DETROIT MI: Merriam Webster’s Collegiate dictionary gave the following definition of a “Sikh’: Sikh: an adherent of a monotheistic religion of India founded about 1500 by a Hindu under Islamic influence and marked by rejection of idolatry and caste.
Some other dictionaries gave the definition as ‘a member of a Hindu sect” ‘offshoot of Hinduism.”
Sikh Missionary Center Detroit took this matter in June 1991 to the following publishers: G.&C. Merriam Co. Publishers Webster’s Dictionary; The American Heritage Dictionary; Oxford American Dictionary The Random House Dictionary Webster’s New World Dictionary.
It was pointed out to the above publishers that Sikhism was not an offshoot of Hinduism. A Sikh was not a follower of a Hindu religious sect cither. It was stressed that Sikhs do not accept or follow the Hindu Holy Scriptures Sikhs do not worship the Hindu gods and goddesses Sikhs never go to Hindu temples to join in their prayers; & Sikhs totally differ even in physical appearance not to speak of the Hindus but from others also.
All of the above mentioned publishers regretted their mistake and promised to give correct definition of a ‘Sikh’ in the next edition of their dictionanes. ‘The new definition of a ‘Sikh* has appeared in the 1993 editions of the above mentioned dictionaries The new definition in the Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary Oudh edition reads now as follows. Sikh: an adherent of a monotheistic religion of India founded about 1500 by Guru Nanak and marked by rejection of idolatry and caste. Similar definitions have been given in the 1993 editions of other above mentioned dictionaries.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 18, 1994
