Sir,
Elected members of the Gurdwara committees have a statutory responsibility to represent the Sikh faith as taught by our Gurus and recognized by the Sikh Nation as binding to Tegulate and depict accurately the terminology used by Sikhs. Our Gurdwaras are not temples. Sikhs do not worship idols, stones or pictures. Sikhs throughout the world give reverence to the Guru’s Word Gurbani. The Guru of the Sikhs is ‘Shabad’ (Shabad Guru Surt Dhun Chella). Therefore, Sikh places of worship are called Gurdwara committees to educate the media and the general public of the Sikh principles and the Sikh way of life by setting examples. Sikhs should insist on using appropriate names for their sacred items and ceremonies, for example: KARAH PARSHAD not semolina pudding; CHAURI not fly whisk; KIRPAN not knife or dagger; AMRIT SANSKAAR -not baptism ceremony; AMRITDARI SIKH not baptized Sikh; GURU GRANTH SAHIB not Sikh bible, GURDWARA not Sikh temple; the list is endless.
One would never come across words like Christian temple or Muslim temple. Therefore, why should Sikhs settle for Sikh temples? It is the weakness of Sikh Gurdwara committees and Sikh organizations to have adopted such mean and improper names.
In the name of Guru Sewa I sincerely hope the Sikhs in Britain will come to their senses and start changing their temples into Gurdwaras.
Kartar Surindar Singh Chairman
Article extracted from this publication >> March 2, 1990
