Sir,
I congratulate MSS, Sidhu, for a lucid and timely exposition of the Paralytic condition of our community. All new religions undergo oppression, suppression, and deni8ration. In its short history, Sikhism has experienced the worst of these traumas. Consequently we have a history of sacrifice, achievement and integrity, but we also have a Consistent record of wanton destruction of the very fabric of our society at the hands of our own people.
Guru Nanak founded this great religion. In essence, we accept the Principle of One-ness of God, and the Brotherhood of Man; but in Practice, many of our people run to and join so called Sadhs and holy men. Those end up in personality cults.
Guru Gobind Singh his predecessors with extraordinary foresight, created the Khalsa and bestowed the Guru ship on the Guru Granth Sahib. The Guru Granth Sahib has the central place and we all accord it respect, reverence and fealty. We are very indignant if someone enters the Gurdwara with bared head, but we exempt ourselves from any sanction arising out of abuse, desecration, misbehavior or even assault and murder in it, committed by us, our friends or relatives.
Guru Gobind Singh did not give to any Sikh, however eminent the power or authority to evaluate the religious standing of another Sikh. It is the inherent night of the Guru alone to determine whether his Sikh has come up to the mark or not.
It is tragic to hear Sikhs making public pronouncements about other Sikhs, whom they adjudge to be no longer Gurn’s Sikhs. This usually takes the form of abusive epithets and especially using “sinho” instead of Singh. I have noticed that even WSN indulges in. this kind of denigration, ostensibly with relish.
By Sikh tradition, a person’s misdoing is judged by the Sangat. This one-sided condemnation of any individual is repugnant to good morals and the norms of a society which aspires to be sovereign. Sikh media has a vital role to play as beacons of tradition and watchdogs against intentional or unintentional chaos which stamps our community as lawless.
Guru Gobind Singh showed the way; Banda Bahadur sowed the seeds; and Maharaja Ranjit Singh put the seal of supremacy. It took our Community a whole century to become masters of our own Jand, and all was not plain sailing either. As soon as the strong personalities disappeared, genocidal activities of our community resurfaced. It is almost as if we are always on the lookout for an opportunity to destroy ourselves.
From Guru Arjan to this day, there have been “Shahids”. We remember all the “Shahids” in our Ardas, not merely those favored by one group or the other.
Some 75% of the Sikhs do not belong to the original Indo-Aryan stock. There is a natural alienation bred between established countrymen and the immigrants. Basically, because of the rigidity of the Hindu Caste system, there has been very little miscegenation of these two groups. The environmental effect has been that inspite of Guru Nanak Guru Gobind Singh’s teachings of 239 years; the majority of our Community has absorbed the cancer of caste taboos.
When funds are needed for a Gurdwara, or for another Sikh necessity, our Community is ready and willing to accept donations from Amritdhari’s as well as Sahajdharis. But when there is the matter of Khalistan it is made abundantly clear that it is to be only for the Amritdhari’s.
The basic need for a community is to unite in all its aspects and to remain so united. The Amritdharis, having taken the bold and positive step of displaying their dedication to the Khalsa, they have thereby also taken on the mantle of responsibility. If the Amritdharis conduct themselves in all respects according to the Code of Ethics established for the Khalsa, there can be no doubt that the Sahajdharis would be impressed by their standard and integrity, and they wish to take Amnit.
A primary need seems to be Introspection. We all know the principles of Gurmat, Gurbani and our Traditions. We must dedicate ourselves honestly and diligently to pursue these to our best ability. Second, we have to develop a collective conscience whereby we should not; by behavior, word of mouth, and writing or in any other medium, express unconstructive criticism of other Sikhs. Third, we should encourage with all our might efforts which are made by Sikhs for the betterment of Spiritual and Secular aspects of Sikhism. Fourth, remember that jealousy, bigotry and intolerance have no place in the Sikh religion. Therefore what we claim for ourselves as Sikhs is also due to other Sikhs. Sikhism is 2 common wealth. Fifth, too many Misls could not achieve what one strong leadership could. Our ancestors gave a wise lead; they also left behind blunders and betrayals. Thus onus is on us.
Dr. Preetam Singh Montreal
Article extracted from this publication >> February 16, 1990
