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Bibi Amro was the daughter
of Guru Angad devji, the Second Guru.
She was born in 1532 in the village
of Khadur Sahib, District Amritsar.
She received her early education and
training directly from her parents Guru
Angad Dev ji and Mata Khivi. Guru Angad
spent a lot of time with his children.
He taught them the Gurmukhi script that
he had revised and simplified which
is used in Guru Granth Sahib. When she
came of age she was married to Bhai
Jasoo son of Manak Chand of Basarke
village.
As was the custom of the day she was
sent to live with her husband's family.
Her father encouraged her to continue
doing kirtan and to preach Sikhism to
all that she came in contact with. Amar
Das who was her husband's uncle was
quite taken by her sweet melodious voice
when he heard her singing shabads (holy
hymns). It was she who first introduced
him to the teachings of Sikhism. As
his interest grew it was she who sent
him to her father to learn more about
these teachings. Amar Das was so deeply
influenced by Guru Angad Dev ji that
he became a devout Sikh, so much that
Guru Angad Dev ji announced him as his
Successor. Thus Guru Amar Das ji, the
third Guru got to his destiny of becoming
a Guru through Bibi Amro ji.
Years laters when Guru Amar Das ji
gave structure to the Sikh Nation and
organised his preachers into 22 teaching
districts he put Bibi Amro ji in-charge
of one of these districts that he callcd
Manji. What Manji meant was that a person
who was leading a Kirtan to be sit on
the Manji while whole sangat in front
of him.
The person occupying Manji was the
Sikh preacher appointed by Guru Amardas.
This appointmcet can best be compared
to the position of Bishop in thc Christian
Church today. It was an administrative
position, with full responsibility for
the equality and content of the preaching.
She also would have the responsibility
of collecting revenues and making decisions
for the welfare of her diocese. Her
manji or diocese included Basarke, her
husband's village, where they made their
home. It is the direct result of the
efforts of Bibi Amro and other Sikh
preaches that Amritsar today is synonomous
with Sikhism. Today, close to the village
of Basarke, there is a tank (man made
pond) bearing the name Bibi Amro da
Talab (Tank of Bibi Amro) in her memory.
Copyright © Alice Basarke "The
Champion of Women." |
