AMRITSAR: The Sikh scholars selected by Shriomani Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee (SGPC) joined their heads to discuss the threat to the Sikh identity mainly from modernization.
It was the first seminar organized by the SGPC under the ages of World Sikh Conference, which started Sepi.21, The SGPC Chief, Gurcharan Singh Tohra, smnde a brief reference to the Sikh identity crisis but did not go into the genesis of the crisis of the solutions.
I was apparent from the talks of the scholars that they would like to steer clear from any controversy during discussions ‘on the Sikh identity crisis, The political fall out of this question is controversial and it is for this reason that even the intelligence agencies were keeping a close watch on the outcome of this seminar.
However, the SGPC secretary, Manjit Singh Calcutia, referred to the political sovereignty but did not elaborate on it, Jaswant Singh Noki took a recourse in history and religion while dwelling on the theme.
The US based, Harbhajan Singh Yogi. mainly perceived the threat from within \d lashed out at the Akali leaders and others present here. He told them, “You people lie every second, your behavior is corrupt, you are not only corrupt but you also boast about it, You are the most unwanted Sikhs on the planet.” He mainly spoke on the concept of Shabad Gura.”
In the absence of any reference to the political aspects of the identity crisis, the discussion remained subdued. The attempt seemed to be to skirt the issue. ‘According to Balkar Singh from Punjabi University Patiala, the only solution to the preservation of the Sikh community is 10 make a Constitutional provision de~ lasing the entire Sikh community Scheduled Tribe. In his opinion, threatening the independent identity of the Sikhs would be nobody’s interest.
The only scholar in Sikh studies who made it 10 the conference was Dr. Noe! King and he mainly spoke on expanding the Sikh doctrine geographically.
Manjit Singh Calcutta deliberated upon three aspects of the identity crisis. The first threat was from expansionist tendency in the wake of Pan Hinduism historically and its manifestation was the philosophy of what he described as “killing embrace.”
The other threat came from the majority which came to power after centuries of slavery and diffused the difference between national identity and community. Any minority clamoring for preservation of its separate identity was perceived as a threat.
And then there is a threat from the media in the modern age, but then this threat exists for other religions also.
He added that the “doctrinal sovereignty of the Sikhs” was being attacked in another way by describing them as a sect. This started after the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. While referring to the political sovereignty of the Sikhs, he made it clear it did not mean a theocratic state.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 29, 1995
