By: Dr. Kuldip Singh, President, Institute of Sikh Studies, Chandigarh

For the last 15 years the Panth has been passing both through a phase of crisis as well as awakening. This is the opportune lime to take important decisions which would have a far reaching effect on the community and help us in making the 21st Century as the century of the Khalsa.

Daily English paper from Chandigarh during the Dharam Yudh Morcha, 19821984, not only the Akali unity but total Panthic unity had been achieved under the “dictatorship” of Sant Harchand Singh Longowal. All Akali groups had joined the Morcha, and achieving the implementation of Anand Sahib Resolution of 1978 was the main demand or the Panth, The decision to launch the morcha had been taken at the World Sikh Convention held at Manji Sahib Diwan As than on 267982. The first Jatha was under the leadership of S, Prakash Singh Badal and by October 1982, over 60,000 Sikhs had courted arrest.

Damdami Taksal, Babbar Khalsa, Dal Khalsa, Akhand Kirtani Jatha and all Akali groups had Joined hands. Sant Longowal enlisted 100,000 marjiware between 2121983 to May 12, 1983. The Government, however, decided not to accede to the demands of the community and mounted a media campaign to malign the Sikh community and projected the Morcha as being against the Hindus Or Punjab and a movement of secession, An illusion was created that hundreds of Hindus were being killed in Punjab and preparation are afoot to launch an armed movement to tum out the Hindus from Punjab, Longowal called a convention of Ex-servicemen at Manji Sahib and, in spite of restrictions, a record number of 10,000 Sikh ex-servicemen attended and passed a resolution condemning the government for the dishonor and humiliation that Sikhs were made to suffer during the Asiad. Even I such known personalities as Air Chit * Marshal Arjan Singh, Lt. Cen. J.S. Aurora and Swaran Singh were roughly handled and searched. ‘The media, on the other hand, did not report any incident of harassment and humiliation of the Sikh community.

Entire Sikh community was ma legend by media by publishing anonymous letters and phone calls, On the other hand, anti-Sikh aggression by police, torturing of Sikhs and rake ‘encounters were ignored, On a peaceful call or” “Rasta Roko” on 4.41983, the peaceful agitators were met with unprovoked and indiscriminate firing by the police, A fact-finding team of opposition leaders, including A.B. Vajpayee, Harkishen Singh Surjit, were shocked by the devastation at Malerkotla and Kup Kalan, Excesses committed by the police were heartrending. At call of Longowal, there was a peaceful “Punjab bandh” on 8.2.1984, but a counter bandh called by the Hindu Suraksha Samiti on 14.2.1984 produced large scale and widespread violence against the Sikhs all over Himachal Pradesh and Haryana, Hindu mobs attacked Sikh at 56 places at Amritsar, including Railway stadium, This was possible because the media had mounted a concerted vilification of the Sikh community. We did not have an English press of our own The speeches of Sikh leaders in Gurdwaras and their statements were duly reported in the Punjabi press, but it did not stem the tide of large-scale onslaught Or slander, “Week” reported that in the first 19 months of Morcha, from August 1982 to February 1984, 220 people had lost their lives in Punjab, 190 Sikhs and 30 Hindus, Even the White Paper published by the government after “Bluestar” states 410 deaths during the morcha of whom 181] were Sikhs and 129 Hindus. Even today, all over India and abroad, the impression carried by people is that but for the timely action by the Government, Sikhs would have exterminated the Hindu from Punjab.

It is strange that we have not learnt our lesson, which we should have Jearmtlong ago. When S. Kapur Singh highlighted the problems of the Sikh community and the Government not honoring the pledges made to it before 1947, in the Parliament, the media reported, “S. Kapur Singh spoke ‘about the Sikh grievances”. Later S. Kapur Singh go this speech published as a pamphlet which was distributed among the Sikhs.

