Dear Editor,
This refers to the Press Release issued by the Panthic Committee all the close of its recent meeting (W.S.N. dated March 18, 1994).
Sikh polity is already in disarray and tom, and is tethering {o the end, both in India and abroad. The ‘Sikh Religiosity has been the victim of unscrupulous exploits of both insiders (Piars and Pishauras) and outsiders (McLodians and Spell mans), The physical demolition of the reputation of Shri Akal Takht had been conducted by the external forces, and its prestige was pol under disregard by some internal forces, too, during the heyday of “infiltrated” and “planted” militancy.
With the settlement of leadership at Akal Takht some light of prestige appeared to be visible at the end of the tunnel, Prof, Manjit Singh’s debut in the World Sikh Conference was commendable. With the consensus of Singh Sihaibans of the other Takh is, his recent actions seemed to have heightened the dignity of the office and Place, Sikh Nation has just sighed in relief.
Now suddenly comes the assault on the authenticity of the establishment of the Akal Takht itself The Panthic Committee’s Press Release is quite unfortunate and ill-timed. The Statement libels Akal Takht and its Parmukh Sewadar-Preeminent Attendant with a few demeaning features, and it gives the impression that the advent of British imperialism endowed real authority to Shri Akal Takht.
Historically it is absolutely in- correct. In fact, the political edicts issued by Shri Guru Hargobind were the forerunners of authority vested on the Takht (Bunga as it was known then) itself There are humorous instances available in the History in the post-Guru period illustrating the authoritative establishment of the Takht, long before the arrival of British on the Punjab scene.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh was admonished a few times by (Ne Priests of Darbar Sahib and Akal Bunga for committing minor sacrilegious operations, though inadvertently, He always accepted the punishment without any consideration of his position, The most famous among them is the punishment conferred upon him by Akali Phula Singh, the “Head of the Akal Bunga.’ Maharaja’s marriage to a Muslim dancing girl Moran was dissented by the Sikhs, “Akali Phula Singh denounced him in Open assembly for violating the social rule of the Khalsa…Maharaja begged forgiveness with folded hands again and again. (Akali) Phula Singh (ordered) 100 stripes on his back before the public. The Maharaja at once took off his shirt. He was tied to the trunk of a tree… with his hands bound on his back (for the punishment)…” Thus reverence for Submission to the Akal Takht had been established long before the British stepped towards Punjab or the enactment of Gurdwara Act, ‘One may question the Suitability of the individual appointee as the Parmukh Sewadar (Editorial) W.S.N. dated April 8.1994), and the means of his appointment but to interrogate the whole concept of Akal Takht is blasphemous. Let us, rather, strive to elevate the Prestige of the post, and devise the irrefutable and irretraceable Means for the selection and appointment of the office.
And one, who contemplates to defy the temporal, or Spiritual Supremacy of Akal Takhl or Darhar Sahib must be prepared to face the celestial consequences. Ahmed Shah Abdali and Mir Manu had their ignoble ends. Their ignoble ends. The tragic epilogue of Indra Gandhi’s family in itself should be an eye opener. Even those, so-called Sikh militants who tried to impose their unethical practices under the dis- guise of fighters for the Sikh cause encountered Almighty’s wrath.
The Sikh Nation has already been passing through agonizing period. The dire need of the time is reconciliation and rapprochement rather than opening new wounds.
Pritpal S,Bindra
Mississauga, Ont.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 15, 1994
