January

As the scissor divides the map of the world in this painting, the sacred thread divided upper castes from lower, creating huge social rifts in Indian society for centuries. Nanak, who was born into the upper caste, was also expected by his father Kalu Mehta to don this thread but Nanak refused, the greatness of his soul refusing to accept any hierarchies among God’s creatures. The same was his view on women.

The ‘langar’ or common kitchen tradition was begun to give this equality practical form, and continues in full spirit today. This work presently hangs in the new Sikh Art gallery at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C.