Dear Editor,

The article by Sardar Lachman Singh Aujala about pseudo saint Amar Singh in the World Sikh News of April 24, 1996 brought back vivid memories of Ishar Singh of Nanak Sar, also known as Kleranwale Sant, and his underlings. He belonged to the village of Jhorarra Jagraon Tehsil. He used to come to my village quite often to hold his Katha/Kirtan. There are three historical Gurdwaras in my village under the control of SGPC, and Ishar Singh wanted to exert his influence in the management of these Gurdwaras through his devotees. When I was in high school, Ishar Singh’s followers replaced the small cot (manji) on which Guru Granth Sahib was installed by a full size cot (plang) fitted with a complete set of bedding, and covered the holy scripture with a quilt (rajai) in the main Gurdwara where we used to conduct our morning prayers before the start of the school. “Since Gum Grant Sahib is the embodiment of our ten Gurus, it needs a comfortable normal size bed for rest,” said the devotees. The Gurdwara management reinstalled Guru Granth Sahib on the original small cot and threatened to report this incidence to the police. This warning ended the interference in the affairs of the Gurdwaras by the followers of Ishar Singh. I am citing this incidence to demonstrate the ignorance of this pseudo saint and his devotees of Sikh principles, and their disrespectful attitude toward Sikh institutions.

Do I believe in saints? Yes, there are genuine Sikh Saints like Sant Atar Singh of Mastuana who played an important role in the eradication of social evils, and the propagation of education and the message of Gurbani among the masses, There are others like Bhagat Puran Singh of Pingalwara who was involved in charity works like taking care of the homeless, the orphans, and the sick Then there is a class of pseudo saints or Landai Sadh who have no place in Sikh society. The Nanak Sar gang belongs to this class. Let us look if these Pseudo saints deserve to be called Sikhs. There are three essential requirements for a Sikh: 1) Nam Japana (constant remembrance of God, 2) Kirt Kama (to earn one’s living by honest means), and 3) practicing charity. Now let us set aside the first requirement because we can’t prove or disapprove unequivocally whether a person practices “Nam Japna.” But the veracity of the other two requirements could be ascertained quite accurately. What type of Kirt these pseudo saints do? Are they earning their living by honest means? If not, the condition of practicing charity does not apply to them. There is condemnation of pseudo saints throughout the Guru Granth Sahib. Then why, we have so many of them? They are flourishing not only in India, but also some of them have managed to establish their centers in western countries. As long as Sikh masses remain ignorant of Sikh history and the true message of Gurbani, there will be pseudo saints. Where there is filth, there are flies. We have to clean our environment to get rid of flies. Similarly, Sikh population needs to be awakened with the true message of Gurbani and rational and enlightened thinking in order to get rid of these charlatans.

I am in full agreement with Sardar Aujla that the Indian ruling class has been trying to undermine the independent identity of Sikh faith through various cults and sects since 1947. But, what are we Sikhs doing to counter it? I am afraid; we are going along with their game. Plan. A careful analysis of the major difficulties the Sikhs are facing worldwide will show that we are playing a considerable role in the creation of these difficulties wittingly or unwittingly. I will try to illustrate my point by discussing just one example for the sake of brevity. Let us look at pseudo saints, who are not only parasites, but also do lot of harm to the Sikh community socially and spiritually. Are we not responsible for their creation? Let us take the case. Of Amar sigh as a representative example. How did he manage to come to the western world? Who. Sponsored him? Of course, a Sikh organization or a Gurdwara committee did. Why anybody in his right mind would give 200000 dollars to this charlatan, and for what purpose? What are his qualifications? This man has made a mockery of our religion and committed blasphemy by making a Spectacle of the ‘so called relics of Guru Gobind Singh. Here is what a well-known historian wrote about the rider of the blue steed: Never were talents of the highest, genius of the most exalted kind, more profusely bestowed upon a Single human being or a prophet, or worked out to a greater ‘purpose of excellence, than in Guru Gobind Singh. He was gifted with a clear mind, a vivid imagination, a profound spiritual insight, and’ his soul was ablaze with a fervent moral passion and fiery determination to fight for truth, freedom, and human integrity. Now compare the Guru Gobind Singh described above to the one depicted in the baseless story told by Amar Singh about Guru Gobind Singh, Nura Mahi, a barren buffalo, and a Ganga Sagar. Can any sane person believe that Guru Gobind Singh asked Nura Mahi to milk a barren buffalo in Ganga Sagar? What could be more insulting to Gobind Singh and Sikh faith? This is plain sacrilege. Furthermore, not only illiterate and simpleminded. Sikhs took part in this spectacle, but also the so called highly educated professionals gave him a helping hand, I am not aware of any kind of protest that was made against Amar Singh. Why not? Is it because he committed this sacrilegious act in a Sikh garb?

It seems that Sikhs are not capable of handling their religious affairs. Why do they want to involve the government in the election of SGPC? Are the Sikhs not asking for trouble? How do religious communities manage their places of worship without the government involvement? During an informal discussion about a management dispute in a Sikh congregation someone asked me, “what is the solution?” T replied, “If we really believe that Guru Granth Sahib is our Guru, and then we should seek guidance from Gurbani, Let Gurbani is the arbitrator. That is how; the Sikhs solved their disputes after the death of Guru Gobind Singh up to the time of Missals. In my opinion this was the golden period of Sikh history. The Sikhs were living up to the ideals of the Khalsa,” Later on someone remarked, “Don’t be naive and stupid. Have you ever heard of thieves or lawbreakers going to the law enforcement authorities for guidance?”

It is my firm conviction that Sikh faith is for a rational and enlightened person. In his commentary on religion, historian Toynbee wrote, “Here in the holy Sikhs true where all religions can common ground.” The message of Gurbani is universal and eternal, our forefathers survived the most tyrannical period of Sikh history in the 18th century due to their unshakable faith in Gurbani, Let us emulate them. No problem would be UN surmountable if we do that.

Baldev Singh, Collegeville, PA

Article extracted from this publication >>  August 6, 1996