AMRITSAR: A US.-based Sikh professor accused of blasphemy and challenging the authenticity of some portions of the Sikh Holy Scripture has been awarded religious punishment by the Sikh clergy of the Akal Takht.
Dr Pashaura Singh said here June 27 that he accepted the Sewa (service) awarded to him by the highest Sikh body whole heatedly in the presence of a small gathering of devotees
Dr. Pashaura Singh presented himself at the Akal Takht June 24 for explaining and seeking pardon for his controversial thesis The Texts and Meaning of Adi Granth.
The acting Head Priest of Akal Takht Prof. Manjit Singh pronouncing the verdict of the Sikh Clergy directed Dr. Pashayra Singh to delete the objectionable portions of his thesis before publishing it
The professor from Michigan University has also been asked to undertake Sewa (service) for two days at the Golden Temple and for five Sundays in a local Gurdwara near his residence in the United States. As per the Sewa at Golden Temple Prof. Singh will listen to the Gurbani
Kirtan for one hour recitation of Japji Sahib in addition to his regular prayer and participate in the cleaning ceremony of the Panikrana (periphery) of Golden Temple.
The Sewa in the U.S. obliges him to listen to Gurbani Kirtan dust the shoes of devotees for one hour each and recite Japji Sahib for five times.
After completion of his Sewa Dr. Singh has been asked to seek approval of his pardon for religious misconduct from Sikh gathering in a Gurdwara in USA.
The Head priest said that the Sikh scholar was summoned to Akal Takht last year after getting complaint from S.G.P.C. and Sikh scholars but Dr Singh had expressed his inability to travel to India for explanation.
On presenting himself at Akal Takht June 24 he gave his explanation at length for eight hours in the presence of nearly 25 Sikh intellectuals who questioned him minutely. In the presence of the Sikh Scholars he admitted the lapses and wrong descriptions in his thesis. Dr. Pashaura Singh was found guilty of five charges which included distortions and challenge fo the authenticity of Guru Granth Sahib Prof. Manjit Singh said. The scholar was also held guilty of raising many controversies in the intervening period which hurt Sikh sentiments. The SGPC had on its own in the meantime given a call for social boycott of the scholar.
Prof Manjit Singh also refuted charges that the Sikh clergy had imposed a ban on the research of Guru Granth Sahib. He said on the contrary the Akal Takht has directed the SGPC to initiate a cash award of Rs. 100,000 for a scholar undertaking research on the Granth.
But the Sikh clergy would not allow challenges to the Sikh scripture he said.
Prof. Manjit Singh said that Dr. Pashaura Singh not only accepted the charges but expressed desire to abide by any verdict of the Akal Takht.
Later Dr. Singh described the verdicts excellent decision and told reporters that he accepted the punishment wholeheartedly.
He said that the verdict had maintained his integrity for his academic functions while observing the rules and regulations of the Michigan University where he is professor of Sikh Studies he would make all efforts to maintain the Sikh norms. Dr. Singh worked under the super vision of W.H. McLeod of Toronto Univ. who is also accused of making blasphemous statements.
Dr. Singh who came here especially for receiving the punishment said that he would perform sewa in the Gurdwara of Sikh Society Michigan located at Madison Hights in Detroit.
Besides the acting Head Priest of Akal Takht the Sikh high the verdict are Giani Mohan Singh and Giani Bhagwan Singh and senior Granthi of Golden Temple Giani Joginder Singh Vidanti. One of the Professors critics told WSN he was happy that the authenticity and integrity of the Guru Granth Sahib the living
Guru had been acknowledged.
(Some information Courtesy: LA India)
Article extracted from this publication >> July 1, 1994
