Recently I, and many others in our community, have received correspondence from Mr, Gurmit Singh Aulakh, and President of the International Sikh Organization (ISO). We have also received letters from. The Guru Nanak Society of Cincinnati requesting support for I.S.O. My first reaction to these letters is, “OH, Here comes another organization that the Sikhs don’t need.” After reading the letters, 1 am pleased that Mr. Aulakh, like many other dedicated Sikh individuals is trying hard to accomplish something for the Sikh cause, but I am deeply saddened to find that he had to establish another organization to do i.e. believe the Sikh people are tired of these big name organizations which are created by a few individuals and do not have roots or support in Sikh Sangats. I would like to share a few thoughts with your readers on this subject.
Let us reflect upon the unfortunate days of June and July 1984, when the separatist Hindu government attacked our Gurudwara and killed thousands of our brothers and sisters. I remember every Sikh was enraged by this barbaric act of the Hindu government and many meetings were held across the U.S., whereby learned Sikhs discussed the future course of action. Everybody felt that we did not have a strong national organization which could represent us to the American media, the elected officials and the Congress, with one forceful voice. The outcome of these discussions and meetings was the formation of Sikh Association of America (SAA) and World Sikh Organization (WSO). It was our initial understanding that the SAA would be the national organization with a strong grass roots structure, whereas the WSO wou1d be the international organization representing SAA and other such organizations for Canada, UK,, etc,, at the international level. This made lot of sense to us and we raised our hopes that now all Sikhs will be united under the common cause to obtain freedom and justice for our brothers and sisters in Punjab.
However, over two years have gone now and we have seen that WSO did not adopt SAA as a child, instead it became its competitor, Neither SAA nor WSO have been able to establish grass roots support and structure to mobilize the Sikh masses with them. With the exception of a few protest marches, etc. WSO (U.S.A) has virtually failed to accomplish anything significant for the Sikh cause. Ironically Mr. Aulakh himself was an office bearer of the paralyzed WSO. In conclusion it would be safe to say that the two years after the attack on the Golden Temple, Sikhs in America have fallen far short of the need of the hour and have failed to accomplish anything significant for the Sikh cause,
To my Sikh brothers and sisters, I would say that we don’t need another big name organization, instead we need unification of the existing organizations. I have heard many times from my fellow
Sikhs that it’s better to have tem (10) organizations which are working for the same objective rather than one (1) that does not work because the people in it do not get along. I believe it’s a theoretical idea which has very little practical value. We the Sikhs have a big problem now and it can only be combated with a unified force. I would like to request Mr. Aulalkh and other dedicated Sikh leaders that please consider working together as one organization and through unified leadership mobilize support at the grass roots level. At the same time Lurgeall concerned Sikhs to actively participate at the local level; form local units and develop local work plans such as establishing contact with local elected officials to promote the Sikh. Cause; call your units WSO, SAA or whatever else. While our leaders are busy in making more organizations and securing their positions, let us mobilize at the local level and let our local American communities know who Sikhs are and what their problems are. Let’s organize soup kitchens for the hungry and sponsor other community service activities such as cleaning up the neighborhood, blood drives, etc. to let the American people know about the Sewa spirit of the Sikh religion, Our strength, unity and accomplishments at the local level are absolutely essential for our success at the national level.
Sincerely,
Mohinder S. Sandhu
Fresno. CA.
Dear Editor:
When I read your “Letter to the Editor” column on P. 14 of July 18, 1986 issue, I became convinced that either Narindra Singh does not know much about Sikhism, or Government of India’s malicious propaganda had been able to indoctrinate him in line with the views held by those who are bent upon destroying the Sikh faith and exterminating the Sikhs.
To dispel his ignorance and correct his vision about Sikhism, I suggest that Narindra Singh should read the “Sikh Rehat Maryada” pamphlet issued by Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee. By the way this pamphlet was prepared and printed in 1986 after four years of effort put in by the renowned seventy saints, scholars and institutions of Sikhism
I am sure after reading the “code of conduct of a Sikh, he would have no doubt that Dr. S.S. Dharam has done a great service to the Sikh Nation by explaining the Concept of a Sikh in English language and printing the same for those who are not so well informed about the Sikh code of conduct.
The writer has put in the concept of an ideal Sikh. It is for those who have gone astray from tenets of Sikhism for whatever weakness and material temptations to introspect themselves and return to receive the blessings of the Guru by taking Dikhya from the Guru through baptism of Khande-kiPahul..
