Dear Editor,
I have just finished reading Khushwant Singh’s book “My bleeding Punjab.” Even though he is not my favorite author and he does not always write on my favorite subjects, 1 still like to read him. I was deeply distressed that in this book he always refers to Sri Darbar Sahib Amritsar as Golden Temple and he does it so repeatedly that the world temple resonates in the reader’s mind. It almost obscures the fact that it is the place to go to receive spiritual bliss by listening to and reciting the Gurbani. It is a tragedy that Sikhs do not waste any time in changing not only their physical shape but also try to modify their institutions when confronted with a changed environment under the excuse or pretext of changed time of modem times.
Right from the time of Guru Nanak Devji until today, Sikhs have been creating History but until recent times, did not write it. As a result, lot of misinformation has been printed over the centuries about Sikhs in the history books of the world. Sikh history is too voluminous and time and space too short to recount in this letter. Let me narrate only two instances at this time;
I find reference to “Sri Darbar Sahib” as “Golden Temple” unacceptable. Temple is a place for the worship of a deity. A Sikh’s unreserved obeisance (0 Sn Guru Granth Sahib has been misconstrued and misinterpreted as an idol worship. While reciting Guru Granth Sahib, a Sikh is actually communicating with the Guru and it is far from idol worship. The fact that quite a few historical Gurdwaras’ and may others too) domes are gold plated is totally irrelevant. It was simply Maha raja Ranjit Singh’s generosity and love of religion that he donated the precious metals of the times, for Sri Darbar Sahib and other historical Gurdwaras. This is something which many religious people do. Sikhs love their religion and their Gurdwaras and that’s why all Gurdwaras everywhere in the world are built out of voluntary contributions. (Most recently, Akal Takht Sahib which was destroyed during infamous Operation Blue Star on June 1984, and rebuilt by Brahmin’s handpicked stooge was demolished since it was not in accordance with Sikh traditions). And the reason that Sikhs donate most of their precious possessions for the Gurdwaras.
Likewise, the reference to “Sri Guru Granth Sahib” as Sikh’s Holy Book goes back to the time of the second half of the 19th and early part of this century. Aristocratic Sikhs like Sri Sundar Singh Majithia, Sardar Harbans Singh Majithia, Sardar Harbans Singh Attari, Raja Sir Daljit Singh, Sir Jogindera Singh to name a few, were all well-educated and loyal to the British Raj. They were instrumental and responsible along with organizations like Chief Khalsa Diwan in coining these new words to describe the Sikhs’ institutions for the convenience of non-Sikhs like the British. But it did not and does not represent the truth. The Sikhs know that because Guru Gobind Singh himself bestowed Guruship on Sri Guru Granth Sahib in the year 1708.
I believe time has now come that Sikh scholars everywhere in the world in general and in the Western hemisphere in particular, pay closer attention to correct such historical misinformation’s spread by and not limited to Sikhs referenced above. The list should include modem Sikh writers like Khoshwant Singh also who is responsible for spreading misinformation in the latter half of the current century.
Amarjit Singh Buttar
Vernon, CT
Article extracted from this publication >> March 19, 1993