A daily prayer ix the prime need of the community and we should give it priority number one. The “Spokes: man” has established itself as an independent monthly, not aligned to any group, I is giving correct lead to the leadership, If we have our daily paper, it would be not only easier for us to have absolute majority in Punjab Assembly but it would help in keeping the members together by building public opinion. Punjab Government has become hostile to “The Ajit” of Jalandhar. “Ajit” is daily publishing largely attended demonstrations in its favor, but anybody not reading “Ajit” is totally ignorant of what is going on. Even Sikhs of Chandigarh do not know anything about it this would not have happened if we had a daily paper of our own with 3 courageous editor like that The Spokesman, I appeal to the community to give The Spokesman financial support quickly so that we have our daily before the year end.

If we had a strong Sikh English press then perhaps “Operation Blucstar may not have happened. At least, it would have projected it as the defeat of the policies of the Central Government and victory of the Morcha. It would not have allowed the Sikhs leaders to feel cowed down and frustrated and not accept the abject surrender and sign the Accord which, in the words of The Spokesman, is a “dead snake” around the neck of the community.

Weekly Sunday Khalsa Peace March if we apply our mind, then everybody would arrive at the conclusion that at present about 95 percent of the Sikhs, are Sikhs because they follow the Sikh customs during social events in the family like marriages. Usually these 95 per cent pay obeisance at a Gurdwara. a few times a year and do not form part of Sangat. Sikhs have spread al! Over India and in practically all countries of the world, but very few non-Sikhs know anything aboItus, our history, heritage and the universal teachings of our Gurus as enshrined in the Guru Granth Sahib. A compulsory Sunday Khalsa march between 910 am from thousands of Gurdwaras all over the world would bring shout a new awakening in the community, During this peace march, caver not more than one kilometer, the Sangut would recite Gurbun). carry placards of Gurbani quotes in the local language and distribute hand billy containing the meaning Order Gurbani being sung. As time passes, all the 20 million Sikh would join in this community singing; they would feel at tached of the Guru and propagate the teachings of our Guru as at no cost. Ambassador of Akal Takht — All of as regard Akal Takht as the Supreme Authority, It was established by Sri Guru Hargobind it, he planned it as a suspensor throne to the throne of Delhi. Guru ji not only adopted 3 kingly attire, with plume, canopy, chawar, armed body guards, two Nihang Sahibs, two swords but an army with horses and muskets, He was imprisoned by Jehangir but latce released, and Jehang is accepted Gura jis Sacha Padshah, We can easily make Akal Takht as the Supreme Authority of the world. Today indie visual and national selfishness is the greatest evil. All powerful countries savant to subjugate ethnic minorities in their own countries and their policies are governed by extreme selfishness of the haves or have notes. The Ambassador of Peace from Akal Takhi would go to the U.N. capitals of all countries preaching the message of our Gurus “Manas ki Jaat sabhaicko perchanbo that is the supreme wisdom of Akal Purakh. There are thousands of different ethnic cultures and civilization, each having a right to exist in own milieu, For example, he would: plead for the suffering of Tibetan refugees, and for return of Dalai Lar and he Tibetans back to Tibet. Tibet ans never had any army of their own; and they were never a threat to China. They have a night to lead their lives according to their own culture. Similarly, he would plead with Sri Lank: authorities to call a halt to this unnecessary carnage of the youth bout Sinhalese and Tamil. U.N. does not believe in interfering in the internal, affairs of the member countries and this is responsible for ethnic clashes in so many countries. In our own country, the representatives of Akal Takht would visit all places of ethnic’ conflict and establish peace, as also; contact all old and new settlements of Sikhs and take care of their spiritual) ‘and temporal needs.

The Daily English Newspaper, The weekly Khalsa marches and the Ambassadors of Akal Takht would bring” the community into focus all over the world. Guru Nanak planned total emancipation of man. He did not regard religion as a ritual or ceremonial obligation of a mere quest for Spiritual bliss which was compatible we political slavery. Let us become to bearers of the 21st Century. 3 TS.R.1295,Dr. Kuldip Singh, FRCS.

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