This is in reference to Dr. Sukhbir Singh letter published on August 24, 1990. He cleverly drifted away and dodged the main topic of Independent Sikh Religious identity which is being destroyed and Sikhism has been portrayed as part of large Hindu Frame work in academic circles.
Dr. Oberoi and Dr. Mcleod who are presently on Sikh Chair in Vancouver and Toronto in their statements on the issues of the spiritual unity of the doctrines and the deeds of the Sikh Gurus, the separate and independent identity of the religion preached and practised by the Gurus, and the present relevance of the Miri Piri doctrine, are entirely different from those embodied in the Guru Granth Sahib and lived by the Ten Masters who created the Khalsa Panth. In the above context Sukhbir should respond whether those Chairs are serving and expounding the religion and mission of the Gurus or they are toeing the political lines of forces which at this juncture are using their full physical and intellectual might in finishing both Sikhs as well as Sikh Religious Identity. A serious theological study of religion is very hard to find in a multi disciplary structure. This is not only true for Sikh studies but for all other religions also as the parameters used for such studies are not theological but sociological, anthropological or others which distort basic doctrines when applied to religion.
I hope Sukhbir should review all papers written by Dr. Oberoi since he joined this chair and respond appropriately keeping main focus on“SikhReligious Identity” which was started by Guru Nanak in 1469 and finished by Guru Gobind with succession of Guru Granth in 1708. If Sikhs and Sikhism has to survive in future the Sikh Identity has to come from lives lead by Gurus and their Bani Inscribed in Guru Granth.
Jasbir Singh Mann, M.D.
Anaheim, California
Article extracted from this publication >> September 14, 1990
