Sabad 2: The Plight of Women in War

This session focuses on the second sabad from Babarvani (Utterances on Babar) and also in Rag Asa (Guru Granth Sahib, p. 417). Here, Guru Nanak Sahib vividly portrays the suffering of Hindustan’s wealthy and elite women, who, in the wake of the Mughal invasion, face assault, humiliation, and devastation.

The sabad explores spiritual and physical loss themes and the seemingly indiscriminate nature of survival in times of calamity. More importantly, Guru Nanak Sahib centers the voices of women, highlighting their suffering in war, a reality often overlooked in historical narratives.