CHICAGO: The 1993 Chicago’s Parliament of World’s Religion held after 100 years saw the emergence of Sikhism as one of the modem religions of the world. One hundred years before, when Swami Vivekanand spoke in this city, Hinduism was introduced 10 America. No one was there to represent the Sikh religion at that time. However 100 years after that, the Parliament of World’s Religions saw an enthusiastic representations of the Sikhs. The Sikhs of Chicago joined hands with the organizers of the Parliament and formed a host committee to ensure that the Sikhs were well represented at the eight day function. The Chairman of the host committee, Dr.Balwant Singh Hansra who has been a resident of Chicago for the last 25 years was instrumental in organizing a host of Sikh speakers to represent Sikhism at numerous forums during the session of the Parliament.
The World’s Parliament of Religious started on Aug.28, when the Sikh Religious Society of Chicago organized a grand procession of over 1000 people through the streets of downtown Chicago. Consisting of people chanting holy hymns, the procession started from Monroe Street. Carried on a beautifully decorated float with a group of people singing ‘Shabads’ to the accompaniment of musical instruments the Guru Granth Sahib led the procession piloted by a pipe band and the ‘Panj Pyaras.’ The Guru Sahib was followed by another float depicting a model of the Golden Temple, then there were floats carrying portraits of Guru Nanak Dev Jee and Guru Gobind Singh Jee, which also carried a large group of children singing, holy hymns. Another float in honor of Bhai “Kanhaiya’ formed a part of the procession. Besides the Sikh floats, three floats which belonged to communities of other faiths like the Muslims and Vat Dharam.
As the procession wound its way through the streets of downtown Chicago numerous residents of the city stopped to gaze at the colorfully decorated floats and the processionists.
Over 300 Sikhs had come from New York to attend the ceremony. The streets of Chicago often resounded to the cries of “Khalistan Zindabad,” “We want Khalistan’ as enthusiastic Sikh youth got carried away by their demand for a separate homeland Inspite of the Occasions intrinsic religious appeal.
A tiny group of young people could be seen carrying a handwritten placard reading “Being Human is greater than being Hindu, Muslim, Sikh or Christian.” When the reporter interviewed the group, their leader Veena Sharma said they were against any form of violence whether Government or communal.
The procession lasted over two hours and went past the Palmer House, in front of which it halted for five minutes and devotional hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib Jee were recited. Many residents of the city could be seen asking about the procession and casting inquisitive looks at the huge crowd which the city has never seen before.
Langar After the procession, the host committee had organized a langar at the Grant Park gardens, the termination point, Food was served to the processionist at the garden while leaders of Sikh bodies and organizations addressed the gathering. Every speaker hailed the Chicago Sikh community for their services in organizing the event and ensuring Sikh participation in the Council of Worlds Religion. Sardar Jagidesher Singh, President of the Sikh Religious Society thanked the community and its members from all over the country specially the Sikh Sangat of Chicago and New York for their participation and contributions to the success of the ‘Jaloos’ on the historic occasion.
Council of Parliament of World’s Religion
The Council of the Parliament of World’s religion was held at Palmer House, Chicago. The historic function represented all the world’s religions as well as many sects. The Sikh Religion was represented by a host of over 50 speakers in various sessions of Parliament’s, plenary, major presentations and seminars. The audiences were for the first time exposed to the Sikh Religion and to doctrine of faith in one God, hard work, respect for all religions and its spirit to resist and oppose oppression and tyranny. People who had never heard of Sikhism were seen asking curious questions and admiring the modern religion which offered a distinct personality to its adherents. The Council of the Parliament of World’s Religions was unique for its message of harmony and interfaith understanding. Almost every religious leader agreed that religion advocated peace and harmony and there was no place for conflict. Yet the Council witnessed the intolerance displayed by Indian delegates to the conference when some saffron clad members of the audience and Indian embassy staff tried to stop Sikh and Kashmin speakers from voicing their grievances about the oppression of the Sikh community in Punjab and the Muslims in Kashmir in a session called “the voices of the disposed.”
The Parliament looked like a Spiritual market of eminent Buddhist, Sikhs, Muslims, Hindus and Jain spokesman who voiced their religious philosophies.
Dissent and Confliet:
Besides the opening plenary session’s disruption marked by Hindu opposition to the Sikh and Kashmir speakers there were serious dissensions within the Parliament, Evangelic and fundamentalist Christian groups did not attend and many liberal Protestant denominations were conspicuous by their passive participation. Four Jewish groups and the Eastern Orthodox Christians disassociated from the gathering. The former because of opposition of the participation of Louis H.Farrakhan and the latter due to the participation of “Neopagans” who proclaim themselves as a pre-Christian sect of God and goddess worshippers. Louis H.Farrakhan who speaks of the nation of Islam upset the Jews who believe his program is anti-Semitic,
Assembly of Religions and Spiritual leaders A few blocks away from the Parliament was held an assembly off World’s Religions and Spiritual leaders comprised about 300 members from the World’s Religions. Bhai Manjit Singh, acting Jathedar of Akal Takhat, Dr.Meharvan Singh of Singapore, Dr.B.S.Hansraand Bhat Mohinder Singh represented the Sikhs at this assembly, Other Sikh denominations represented were that of Yogi Harbhajan Singh and Sant Rajinder Singh.
The assembly worked behind closed doors to draw up a declaration of global ethics and it was here that much heat was generated; the religious leaders of the world were asked to sign the declaration. The nine pages, 5000 word document was not made public and though the statement says it was an effort to extract a “common ethic” from the existing religious traditions of the World’s:
Global Ethic:
The declaration of a global ethic restates the principles of doing right, and not to kill, steal, lie or commit adultery the general terms of nonviolence, economic justice, respect for other cultures, and an end to discrimination and exploitation, It condemns genocide, torture and ethnic cleansing and the use of religion to whip up hated.
The declaration however does not use the word “god” but “ultimate reality.” Father Kung said this was done “to respect Buddhism and other faiths that recognize a spiritual dimension but not a spiritual divine creator.”
Next Generation: Representation to the younger generation was given at a major plenary in the Grand Ball room of Palmer House on Sept.3, “The next generation’ this was based on “Peace through Jove, unity and respect.
Ravneet Singh and Kulmeet Singh represented the Sikh youth in this plenary. Ravneet who was the chairman of representatives of the next generation gave a moving Speech in his introduction of the session where he drove home the message “we are one” and want peace and harmony in the world.
The closing plenary held at the Grant Park and attended by over 7000 people and was addressed by the Dalai Lama who said, “our: requirements cannot be fulfilled by materialism alone mental comfort, spiritualism is very essential it is quite clear various religious traditions are valuable in the days religion provides us tremendous benefits hence it is necessary,” but he added “including myself we must practice what we preach.”
The cultural show of various religions following the address of the religious heads was a grand Show of traditional dances. The choir performance by over 100 black children of *Chicago Soul’ singing “God Is” had the whole crowds on their feet dancing and singing. At 10:30 p.m. the Rey. Dr.David Ramage declared the Closing of the World Religion Parliament.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 10, 1993
