Sikhs, over the years, have had contributed a meager share of scholars but never anyone an intellectual in recent years; Until now. Dr. IJ, Singh’s Sikhs and Sikhism: A View with a Bias is a superb book with a range of subjects (religious, organizational, social, and political) discussed and compiled in 27 short essays, This book deserves to be part of every Sikh’s home library. The World Sikh News has already published (Feb.24, 1995) a book review, reviewed by Dr. Hakam Singh. My book review is going to be different. My intention is only to add more information with emphasis on political matters to what Dr. Singh had already so eloquently elaborated in his book.
In the essay titled: “Religion and Politics What a Mix!,” Dr. Singh stated: “The lives of Guru Arjun, Hargobind, Tegh Bahadur and Gobind Singh particularly emphasize that a dichotomy between religious and secular concerns is false,” “There are few more words stressing to the effect that in Sikhism both religion and politics are harmonized “to mold a man into a ‘complete’ man.” While it is tree Sikhism ‘complements religious and political matters, the odd fact is that Sikhs have never addressed this issue beyond the surface scratch. Many educated Sikhs are perfectly content when told the same old-line repeatedly which goes something like this: In Sikh religion there is no difference between religion and politics, Lately when T heard this wisdom again, J asked the speaker 0 shed some proof, He did, He asked me to visit the Golden Temple in ‘Amritsar, What he meant was: Harminder Sahib represents religion and the Akal ‘Takhal represents religious politics; since both sinecures are located within the Golden Temple premises, therefore, it proves beyond doubt that religion and politics are inseparable in Sikhism. Wisdom, indeed! Even a casual observer into the Sikh affairs will notice that this wisdom is true at least in practice, perhaps even more, if not otherwise, A cursory look will show (we personalities cum institutions: Gurcharan Singh Tohra and Manjit Singh. Tohra is the head of Shromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC),—clearly a religious function and the institutional management that go along with it But, Tohra’s credentials ‘are neither religious nor political; he is totally incompetent, If you pay close attention to him, his words are never religious, always political, bigger the better. The latest one is: He wants to remove the Chief Minister of Punjab—by way of par titivating in the elections to be held under the Indian Constitution. So, here is an example of one who is entrusted to run efficiently the sacred Gurdwaras (a religious place), however, not qualified; but ‘endeavors enthusiastically into the political arena; regrettably, qualified to the least. This shouldn’t cause alarm if use wisdom quoted above is correct. After all, Tohra is mixing religion and politics the way it should be!
Manjit Singh is the Jathedar of Akal Takht — an institutional structure popularly known for its theocracy. The name ‘Manjit Singh proceeds with an honorarium — “professor.” Again, professor’s credentials seem to be religious (even though his utterances are mostly mystical), hardly appropriate for the job on his shoulders — A leadership role for the Greater Functions of Akal Takht. Things do get interesting, as they say, these guys are “elected”” — politics the whole nine yard, The wisdom of mixing religion and politics actually gets better as you peep deeper and deeper into the Sikh affairs, The Akali Dal’s performance shines remarkably by all means, mind you. The Sikhs have trapped themselves in this never-ending web surrounded with a maze of ocean: depth ignorance. Granted there is a historical precedence to this mess, nonetheless, Fateh Singh (former Akali leader) fetches the initial credit (at least in recent times) for brilliantly assimilating religion and politics when he got constructed a side enclosed concrete platform on the southwest rooftop comer of Akal Takht for the purpose of self-immolation. Since then, Sikhism has remained a Political Sikhism with the devastating consequences, Did Sikh Gurus really advocate ‘and politics? Would Gurus approve of the way Akali Dal and its subsidiaries practice religion and politics in the name of Sikhism? Unfortunately, as of now, the Sikh literature is scanty in addressing this issue intellectually from the perspective of our Sikh Gurus, The educated Sikhs must answer. Gurdeep Kaur, a faculty member of the Khalsa college, University of Delhi, recently explored this issue in her book: Political Ideas of the Sikh Gurus (New Delhi: Deep. & Deep Publications, 1992), Even though the book is timely, Kaur has failed to address the issues in depth, especially the intellectual analysis and the presentation of coherent ideology for Sikh polity to live by based ion the fundamental Sikh, Principles, In the essay titled: “On the Politics of Gurdwaras,”Dr, Singh explored the problem and has provided a remedy in the form ‘of an organizational shape — membership, Gurdwara Management Committee, Committee of advisors, slate of officers elect at the local level, and the Central Sikh Counsel at the national level. There is a merit to this approach, But, I doubt. this approach will work as envisioned, unless we get rid of or even control the narcissistic personality afflicting many Sikhs brought up under the dreadful influence of Hindu developmental process, The essay: “Khalistan: One Sikh’s View” is very well written. However, must add to the reader’s attention: This essay is ‘written without taking into consideration the historical perspective of Khalistan and the threat analysis posed within the ideological framework of Hindu India and the broad regional politics of South Asian hemisphere. ‘The author has elaborated a broad spectrum of issues. I wish he had dealt a few more, particularly the ideas on the missionary Sikhism and the Sikh’s point of view when confronted with world philosophies. Where do the Sikhs stand on the philosophy spectrum? On one end we have six Hindu Darshanas. (Nyaya, Vaisesika, Samkhya, Yoga, Mimamsa, & Vedanta) while on the other end the broad corpus of western philosophies. Conclusions and debate’ is indeed the very stated author’s purpose in Writing this book. Sikhs should take every opportunity to plunge into some of our deepest held political beliefs and reexamine them again, We must pay attention to: the symbolic meaning(s) of the structural layout Of the 72 acres Golden Temple complex, the concept of Miri and Piri, thereof the greater organization of Guru Khalsa Panth, the role and functions of Akal Takht, its interrelationship to other Sikh institutions, Let us hope the debate will continue.
by: I.J: Singh, South Asia Pub. 157 pgs. $16.99
Distributed by: South Asia Books, Columbia, MO Reviewed by: G.B. Singh
Article extracted from this publication >> May 26, 1995
