Dear Editor, I fully share the concerns of Bhai Ranjit Singh Gill and Sukhminder Singh Sandhu concerning the definition of Sikhism as stated in various western publications like Oxford American Dictionary, Encyclopedia Britannica, etc. (W.S.N. December 3,1993). In the past, this issue has been discussed from time to time at meetings of various Sikh organizations in N. America e.g. (W.S.O, Int’l meeting in Ottawa, Canada, April, 1991) but for proper follow up it got lost. The source of these misstatements and misinformation is none other than the Sikh writer, Khushwant Singh who in his recent book “(My Bleeding Punjab 1992) claimed onp.161, “what the English speaking world knows of the Sikhs, their religion…is largely through my books published in America and England, All the entries in the Encyclopedia are mine. I have never made myself out to beam an of religion.”
Having identified the problem and its cause, I believes the next logical step is to take corrective measures to rectify the situation. I propose (and Tam open to suggestions) that Jathedar of Sn Akal Takht Sahib should either on his own or through his designated representatives in India or abroad contact these organizations and the definition as contained in the SGPC”s Rehat Maryada should be inserted in these and many other similar publications. Speaking for myself, I would be glad to take this up with the Jathedar Sahib and then leave to his discretion thereafter. Amarjit Singh Buttar Vernon, CT.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 24, 1993
