In a rarest of the rare decision by the Air India to painted Guru Nanak’s message “ੴ” (Ek Onkar), on the tail wings of Air India’s aircrafts 787 Dreamliner. The decision marks to coincide with the celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s, the first Guru of the Sikhs on his 550th Birth Anniversary. This aircraft will fly three days a week from Amritsar to London.
The Ek Onkar “ੴ”, conveys the message that God is one and the only one and he is omnipresent, all the time and everywhere. This concept was given to humanity by Guru Nanak Dev Ji. The “ੴ” also marks the beginning of the Sikh Holy Scripture, Sri Guru Granth Sahib as it starts with “ੴ” Ek Onkar.
The Japjee Saheb, the first Sikh Gurbani, which was composed by Guru Nanak Dev Ji also begins with the Sabad “ੴ” Ek Onkar. The Japjee Sahib, a Guru’s prime scripture was composed also at Kartarpur Sahib, now in Pakistan.
After completing his four udasis (travels), Guru Nanak Dev Ji settled—and lived—in Kartarpur sahib where he adopted Kheti bari (agriculture) as his profession and spent 17 years 6 months and a few days. Guru Nanak Devji himself named the place as Kartarpur Sahib, which is now known as Kartarpur Sahib. It is also at Kartarpur sahib that Guru Nanak Dev ji for the first time pronounced, the ethics of the humanity “Naam Japo, Kirt Karo, Vand Chhako.” The practice of Langar (Community Lunch), which the Sikhs fallow all over the world, was also started here at Kartarpur Sahib. His second important Sikh tradition of Guruship, was also started from this place when Guru Nanak Dev ji himself bestowed the Guruship to Bhai Lehna—and who was renamed as Guru Angad, the 2nd Guru of the Sikhs. This is the only city to which Guru Nanak Dev ji himself ascribed the name-Kartarpur Sahib.
The other places associated with the name of Guru Nanak Dev ji such as Nanakana Sahib (birth of Guru Nanak Dev) and Punja Saheb (Hassan Abdal), both in Pakistan, had been named by guru’s devotees.
The Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan, has been connected to a 4-Kilometer-away a city in India—Dera Baba Nanak—through a corridor, that shall allow visa less travel from India to Kartarpur Sahib. The Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan will inaugurate the Kartarpur Corridor on 9th November 2019.
The Indian Government has directed the Air India – its official airline to carry on “Tail wings” of its aircrafts the Sikh message “ੴ”, (Ek Onkar). The “ੴ” Ek Onkar, is the prime tenet of the Sikh religious philosophy.
After completing his four travels, Guru Nanak Dev Ji settled—and lived—in Kartarpur for 17 years 6 months and few days. It is at Kartarpur that he announced the Sikh Ethics “Naam Japo, Kirt Karo, Vand Chakou.” The practice of Langar also was started here at Kartarpur. His second important decision to bestow the Guruship to Bhai Lehna—who was renamed as Guru Angad—also took place at Kartarpur Saheb. Kartarpur is the only city that had been given its name by Guru Nanak Dev Ji himself. Nanakana Saheb and Punja Saheb had been named by his devotees.
The Hello NRI, a USA based origination, which looks after the problems and needs of the NRIs world over, has welcomed the Air India’s decision to join the celebrations of the Guru Nanak Dev’s 550th birth anniversary celebrations by carrying Guru’s message.
Chanchal Manohar Singh, Chairman, Society for Promotion of Peace, an Indian organisation that works for the peace in South Asia, has also welcomed the decision of the India and Pakistan, for constructing the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor. This corridor will grant visa-less excess to 5000 Indians every day from dawn to dusk.
The writing of guru’s message “ੴ” (Ek Onkar) on all Air India’s aircraft, will also carry and spread Guru Nanak’s message of love, peace, and service to mankind, all over the world, says Chanchal Manohar Singh.