Dear Editor:
Wahe Guru Ji Ka Khalsa,
Wahe Guru Ji ki Fateh
I was very glad when W.S.O. came into existence to serve the cause of The World Sikh Society at an international level. I came to United States in 1978, after serving the cause of Sikh Panth by spending many years with the All India Sikh Students’ Federation and the Shiromini Akali Dal (Home Land) and had come the final conclusion that so long as the leadership of the Khalsa Panth is in the hands of landed aristocracy and illiterate “Jathedars” the Sikh Panth will not make its mark in history. I am glad youth and Sant Bhindranwale gave a new dimension to the Sikh struggle and finally it looks that the Sikh Panth is going in the right direction.
Emergence of W.S.O. at this scene was considered a great hope for uniting the World Sikh Society to achieve the litany “Raj Kare Ga Khalsa’’ But the level of its leadership, which has been displayed in public and press, leaves much to be desired. Sant Jarnail Singh showed the way of sacrifice but the leadership which took the responsibility to carry forward his idea here in U.S.A has failed to evaluate his illustrious example. How can a divided house boast of getting justice and life of honor for the Sikhs in their home-land in Punjab? Let me give a warning that if W.S.O. leaders will not ‘mend their fences and keep ignoring the tradition and the philosophy of Sikhism, they will not be considered well-wishers of Sikhism, rather they would be condemned as antithetical to the aspirations of the Sikhs of Punjab Who are fighting a final war of their destiny Khalistan.
I still feel that creation of WSO is a big achievement in itself. It is such a canopy under which Sikhs all over the world could unite, pull their resources and fight for their cause with one voice. So the need of the hour is not to throw away this canopy or let it fall under its ‘own weight, but rather to reorganize and revitalize the whole structure,
In this regard, I propose that we should reorganize WSO on the basis of Tasks and Objectives rather than on the basis of Ranks and Positions. These Tasks or ‘Objectives could be divided into six categories: (1) Public Relations (2) Finance (3) Religious Awakening (4) Human Resources (5) Strategic Planning and (6) Adjudication.
The present leaders and future spirants for leadership in any of these five categories be asked to list their past accomplishments and pacific plans for the future.
The WSO members should then be asked to mark their references on secret ballots.
The selected leaders then should give all reasonable resources and authority to execute their plans, however, after every three months they should be asked to submit their progress report to the adjudication group. This group hen should circulate these progress reports among the WSO members for comments and rate he progress reports as satisfactory, unsatisfactory or excellent. If a person achieves continuously three excellent reports, he should be suitably honored with a Saropa, and asked to continue in his position or any other suitable openings. If he/she receives three continuous unsatisfactory reports, then he/she be asked to resign or otherwise removed. The person’s with satisfactory ratings should be lowed to continue if no other better person is available.
The Adjudication Group besides auditing of accounts and adjudication of disputes should also be responsible for keeping in touch with Sikh masses and their feelings about the performances of WSO. This group therefore should consist of very respectable non-controversial Sikhs.
The Strategy group should be a kind of “Think Tank’ whose duty should be to keep on top of developments in Punjab and elsewhere in the world and they should be responsible for developing strategy on all matters of immediate or future concerns. They should also be responsible for such things as filing of suits in case of defamation of Sikhs, taking matters to UNO and arranging protest marches, etc. The functions of the WSO on such lines, and induction of really dedicated and task oriented Sikhs into the leadership will go a long way in rebuilding the morale of the Sikh masses and their confidence in the effectiveness of WSO.
Yours sincerely,
Daljit Singh Jawa ‘Topeka, Kansas
Dear Editor,
I would like to respond to Mr. RS. Dillon’s letter regarding the achievements of WSO leadership.
To keep the letter short, I would concentrate on its intangible achievements only. The single most accomplishment that almost goes un-noticed is its dramatic impact on Indian govt. international policies. Feeling intense heat from WSO’s successful lobbying efforts in the western world, it felt compelled to do something drastic to control the damage. Disregarding the over-abundance of labor and using the screen of “Ushering India in to 2st century” it decided to import computer and other high-tech gear worth millions of dollars. Apparently it has been advised that even though it wills widespread resentment in labor unions and unemployment in general, it was the only way to stop WSO’s runaway success.
It is no secret that western countries cry out loud against human rights violations only if doing so does not hurt their economic and other vital interests. Concern for human rights in case of South Africa got trampled by over-riding anxiety for strategic materials such as Chromium, Cobalt, Titanium, Platinum, Manganese etc., in the cases of Chile, Philippines and Iran it were national security considerations. Western countries will never ever do anything that might impair these multi-million dollar lucrative contracts from Indian govt. That puts Indian govt. in a highly leverage position which it intends to use to gag the Sikh lobby.
But, this is how WSO has suddenly brought about a major change in an arrogant govt. 10,000 miles away, ultimate goal of Khalistan calls for continued peaceful efforts on several fronts on our part
i) intensify Lobbying to get Khalistan govt. in exile recognized by as many countries as possible. ii)Raise a Khalistan fund to build an industrial & economic infrastructure so essential for sustaining the struggle for Khalistan.
iii) Raise a highly trained & dedicated Sikh Nationalist Army (SNA).
A mere existence of these pillars of Khalistan strength will devastate the Hindu psyche and force the Indian Govt to come to negotiating table without ever having to shed a single drop of precious Sikh blood.
So, join me in duely congratulating WSO and its leadership for its relentless & selfless service to ‘Sikh nation. Let us ask ourselves what have we done and can do for WSO instead of other way around. No one should expect miracle. The task ahead is horrendous. We must attain ever elusive unity, be patient and offer WSO our whole hearted co-operation and necessary resources and help it put together a comprehensive master plan that is practically viable and financially sound,
Thank You.
Yours Truly, S. Waryaam S. Bajwa Chicago, IL,
Dear Editor:
Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa,
Whaeguru Ji Ki Fateh
I am a regular reader of your (I should say OUR) paper and ‘would like to congratulate you on the excellent job you are doing. It truly is a high caliber paper.
It is a shame that most people (myself included) rarely write about Good things but rather complain about the bad, with that thought, here’s my problem.
I would like to strongly recommend that we refrain from using words like militants, radicals (I ‘know we no longer let ourselves be called terrorists) when referring to our brethren struggling for independence of Khalistan, But rather, ‘we must always refer to them as “Freedom Fighters”,
In addition, let’s stop calling Punjab as a “North Indian State”. I think the world already knows of what Punjab is and wants to be. ‘The word Indian (when referred to the Hindus), quite frankly, STINKS. Also let’s refer to “Rajiv Gandhi” a5 just that, rather than “Prime Minister, Mr. Rajiv Gandhi”,
I would like to cite some “phrases” in the “AISSF Claims Success…” article on page 3 of January 17, 1986 issue and offer “correct” versions:
“Radical Sikh youths demanding” (column 1, parapgraph 1) wshould have read “Freedom Fighting Sikh Youths…”
“The agitations….. The north: Indian State” (col 2, paragraph 2)..should have read “The agitations …in the Punjab…” “The new state .. .. boycotted by the militants” (col3, paragraph 3) should have read “The new state… .. boycotted by the Freedom Fighters. ‘Thank you Davinder S, Athwal San Jose
Article extracted from this publication >> January 31, 1986