Lastly coming to the remarks connoting that it is unwise to make such rigid rules, I think it is at the least an act of total arrogance to call “Sikh Rehat Maryada” as rigid and ritualistic and to call the Gurus who spelled out this “Rehat Maryada” as “unwise people”. I want to make one point clear that those who have succumbed to the based bodily pleasures and materialistic temptations do find Gurus exhortations and Sikh code of conduct as unpalatable to them. But because of their bondage in lower tendencies, they have no right to criticize those who live a life expected of a Gursikh and exhort others 10 do so.
I may also remark here that Dr. SS. Dharam has widened the scope of Sikhism by bringing in a concept of a Sehajdhari Sikh which implies that all human beings, irrespective of caste, creed, color, race or religion, who believe in the philosophy of Sikhism are Sehajhari Sikhs that is they are the aspirants for Sikhism gradually transforming themselves to the Sikh way of life.
Finally, I may state that Narindra Singh has shown a cheap taste by being sarcastic in remarking that the qualifications for a top level Panthic Sikh leader on pages 164-166 are “amusing”. I wish to, tell this gentleman that there are many Gursikhs who are up to the mark as per the qualifications laid down by Guru Gobind Singh Ji and are enshrined in the collective personality of such devout Gur Sikhs called Khalsa, (Khalsa mero roop hai khas. Khalsa meh ho karo niwas), and let it be known that there is no place for negativism and passivism of Narindra Singhs type in Sikhism. The Khalsa is in Chardi Kala and blessings of the Guru are with the Khalsa, The truth shall eventually prevail; the Purest (Khalsa) shall eventually prevail and rule, and the atheists agnostics, those who go against the Guns commandments, shall perish.
Sincerely,
Bhupinder Singh,
M.B.BS. Vancouver, B.C.
NOTE: Correspondence on this issue is closed. Editor.
Dear Editor:
News about General Vaidya assassination was both shocking and saddening. While taking of any human life is wrong, we would hope that such assassinations are judged in the proper context by the people of the world at large.
If, as alleged, his assassins were Sikhs, they were no different than someone like Udham Singh, who shot General Dyer, the man responsible for the 1919 Jallianwalla Bagh massacre in Amritsar. Although the British General did not personally shoot any of the victims of the massacre (in which Udham Singhs father is said to have died), he bore the responsibility for their deaths. Udham Singh was hailed as a hero by the Indian masses; the British, however, tried him as a terrorist and hanged him. “One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter”; it just depends (on your point of view.)
General Vaidya was the commander of the army that massacred thousands of innocent Sikh pilgrims in the precincts of their holiest shrine, the Golden Temple (ironically, situated just a few hundred yards from Jallianwala Bagh). Under his command all well-accepted principles of necessity, minimum force, good faith, impartiality etc., were ignored by the army to attack its own countrymen, Though he initially talked of leniency for the Sikh army deserter’s, he later insisted that they be severely punished, Several army men while they were in detention, awaiting trials. As recently as a few months ago, General Vaidya was making public statements that not 4 single bullet was fired at Harmandir Sahib during the attack, even though there is ample documented proof that there were several hundred bullet marks on the structure. Subsequently, he actively participated in decorating the Indian Army soldiers for their “bravery” during Operation Blue
Star
The cycle of violence taking place in India is very unfortunate and we wish that the situation had not come to this, Such actions are, in most cases, a reaction to earlier actions of others, We wish that the Indian government, instead of being increasingly more repressive towards the Sikh community, changes its attitude to being conciliatory and just. Its the only way to stop this vicious cycle,
Sincerely, WSO Boston Chapter
Dear Editor:
We have been running Punjabi and Gurmat School for children from 6 yrs. to 20 yrs. for the last several years. We have always been handicapped by not having a formalized syllabus and extreme shortage and unavailability of suitable teaching materials. In the process, we have learnt some, which we would like to share with others if interested, and in the meanwhile, would like to hear from others about their experiences, we would very much appreciate any help, by way of copies of teaching materials or list of sources etc., from where we can get help.
We believe this effort is very important, and should be receiving our utmost attention.
Sincerely,
Inderpal Singh Gumer, President
THE SIKH CENTER OF THE GULF GOAST AREA, INC,
8819 Prairie Drive, Houston, Texas 77064
TELERHONE: (713) 466-6538
Article extracted from this publication >> August 22, 1986
