Sikhreligion is ranked as the world's fifth largest religion. Today Sikh religionhas over 27 million followers worldwide, with the majority living in the Punjabdistrict in what is now Indiaand Pakistan.The number of is about 5,50,000. The word Sikhism isderived from one of the state in Indiai.e. Punjab.

Sikhism wasfounded by ?Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji?, the first guru of the Sikhs. Guru NanakDev was Hindu and Muslim followers and afterwards began to be called Sikhs(learners). They taught his followers to experience God within themselves, tohave full faith in God, brought them from darkness into light. They opposedinequality, injustice, superstition in the society.

The tenthguru ?Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji? installed ?Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji?. Hedeclared that there would be no other living Guru after him. Guru Granth Sahib,a collection of Holy Scriptures, has teachings and writings of Guru Nanak Devand other Gurus as well as Sikh, Hindu and Muslim saints. They provide unique and unequalled guidance and advice to the whole ofthe human race. They taught us the true value and meaning of Sikhism. GuruNanak Dev taught his way of life in the form of songs and later on those words formedthe beginnings of the Sikhs' sacred writings, later to become the "ShriGuru Granth Sahib".

GuruNanak Dev spread the message EK ONKAR that means we are all one, created by theOne Creator of all Creation. The meaning of each word of :

• Ek Onkar- There is only One God.
• Sat Naam- Truth is his name.
• Karta Purkh- He is the creator.
• Nir Bhau- He is without fear.
• Nir Vair- He is without hate.
• Akaal Moorat- He is immortal, without form.
• Ajooni- He is beyond birth and death.
• Saibhang- He is self-illuminated.
• Gur Prasad- He is realized by the kindness of the true Guru.

At the time of assigning name of new born baby, aman is given the name with ?Singh? that means lion, the woman is given the namewith ?Kaur? that means Princess. Only through his/her name, a child can wellrecognize that he/she belongs to .

Sikhhistory has the several women who played a leading role in the events of theirtime and left their imprint on our history. The word Kaurageous is used forSikh women unity. In the past, women were treated as inferior and man?sproperty. But Guru Nanak Dev through his preaching told the entire society thatwomen were not slaves and they were worthy of praise and equal to men. They encouragedthe freedom of speech and equal participation of women in worship, society, andon the battlefield. Womenin Sikhism have played a glorious part in the history. Therole of women in Sikhism is explained in Guru Granth Sahib. There is absolutely nodiscrimination against women. Now, Women are allowed to lead religiouscongregations and can even take part in recitation of the Holy Scriptures.

As beingSikhs, We all should be proud of our unique religion ?Sikhism? that regard equalitybetween men and women. We must learn and practice the teachings of equalitywhich our Gurus taught us in Sikh religion.