nanak was very much clear about the importance of equality of all human beings, be it man or woman, of any age, cast or tribe. There was an intense need of a strong system of mass communication in any form,
which could communicate and enlighten the misguided masses belonging to the contemporary religions of that day. Guru Granth Sahib utilizes a unique approach to Mass Communication, by using the language of the local people and avoiding something as difficult as Sanskrit and other such languages which were beyond the understanding of a common man and woman, many of whom were prohibited from attaining education because of their birth in another clan meant for fighting or selling, etc. This adaptation of local language eliminated the role of the middle man who in the form of priests misguided the common man and extracted huge loads of wealth an money in the name of God. Also, the common people could never understand and adhere to the real message of the religion. Since the Bani of Guru Granth Sahib not just belongs to one author, but is a compilation of other authors , there is a notable visibility of Marathi, Brijbhasha and other local languages of the places where Guru Nanak visited to collect the Banis