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The much-hyped meeting of the Jathedars at Akal Takht Sahib was postponed at the last minute on Tuesday to an unscheduled date.  The WSN learnt that the meeting at Takht Patna Sahib on Wednesday has also been called off by the Takht Patna Sahib Committee, though no formal announcement has been made so far.  If you think that better sense has prevailed, think again. It has not.  Except that political expediency has been able to force a temporary truce.  The WSN is aware of the hectic behind the scenes parleys initiated by the Akali Dal (Badal) to buy peace.  Many emissaries of the state met with Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, jathedar of Akal Takht, and Giani Iqbal Singh, leaving no stone unturned to forestall any deterioration of the public spat of the Jathedars. So far, so good.

What about the damage that has been done?  Has the maryada issue been resolved? Have the anomalies in the Nanakshahi calendar been removed? Have the Takhts a common Rehat Maryada?  Having raised these issues, the Jathedars are likely to forget them. Since the adoption of the Maryada some seventy years ago, there has been no attempt to resolve pending issues. Damdami Taksal opposed some portions of the maryada at that time and continues to do so even today. On the day the Nanakshahi calendar was adopted, anomalies were pointed out by members of the committee formed by the Akal Takht.  Promises were made by the committee to look into them and find out a workable solution. Even the founder of the calendar, Pal Singh Purewal accepted the lacunae.  Still nothing has been done.

Should the Jathedars be raking up issue after issue without working towards a solution? What is the SGPC doing to resolve the religious and religio-political problems that the Sikh Diaspora faces? Should we have regional Gurdwara committees, an All India Gurdwara Committee? What methodology should be adopted to implement the common Maryada in Gurdwara affairs and other societal functions?  These and many more issues need to be resolved. 

Sikh politicians and religious leaders have perfected the art of brushing aside controversial issues under the carpet, notwithstanding the harm done to the Sikh image or the resultant undermining of Sikh ethos and degrading of Sikh institutions. Unfortunately, this has been happening with infinite regularity.

It is a little surprising that no one cares to talk to the Takht Patna Sahib Committee members.  No one takes notice of the fact that elections to the Takht Patna Sahib committee are overdue by a year and a half. Not one newspaper has mentioned these facts. No one knows that of the 15 members of the management committee, two have passed away.

The real reason behind this "sudden outburst" of Giani Iqbal Singh appears to be more political than religious.  Democratization, transparency of working and strength of character of Jathedars to stand up for truth and truth alone can save the situation.  Otherwise, in some weeks, may be some months from now, we are in for another round of out-of-the-ring boxing match.

The race for supremacy has gone astray.  The Sikh Sangat owes it to the Sikh nation to join hands and seek a solution to such crises.

6 February 2008
 

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