I believe this process started during colonialism. Anglos pretty quickly started to emphasise their perceived analogous relationship between Sikhs and Hindus as similar to that of Protestants and Roman Catholics. Many prominent people amongst our lot brought into this hook, line and sinker. And so began this strange relationship where influential apnay projected Sikhi through the lens of their imperial masters creating 'Sikhism'. So this is no new process but the culmination of a process that has been going on for at least a century.
It explains a lot. Especially the subtle sidelining of Dasam Granth.
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