AMRITSAR: The scholars debating the Sikh polity last week agreed upon three postulates, First, the Sikh polity flows from Guru Granth Sahib. Second, it is manifested in the synergy of religion and polities though the two can also function independently in their own fields. And third, under the given situation, Akal Takht would have to be treated as the central institution.

It was pointed out that the concept of ‘Sikh polity could be traced to Guru Nanak and it was the sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind, who developed this idea into Miri and Piri (temporal and spiritual). The concept of ‘Sikh Raj that flows from the Sikh polity is not a theocratic state, the concept of Sikh polity is not confined only to the religion but it is related to anything concerning the man.

Efforts were made to discuss these ‘concepts in relations to the present situation, It. was while discussing the present that the Akalis came under strong criticism. The seminar was organized under the aegis of the ongoing World Sikh Conference.

Dr. Kehar Singh, in his keynote address, pointed towards four models of Sikh polity. The first models that of holy kingship of the Gurus, the second that of the Khalsa confederacy of the Misl period, the third that of monarchy during the period of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and the fourth that of the present day. Parliamentary democracy under the Indian constitution.

He was of the opinion that the Sikhs should strive towards strengthening the democratic institutions so as to make them truly representative and responsive to the urges of the people. They should also relate the institutions of Gurmata. and Sarbat Khalsa to the need of the present society.

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) secretary, Manji Singh Calcutta, quoting Harold Laski, advocated the theory of limited allegiance to the state, He said that the state would disintegrate in case the minorities were denied equal rights. He said that a number of nations could coexist in the same state.

Dr. Jaspal Singh justified the armed revolt under the Sikh polity, He said that religion and politics were not one but unified. The sixth Gur made the differentiation, The Sikhs had now made them alternatives. He said that the Sikhs had lost the ground both in religion and politics due to overlapping of the two concepts.

Harsimran Singh was self-contradictory, ‘On the one hand. he justified active role for the Akal Takht jathedar especially if the Akalis weaned away from the right path. At the same time, he said that the intervention by the jathedar could not be justified when an Akali leader in power has to discharge certain duties, while meeting the Constitutional obligations. Kirpal Singh, former MP, lashed the Akalis, and said that the against Takht jathedar was helpless in taking accent them and keeping away from the religious stage, reahok Singh Begrian said that jathedat was the leader who gets the mandate Gurmata which provides him with the parameters of his functioning. He that Gurmataiis a representative setup and it should not necessarily be unanimous, The Gurmata can manifest the majority view and it is binding on the minority Maharaja Ranjit Singh rejected the concept of Gurmata which Jed to the fall of the empire.

He regretted the approach of the present Sikh leadership to opt for non-Sikh parties in the electoral politics and said that it was against the Sikh polity. The need of the hour was a democratic set up taking mandate from the Gurmata as Sikh religion was societal, he added.

Prof Kulwant Singh said the basic problem with the minorities was that when they are supposed to act, they prefer to pray and while praying, one cannot act He said in the Face or terror from time and history, the minorities would have to be confrontationist or they would degenerate, He said the problem with the Sikhs was that they do not accept any leader as supreme, “we act out of inaction,” he said).

Dr. S.S. Narang said that the concept of “Haleemi Raj” Gdeal regime) flows from Guru Granth Sahib and all the Akali governments lacked that character, The concept of “Haleemi Raj” is tantamount to universalized regime.

Bhaewant Singh Dilawn a former diplomat, who is working among the lepers in Maharashtra, said that the Akal Takht ‘Should take steps to end the lust for power of the Akalis. “We are ashamed of these political and religious leaders for their Just for power. They are a saleable commodity,” he commented. He lambasted them saying that the Akali leaders were foolishly divided and alienated from the Guru.

Article extracted from this publication >>  September 29, 1995