Resurgence of Sikh Prestige
by : Pritpal Singh Bindra
The past 10 years have been very crucial in the Sikhs history. The Sikhs image faced the two pronged Attack of degradation and debasement.
The infiltration element of governmental agencies, and criminally motivated militants appended every turban wearing Sikh with a label of “terrorist” particularly in the Wee Thanks to the human rights organizations, the real tyrants have been exposed and the Sikh prestige is restored to some extent, (Even President Clinton had to intercede).
In the second field, the Eurocentric Academicians and their Sikh protégés toiled hard to malign Sikh scriptures and distort their hagiography. To combat such forces it had become essential for the Sikh intelligentsia to step in vigorously. A few academic conferences at the American Universities in the month of April this year elevated the revelatory aspect of the Sikh scriptures and Sikh hagiography. (The positivity of the result was evident in Pashaura Singh’s appearing before Sri Akal Takht).
For the benefit of the public at large, a spate of conferences and seminars was critically needed. International Sikh Conferences, planned to be held at New York, Toronto and Vancouver, were as attempt to erase the effects of contemptuous coercion. And to make them effective, the presence of cream of the academicians was prerequisite. The conferences were bestowed prominence with the participation of one of the most eminent persons in the Sikh psyche. Prof. Manjit Singh, Jathedar, the Minister in Chief of Sri Akal Takht Amritsar, He was accompanied by the top-most Scholars of the Universities in the Punjab.
The Reception of the Jathedar, with Guard of Honor of 20 un- sheathed swords, on July 14 at the Ontario Khalsa Darbar, Dixie Road, Mississauga was quite emotional, In reply to the reception address by Harbhajan Singh Pandori. President of the Dixie Sikh Temple, the Jathedar said that the Sikhs living in foreign lands have as much right to look towards the Akal Takht for guidance as the people in the Punjab. In spite of his pressing engagements he ventured to come to attend the Conferences here to ‘share with you my love with my Guru (Granth Sahib).
The young girls of Dixie Gurdwara inaugurated the Session on Sikh Youth Day` on July 15 with their melodious hymns. Opening the session, Sri Akal Takht Jathedar explained that the leaders of the other communities were striving hard to save their youth, But unfortunately this trend had not captured the minds of the followers of the Gurus, Absorbed in their own bickering, they were not trying to contain the youth of the Sikh nation.
Apart from Dr. Ujjagar Singh Bawa from Washington, and Dr. Sukhminder Singh from California, there were two Scholars from Punjab to elucidate the audience ‘on the various topics on youth involvement. The Professors from Punjabi University Patiala, Dr. Baklkar Singh and Kehar Singh presented ‘Sikh Youth in 21st Century’ and ‘Sikh Youth and Sikh Institutions’ respectively.
During the Camps held in North America, the youth was found to be utterly confused. The lessons in Sikh ethics and morality learned by them during their Camps conflicted with the practices adopted by their parents. The Ragis in the Sikh Temples were stressed to explain the Sikh values to the older generations attending the congregations. The parents were advised to invest in books for their children for ‘long term profit.”
The Sikh Institutions and the Sikh Youth should not be separated. They must amalgamate into one so that the youth look the lessons of childhood with them and moved towards maturity. Young people were advised to think, for the benefit of others according to Gurbani, and work in the interest of humanity like Bhai Ghannaiya, Their benevolent activities could enhance the prestige of the Sikh Community as a whole. But, they were reminded, all their material gains would be worthless unless they turned their attention towards the Guru (Granth Sahib) for ecclesiastic guidance.
The Ladies of the Gurdwara, with the recitation of Shabds from the holy book, initiated the proceedings for the ‘Sikh Women’s Day` on July 16. All the speakers emphasized that the Gurbani advocated for the equal rights of the womanhood. Both male and female was the product of five elements (tat). The variation in their biological formation did not mean that one was superior to the other. Whereas Gurbani accepted God as ‘father and “brother,” it ally embraced Him as ‘mother’ and sister.
Most of the so-called saints have denounced the Adoration and Ornamentation (Shinghar) among the women. They argued that this practice produced pervasion among the male population, But the Gurbani did not accept this premise. Men tried to hide their own immoral deeds behind their unjust attitude.
Traces of prejudicial and offensive stances against women have frequently been found in Hinduism, Islam and Christianity. But in Gurbani, respectability has been conferred on her. A believer can be a Suhagan (fortunate married woman) and a Sulakhni (noble woman). An egoist can be a Duhagan (woman of duality) or Kulakhni (ill-mannered woman). In the Sikh historiography woman have been bequeathed an honorable status. In the Sikh institutions, too, womanhood has achieved distinctions. There were two women among the 22 chairs (Masands) established by Guru Amar Das (1479-1575 A.D).
