Bibi Nanaki - The First Sikh

Dadi: "Beta, who do you think was the very first Sikh - the first person to recognize Guru Nanak as a divine teacher?"

Guddu: "Was it one of his friends?"

Dadi: "Even closer than that, beta. It was his elder sister, Bibi Nanaki. She saw his greatness when he was just a small child!"

Guddu: "His own sister? Tell me about her, Dadi!"

Dadi: "Bibi Nanaki was born in 1464, about five years before her brother Nanak. They grew up in a village called Rai Bhoi di Talwandi - now called Nankana Sahib in Pakistan."

Guddu: "What was Nanak like as a child?"

Dadi: "That's where the story gets interesting, beta. Young Nanak was different from other children. He wasn't interested in business or making money like his father Mehta Kalu wanted."

Guddu: "What did he like doing?"

Dadi: "He would sit for hours in thought, talk to wandering holy men, and ask deep questions about God and the meaning of life. His father grew frustrated - "This boy will never amount to anything!""

Guddu: "That must have been hard for little Nanak."

Dadi: "It was. But one person always understood him - his sister Nanaki. While their father scolded Nanak for being impractical, Nanaki defended him. She told her parents: "This boy is special. He is called to a higher purpose.""

Guddu: "She believed in him when no one else did?"

Dadi: "Exactly! Bibi Nanaki had a sweet, kind nature. When their father's anger boiled over, she would step between them and protect her little brother. She became his advocate, his supporter, his first believer."

Guddu: "That's beautiful, Dadi."

Dadi: "What's even more remarkable is that Bibi Nanaki recognized Nanak's spiritual greatness before anyone else. She acknowledged him as her Guru - her spiritual teacher - making her the very first Sikh!"

Guddu: "A sister calling her younger brother her Guru? That's unusual!"

Dadi: "It shows how clearly she could see the divine light in him, beta. When she married Bhai Jai Ram and moved to Sultanpur, she didn't forget her brother."

Guddu: "What did she do?"

Dadi: "Years later, when Nanak grew up and the family despaired about his future, Nanaki and her husband provided a solution. Bhai Jai Ram arranged a job for Nanak managing the grain stores of the local ruler."

Guddu: "So she helped him practically too?"

Dadi: "Yes! Nanak lived with his sister and brother-in-law in Sultanpur. He excelled at the job, managing everything with complete honesty. They even arranged his marriage to a good woman named Sulakhani."

Guddu: "It sounds like Bibi Nanaki took care of everything!"

Dadi: "She did. She couldn't have children of her own, so she poured all her love on Nanak's two sons, treating them as her own children."

Guddu: "But Dadi, when did everyone else realize Nanak was special?"

Dadi: "Ah, that's the most dramatic part of the story! One morning, around 1499, Nanak went to bathe in a river called Kali Bein. He didn't come back. They found his clothes on the riverbank."

Guddu: "Oh no! Did everyone think he drowned?"

Dadi: "For three days, yes! His parents were devastated. The townspeople mourned. Everyone assumed the worst. But do you know who never lost faith?"

Guddu: "Bibi Nanaki?"

Dadi: "Yes! While everyone wept, she declared firmly: "Rivers cannot drown him." She maintained unwavering faith in her brother."

Guddu: "And was she right?"

Dadi: "Three days later, Nanak emerged from the river! He had experienced a divine revelation. He was transformed. His first words were: "There is no Hindu, there is no Muslim" - meaning all people are equal before God."

Guddu: "He became Guru Nanak!"

Dadi: "Yes! And Bibi Nanaki was among those who first proclaimed him as a Guru. Her faith, which never wavered for even a moment, was vindicated."

Guddu: "Did they stay close after that?"

Dadi: "Guru Nanak traveled far and wide, spreading his message across the world. But between his great journeys, he always made sure to visit his beloved sister in Sultanpur."

Guddu: "That's so sweet."

Dadi: "And here's a touching detail - knowing her brother expressed his devotion through music, Bibi Nanaki bought him a Rebab, a stringed instrument. This became central to Guru Nanak's mission, as his companion Bhai Mardana would play it while the Guru sang divine songs."

Guddu: "She supported his work in every way!"

Dadi: "When Bibi Nanaki sensed her end was near in 1518, she asked her brother to stay a little longer with her. Guru Nanak was with her when she passed, reciting the sacred Japji Sahib prayers for her."

Guddu: "She died in her Guru's presence - her own brother."

Dadi: "Yes, beta. And just three days later, her husband Bhai Jai Ram also departed. Guru Nanak performed the funeral rites for both of them."

Guddu: "What does this story teach us, Dadi?"

Dadi: "So many things, beta! It teaches us to recognize greatness even when others can't see it. Bibi Nanaki believed in Nanak when everyone thought he was a dreamer. It teaches us the power of sibling love - she protected him, provided for him, and never stopped supporting him. And it shows that the first step of faith is often taken by someone who simply believes, even without proof."

Guddu: "She was like a bridge between Nanak and the world!"

Dadi: "Beautifully said, beta. Today, a Gurdwara stands in Sultanpur in her memory. She is remembered as the First Sikh - the one who saw the light before anyone else and remained devoted to the end."

Guddu: "I hope I can support my family like Bibi Nanaki did, Dadi."

Dadi: "That's the most precious gift you can give, beta - believing in someone when they need it most."