By Sukhbir Singh

INDIANAPOLIS: Communities like individuals have to make decisions at critical junctures decisions which may remain to haunt them. The Sikhs of Indianapolis are at such a crossroads. They are locked in a court battle between themselves. The matter at its face value seems to be a typical Punjabi grudge match: whether or not to split the assets of one gurdwara to start a second? But the underlying issues are more profound: whether the Sikhs have separate beliefs and causes or they must compromise with “Hindu friends?” Whether a Gurudwara, as the center of Sikh community affairs, should be located in the bastion of Hindu chauvinists? Should it be permitted to masquerade as a Sikh organization while under the “nagrani” of an antagonist community? Should Hindu “masands” control a Sikh organization to reap political benefits from patent Sikh symbols, terminology and ceremonies?

One of the contesting groups is Out to prove that the cause of Sikhism is not well served when isolated and small communities feel obliged to exist under the sponsorship of a majority community. Such communities succumb to social pressures of majority surroundings and sing the slogans of Hindu-Sikh bhai-bhai even louder. It is faced with the decision: maintain an identity or be assimilated into India’s majority community?

Indianapolis Sikhs organized over past 15 years have boasted that 30 odd families can field 100 strong to stage superb religious, social and cultural events. However, like Sikhs elsewhere, they were profoundly affected by the events in Punjab. Most are confused and would rather have some

one else make decisions for them.

Others are guided by personal goals and short term interests which override greater and wider

Sikh causes.

Some of the Indianapolis Sikhs have thrown their towels and sought shelter with “Hindu friends” -the very same who have made public proclamations such as : “only way to solve the Sikh problem is to beat sense into their heads”. They have opted to merge with the Hindus and moved the Gurdwara to the India Center. These Sikhs apparently believe that a compromise with the Hindus here will save the Sikhs from being annihilated in Bombay’s and Delhi’s.

Another protagonist group believers that situation of a gurdwara on the premises of an antagonist community circumscribes its freedom to practice religion, and exercise its cultural and political Options. It strongly believes that a gurdwara is the center of the Sikh community affairs, and as such cannot be a part of a competing organization. If maintained as a part of majority community center, the institution of gurdwara is bound to compromise its philosophy. it says. The worst thing which can happen to Sikhs when they get mentally reconciled to the concept that they are a part of the Hindus. Thus will Sikhism decline without ever as a single “shudhi” ceremony being staged!

Large and organized Sikh boodles have an obligation to guide the course of Sikh causes. Small communities, howsoever isolated, should not be permitted to destroy the Concept of independent “Chukian. Jhandhe and Bunge”. Innocent, isolated and expeditious decisions

of small communities, coupled with personal interests of “leaders” will gradually erode the Sikh causes and mete grievous harm to Sikhism.

Just as Sikhs must maintain their religious symbols they also must maintain their community way of life which is centered on a gurdwara, and exercise freedom of worship. Otherwise, the Sikhs are going to have lots of “Sikhs” among them who are Hindu in their heart and mind, or who are Hindus practicing Sikhism.

Sikhs should watch the struggle of a handful of Indianapolis Sikhs who have undertaken to check the tide of Hinduization of a Sikh institution. They have opted for a legal recourse, and are setting a precedence outside an Indian environ. They believe that a gurdwara has no place in an official Indian setting, particuarly when the Sikhs are being led to believe that they are a splinter group of the Hindus; and therefore, should relinquish their allegiance to Sacha Padshah in favor of a paramountcy of the Indian constitution.

And that is the point being contested in Indianapolis: if some Sikhs want a gurdwara to be located in the Hindu India Center, they cannot do so under the banner of “Sikhs” masquerading Sikh symbols, terminology, traditions, and ceremonies. The contest is by means equal. On one side is 15 years of organized gurdwara treasury backed by Hindu fat cats and official Indian organs. On the Other side is a rag of believers in a cause, who feel that they must elucidate a fundamental tenet of Sikhism. And object to proliferating “Niran karism.

Article extracted from this publication >>  January 30, 1987