Editorial March 2010 – Panthic Traitors and their so-called ‘World Sikh Convention’
S. Gurcharanjit Singh Lamba
Editor ‘Sant Sipahi’
Directly challenging the Panthic traditions, and the authority of Sri Akal Takhat Sahib, the Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DSGMC) has decided to convene the so-called ‘Sarbat Khalsa’. However on the advice of some intelligent people DSGMC has done some pity on the Khalsa Panth and changed the name of the event from ‘Sarbat Khalsa’ to ‘World Sikh Convention’. The aim remains the same – (1) Challenging the status, and authority of Sri Akal Takhat Sahib and (2) Supporting excommunicated Ragi Darshan Singh who uttered blasphemous remarks on the life and character of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Sahib.
Once Bahadur Shah, the son of Aurangzeb, dared to play the royal Nagara in the raaj of his father. When Aurangzeb came to know about this he sent a strong message to his son saying that as long as he is the emperor, Bahadur Shah can only play a Dholak, but cannot dare to play a Nagara, a symbol of royalty.
The Father, Guru Kalgidhar, Guru Gobind Singh Sahib’s reply to this incident was by introducing Ranjit Nagara, Nishaan, Teg, Khanda-Kirpan, Dhadhi and Bir Ras Bani. And he made Khalsa the legal heir of these royal symbols. From now on the Khalsa, in the form of Guru panth and under the leadership of Sri Akal Takhat Sahib and the auspice of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, got the full right to issue Guru’s hukum in the form of Hukamnamas.
As Sri Akal Takhat became the nucleus of Khalsa’s sovereignty, its philosophy of ‘Miri’ and ‘Piri’ became an eyesore of every ruler of the state. However under the leadership of the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takhat Sahib, the Khalsa of the Sat Sri Akal Ji started the tradition of convening ‘Sarbat Khalsa’, or the assembly of the Khalsa, who collected from every corner of the world. The aim of such an assembly was to review the achievements of the Panth Khalsa and lay down future course of action.
The right to convene a ‘Sarbat Khalsa’ or a ‘World Sikh Convention’ lies only and only with Sri Akal Takhat Sahib and its Jathedar or with the premier institute under the auspice of Sri Akal Takhat Sahib, the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC). The rest of the local committees, sangats, jathebandis can convene local meetings and pass resolutions, but they don’t have the authority to pass Gurmattas which are bound on the entire Khalsa Panth. This is the reason that Article 26 of Section 6 of Sikh Rehat Maryada, which lays down the method to pass Gurmattas, specifically says that “this Gurmatta can only be issued by a Shiromani Jatha or a representative group chosen by the Guru Panth“. Moreover Article 27 of the same section of Sikh Rehat Maryada has given a provision that the appeal of the judgment passed by the local sangats can be done on Sri Akal Takhat Sahib. Even the constitution of Prabhandak Committee of Takhat Sri Harimandir Ji, Patna Sahib, reiterates the supremacy of Sri Akal Takhat Sahib and the Hukumnamas passed from there.
The main agenda of this so-called World Sikh Convention being organized by Delhi committee is to exonerate Ragi Darshan Singh of all his Panthic ‘crimes’. (No wonder, Nirankaris, Kale Afghanis and Bhag Singhiye are happy)
In the recent memory the first ‘World Sikh Convention’ was organized in 1975 by Jathedar Gurcharan Singh Tohra under the patronage of Sri Akal Takhat Sahib. The following four major resolutions were passed during this Convention: (1) To free the Gurudwaras from ‘Land Ceiling’ act (2) Relieving Gurudwaras from income tax (3) SGPC is the apex body of the Sikhs and its writ and jurisdiction which is the edict of the panth ought to be honored and maintained (4) Conducting the elections of the Gurudwaras of Delhi under Gurudwara Act. All these demands were accepted by the Government. The second ‘World Sikh Convention’ was convened by Sri Akal Takhat Sahib under the leadership of Jathedar Manjit Singh.
It is clear that ‘Sarbat Khalsa’ or ‘World Sikh Convention’ can only be called by Sri Akal Takhat Sahib or by the premier institute, the SGPC. Local committees of an area, town or city can convene local meetings but cannot call a ‘World Sikh Convention’. Hence Delhi Gurudwara Committee can only play a Dholaki; Only Sri Akal Takhat Sahib has the right to play the Nagara.
Politics, especially politics of a religion, can sometimes become quite amusing. Some years ago, in 2003, Sri Akal Takhat Sahib excommunicated Kala Afghana for his heinous and anti-Sikh writings. Kala Afghana’s biggest advocate, Joginder Singh of Spokesman was also excommunicated from the Sikh fold. Following his excommunication Joginder also convened a ‘World Sikh Convention’ with the sole aim of challenging the authority of Sri Akal Takhat Sahib. The then Chief Secretary of SGPC, Manjit Singh Calcutta, reacting to this convention, gave the following reaction to the press.
Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee rejects all the resolutions which challenge the supremacy and authority of Sri Akal Takhat Sahib. The organizers of this convention are playing in the hands of the Congress. The actions of these so-called Sikh intellectuals who have challenged the authority of Sri Akal Takhat Sahib have been shunned by Sikh organizations, Akali Dal, All India Sikh Student Federation, Takhats and their Jathedars. Only a handful of leaders participated in this so-called World Sikh Convention which has challenged the Sikh principles. The Congress government is the main promoter of this so-called convention.
The irony is that Manjit Singh Calcutta, who once spoke in favor of the authority of Sri Akal Takhat Sahib is now one of the main organizers of this similar ‘World Sikh Convention’ being organized by Delhi Gurudwara Committee.
Also nothing has changed since 2003. The plot of the drama is still the same – Guru Nindya. The characters participating in this drama are also the same – so-called Sikh missionaries who are hard core supporters of Kala Afghana. Interestingly none of the Sikh Takhats are attending this so-called ‘Sarbat Khalsa’. SGPC is not participating. The Laadli Fauj of the Guru – The Nihang Jathebandis (Buddha Dal, Tarna Dal, Hariyan Belan, Bidhi Chand, Sur Singh Vale), Taksal or any other Panthic organization is not participating. The objective of this so-called ‘World Sikh Convention’ is to honor all those who have been excommunicated from the Sikh panth. The military attack of 1984 demolished the building of Sri Akal Takhat Sahib. But that attack could not demolish the doctrine of Sri Akal Takhat Sahib. Now the main attack is on the status of Sri Akal Takhat and its authority to pass Hukamnamas. The modus operandi of such a contempt is by first defying the order of the Takhat and refusing to appear before it. Then allowing the likes of Tarsem Singh and Jagtar Jachak to give malicious speeches against Sri Akal Takhat Sahib from the stages of Delhi Gurudwaras.
It is quite clear that this so-called ‘World Sikh Convention’, organized by the Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee is a big conspiracy against Sri Akal Takhat Sahib. And this treachery will be documented as a black spot in the Sikh history books.