Guru Nanak

Guru Nanak (1469–1539) was the founder of Sikhism and the first of the ten Sikh Gurus, known for teaching devotion to one God and the equality of all people.

• Where and when he lived: He was born in the Punjab region (at Talwandi, now Nankana Sahib in Pakistan) and travelled widely, sharing his ideas with people of different faiths and backgrounds.
• Core teachings: He emphasised Ik Onkar (one Supreme Reality), honest living (kirat karo), sharing with others (vand chhako), and remembering God (naam japo).
• Equality in everyday life: He challenged caste discrimination and social inequality, teaching that a person’s worth comes from their actions and character, not birth.
• Community practices: The Sikh ideas of sangat (congregation) and langar (a common kitchen where everyone eats together) grew from this stress on equality and service.
• How his words were preserved: Many of his hymns are included in the Guru Granth Sahib, making his teachings central to Sikh faith and worship even today.

His message began as a spiritual and social reform movement, but it also helped create a strong community identity that later Sikhs could unite around during periods of conflict and persecution.