Dear Editor:

I read very seriously about Gurmat ‘Chetna Lehar, recently founded to fight against the apostasy by the young Sikhs, in the News & Views Section of the Abstracts of Sikh Studies of April June 1996. | Also read carefully the Appeal issued by the highest Authorities on Sikhism, printed along with this news item. The signatories to this appeal are: Prof. Manjit Singh, Jathedar, The Akal Takht; Giant Kawal Singh, Jathedar, Takht Damdama Sahib; Gurcharan Singh Tohra, President, SGPC; Parmjit Singh Sarna, President DSGPC; Kirpal Singh, President, Chief Khalsa Diwan, Amritsar; Thakur Singh, Mukhi, Damdami Taxal; Dr Kuldeep Singh, President 1OSS, Chandigarh; and Professor Ram Singh, Chief Organizer, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle.

I have some comments on the following three appeals issued by them:

  1. Aap Sikhi rahorit de dharni banno, and Bachian noon Sikhi Rahorit wal parero.
  2. Sikhi rupe *Sabat surat dastar sira’ vich fakhar mehsus karo.
  3. Guru Granth Sahib de darshan roz karo. ;

Comments:

  1. The Sikh Rehit Maryada, published by the SGPC about 51 years ago, is not a precise and legally sound document. It needs drastic revision before it can be recommended for the Sikhs and the Sikh Children.
  2. “Sabat Surat dastar sira” does not mean “Sikhi rupe™. The above phrase is from the 12th stanza of a Shabad (having 15 stanzas) of the Fifth Mahala (Guru Arjan) under Rag Maru in Aad Guru Granth Sahib (AGGS) al pages 10831084: A critical analysis and interpretation of the whole Shabad of Guru Arjan reveals the following facts:
  3. The whole Shabad is addressed to a Muslim, Guru Axjan has explained to him how to live as a good Muslim by giving comparative examples from the shra shriat (code of conduct of Islam) of his Prophet, Muhammad.
  4. The interpretation of the 12th stanza (quoted above) is as follows: “Make your body (by doing good deeds) a faithful wife. Then enjoy the pleasures provided by Allah, the Almighty. Purifying the impure mind is your code of conduct (Hadis). Keeping body complete (sabat sural, 1. ¢., without circumcision) is an honor (dastar) bestowed on your head. Thus, i) the “sabat surat” have been referred to the uncircumcised body. Because in Islam the circumcision (sunit, sunah) is considered essential to be a good Muslim according to the shra shriat, here the “sabat surat” means a complete body without cutting the prepuce (foreskin) of male and clitoris of female. The circumcision has been declared dangerous both for the male and the female from health and medical point of view by doctors.
  5. ii) The “dastar” in “dastar sira” has been used as a simile of honor to be bestowed on the head (sira) of a person, who. Would follow the instructions of Guru Arjan given in the whole Shabad of 15 stanzas. Here “dastar” does not mean actual turban on the head of a Muslim, but it has been used to refer to as an honor. Because turban (dastar) is considered as an honor in Islam. Therefore, “dastar sira” is a metaphor of a western proverb, “A feather in one’s cap” a mark of distinction (honor).
  6. Guru Granth Sahib de darshan roz karo. This is against the philosophy of Gurbani. The Gurbani says to deliberate on the Shabad of the Sikh Gurus, incorporated in the AGGS. There is no salvation in having the darshan (glimpses) of the AGGS. The appeal should have been as follows: (AGGS, M3, P594) We are living in the Science Age and Sikhism is the most scientific and logical religion of the world, thus, the Sikh Authorities should not issue any statement which is not precise and true, and is contrary to the philosophy of the Sikh Gurus given in the Shabad, the Gurbani, that is incorporated in the AGGS. The Sikh Authorities should also not misinterpret the Gurbani (o justify the wrong concepts formulated by the ancient Sikh scholars under the influence of mythical works. If issuing of such statements contrary to science, logic and Gurbani is continued, it would be difficult to contain apostasy among the young Sikhs.

Devinder Singh Chahal, PhD Professor of Microbiology Canada.

Article extracted from this publication >>  June 12, 1996