The papers read by Dr. Surjit Kaur (D.A.V. College, Chandigarh) and Dr. Gurnam Kaur (Punjabi, Patiala) were quite thorough and exhaustive. Whereas the exposition of Dr. Surjit Kaur (Washington) was quite charming, Dr. Gurbakhsh Kaur (California) was forceful and her resonant voice was: captivating .Dr. Darshan Singh, bewitched among the lady speakers, was magnanimous too.
With the hymns sung by the resident resident the third session on Tri-Centenary of Khalsa went under way on July 17 afternoons. Khalsa was created by Guru Gobind Singh on the Baisakhi, day in 1699 A.D, and it was essential that the Sikhs looked back at their past deeds critically and toiled to regain the same glory by year 1999. Right now it seemed they were lost in the jungle. The negative forces were bent upon taking the Sikhs away from Akal Takht and to combat such forces tremendous efforts for solidarity were needed.
The illumination of the young growing generation should be our top most priority.
Human rights violations against the Sikhs were touched in this session too. The media was blamed for not voicing the atrocities committed against the minorities.
Through the medium of Satellites American culture was over powering not only the out in the western countries, but also in all the Asian countries. The youth in the Punjab was spending more time capturing the anomalies and de- generations of the decaying western culture. In the coming years we must strive hard to eradicate adverse influences. The best way was to get the youth to join their hears with the Guru (Granth Sahib), and for that parents were suggested to spend at least one evening with their children pondering upon the Gurbani.
The Keynote speaker during all the three session was none other than Prof. Manjit Singh, Jathedar, and Sri Akal Takht, the highest spiritual and temporal seat of Sikhism. With Post-graduate Degree in Religion and Punjabi, and Degree in Education and Music he is a brilliant scholar, an astute speaker, and possessor of melodious and resonant voice. His soft spoken eloquence and non-aligned perspective even won the hearts of the opposing factions in Toronto, and he was received by them with tumultuous honor.
He was overwhelmingly impressed by the active participation of the youth, with their bold question, in the Conference. After listening to the Kirtan and Religious discourses, the youngsters asked what was ‘in them for him?
How were they ‘going to help him to build his career? The Jathedar Stressed for the implementation of means to allure the youth to the Guru’s places, He wanted managements to provide them with the facilities for sport and other moral and social activities. The establishment of Khalsa schools would be the biggest step forward, he suggested. In the second place he wanted parents to be the role-models by becoming Gurdu wards themselves. He urged the youth to ignore the infighting of the Gurdwara managements and build their own future. He assured them that the resources of the Akal Takht would always be open to them for any physical and moral guidance.
Women had been an equal and indispensable part of Sikh Society, the Chief asserted. The Gurbani in the Guru Granth Sahib was quite distinct on the point. Rather there were numerous instances of priority given to women in the Sikh hagiography.
On the question of Sikh Maryada (decorum) on Shinghaar, he mentioned that the only forbidden part was the body-piercing ornaments (nak or Kan vin-na), Shingaar-ras was acceptable if it was to win the favor of the (true) life partner.
On the question of Dowry, he blamed women themselves for the propagation of this reproof; it was always the mother-in-law who caused commotion and sufficing with her demands. He advised women to take vows not to indulge in demands, thus, to eradicate the practice. On the se- lection of a woman as Panj-piara, he quoted that there was no restriction. He narrated how he had appointed five women, along with five men to present Guard of Honor to Guru Granth Sahib at the opening of a Sikh Temple in Hounslow England, (But unfortunately this act was denounced by a `woman’ with her comprehensive article in the newspapers. She blamed the Jathedar for violating the set Sikh Maryada).
On the Sikh identity, he advised the audience not to feel shy to let the public know that you belonged fo the magnanimous Sikh religion. He advised the congregation not to abbreviate Singh’ or ‘Kaur’ by merely putting `S’ or `K` after, their first name.
Quite at length, and repeatedly, he laid emphasis on turning to the Guru (Granth Sahib) for solutions to all their physical, moral, social and environmental problems, it was the most modern and comprehensive book for guidance and moral rearmament.
Prof. Manjit Singh referred to the Warring and factional activities of the Sikh leadership very often during his discourses. The anguish and suffering caused by the forces of diversity was visible in his feelings. How could Sikhs imagine to achieving Khalsa Raj with such contradictory tendencies? The present situation was exactly the same as it was at the time when the Khalsa was divided into Tatvais and Bandais. The need has arisen again to resolve our differences by sit ting down and listening to the Guru’s teaching in the Guru Granth Sahib. In the presence of the Guru ‘inside’ of the man dies, and the Guru himself emerges to recon ciliate.
From the organizational point of view the Conferences has deep most successful and organizers deserve full credit. The effectiveness of the same will be judged by (1) the development of the cooperation among the various Sikh Temples in Toronto and its suburbs (2) the advancement of mutual respect in the media associations in this area, (3) the attention diverted by the Gurdwara managements to provide facilities for sports and other social activities lies to the young people, and (4) the representation of the women and youth on the Gurdwara boards.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 5, 1994
