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Derawad and Sikhs
Justice Mewa
Singh (retd)
 Some important deras-sects, just as, Namdharis, Nirankaries and
Radhasawamis originated in the 19th century and
flourished in 20th century, whose heads were called as
Gurus/ SatGurus, in total contradiction to the Divine thought of
Sikh religion, where in Guru Granth Sahib is the only Sikh Guru, and
there can be no personal Guru, though they mostly made the
references to Sikh Divine Hymns to attract the Sikhs. They did get
the state patronage to misguide the Sikhs. Nirankaris also came in
to direct conflict with the Sikhs and edict from Akal Takhat had to
be issued that Sikhs should totally boycott them as to have no
contacts with them. Nirankaris were made ineffective in Punjab,
though they were under the direct protection and patronage of Indian
Govt, but Punjab had to witness violence on Nirankari issue for over
a decade, ignited under state strategies. However no mainstream
Sikhs gave any recognition to these deras and sects.
A
new dera named Sacha Sauda came into existence in the 20th
century, with headquarters at Sirsa, which is now in Haryana. Its
present chief Gurmit Singh changed his name to Gurmit Ram Rahim
Singh as if to represent all the three main religions of Sikhism,
Hinduism and Islam but admitting that his dera is not religious
institution and it is reformatory only. He is also called as Guru,
the same deceptive methods of the deras to misguide the innocent
persons, ignorant of the dictums of their religion. He came to
limelight in May 2007 when he was accused of imitation of Guru
Gobind Singh by wearing a dress like him and preparing the ‘Jame-e-Insa’,
as named by him, just like Amrit prepared by the tenth Sikh Guru and
announcing seven sitaras, just as panj piaras selected by the tenth
Guru. What for all this drama was done, if that dera is only
concerned to social reforms alone? Why the head of the dera is
propagated as Guru if he is a social reformer only? What was the
need to change his name to include the name sakes of the three
religions as originally he was with a Sikh name? No explanation for
all these deceptions.
Sikhs raised protests against his blasphemous conduct. An edict was
issued from Akal Takht to boycott him and his followers and the
deras and Sikhs to have no contacts with them and to get closed all
of his deras in Punjab. Sikhs rejected his regrets and apology as
fake and dishonest. The CBI is already investigating the two murder
cases and rape allegations against this self made Guru and social
reformer.
Congress leaders are soft towards the Sirsa dera head because he had
helped the Congress in the last Assembly polls. Akalis now blame the
Congress but they themselves are also responsible for dera’s power
because the SGPC, whose job was to fight derawad, was always under
the control of Akali Dal. Why Sikh religion was not preached and
propagated even in Punjab, forget about doing so globally? It is
well known that for over a decade, the Sikhs and particularly the
younger Sikh generation is drifting away from Sikh Code of Conduct.
Sikhs are the vote bank of Akali Dal and this vote bank is bound to
shrink unless the tide of apostasy and derawad is stemmed.
Sikh leaders should now no longer compromise on issues relating to
Sikh religion. Though the present Sikh burst is against Sacha Sauda
dera, but it will have to be targeted at all deras where personal
Guruship is promoted. There can be no justification to encouraging
Namdharis by Sikh leaders even if they supported Akali candidates in
elections as they believe in dehdhari Guru, an anti Sikhism
concept. Akali Dal president Parkash Singh Badal, after becoming
chief minister, went to them and offered the blank cheque and the
setting up of the chair in a university in the name of Satguru Ram
Singh of that sect. What message does it send to the Sikhs and other
Sikh leaders about fighting against derawad? The Namdharis should be
rather persuaded to stop the practice of personal Gurus. It is a
historical fact that Baba Ram Singh was a very devoted Sikh and
never posed himself as a Guru in his life time. He was termed as
Guru to discredit him among Sikhs and at the same time to create
confusions in Sikhs on this matter.
15 August, 2007
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