RAS question
Who was the founder of Sikhism and the first Sikh Guru?
Correct answer: (C) Guru Nanak Dev.
Guru Nanak Dev was the founder of Sikhism and the first of the ten Sikh Gurus.
Explanation
Guru Nanak Dev (1469-1539) is identified by Britannica as the founder and first Sikh Guru of Sikhism. He was born at Talwandi, now Nankana Sahib in Pakistan, and preached monotheism, equality and devotion to God. This makes him the only option that fits both parts of the question: founder of the Sikh faith and first Guru in the Sikh Guru tradition. Britannica further supports the doctrinal link by describing Sikhism as monotheistic and by noting Nanak's emphasis on the divine name, service and ethical living. His teachings are associated with devotional hymns and are connected with the Guru Granth Sahib.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Guru Gobind Singh cannot be the first Sikh Guru because the question asks for the founder and first Guru, while he was the tenth Guru.
- (B) Guru Angad Dev was Nanak's successor and the second Guru, so he does not match the founding-first-Guru role asked here.
- (D) Guru Arjan Dev was the fifth Sikh Guru, which places him later in the Guru tradition rather than at its beginning.
Concept
This tests the Bhakti-Sufi and medieval religious reform tradition in Indian History, where founders, lineages and core teachings are recurring factual anchors. RAS often asks such questions because they connect personalities with religious movements and their institutional evolution.