M A I N   N E W S

Bibi asked to appear at Takht
by P.P.S.Gill
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 19 — The ruling Shiromani Akali Dal will appeal to Akal Takht Jathedar, Giani Puran Singh, to sort out and settle the present standoff between him and the SGPC President, Bibi Jagir Kaur, who was excommunicated from the Panth by him on January 25.

This decision was today taken by the Political Affairs Committee of the party, which met at the official residence of Mr Parkash Singh Badal, who heads SAD and is also Chief Minister. All members of the PAC except Mr Surjit Singh Barnala and Mr Sewa Singh Sekhwan, attended the meeting.

The PAC, according to informed sources has also asked the SGPC President to present herself before Akal Takht.

The meeting was apprised of the discussions the party’s Disciplinary Action Committee, chairman, Mr Jagdev Singh Talwandi, has had with the Akal Takht Jathedar. After a two-hour discussion the PAC authorised Mr Talwandi to proceed to Amritsar to brief Giani Puran Singh.

The Jathedar had recently written to the SAD President to appoint acting SGPC president in place of Bibi Jagir Kaur and also acting jathedars in place of the two excommunicated Takht Jathedars, Prof. Manjit Singh and Giani Kewal Singh of Keshgarh Sahib in Anandpur Sahib and Damdama Sahib in Talwandi Sabo, respectively. That directive from the Jathedar had prompted the SAD chief to first postpone the scheduled meeting of the SGPC Executive Committee of March 16 to 23. That was perceived to be the first step to defuse the crisis.In the meantime Mr Talwandi also received a letter from the Jathedar asking him to intervene in the matter and get the edicts — “hukamnamas” — issued by him implemented. Thereafter Mr Talwandi had a long meeting with Giani Puran Singh and briefed Mr Parkash Singh and other senior Akali leaders on March 16.

Informed sources told TNS that members of the PAC devoted all time to discuss the religio-political situation in all its facets. The views were varied and opposite. In fact some members questioned the issuance of the edict from Guna on January 25 itself. Nevertheless, sources said the decision to ask Bibi Jagir Kaur to appear at Akal Takht and to appeal to the Jathedar to ‘sort out’ the matter was unanimous .

It is now almost certain that Bibi Jagir Kaur will stay away from the Hola Mohalla celebrations beginning at Anandpur Sahib from tomorrow so as not to precipitate matters. There was no convincing answer when a PAC member was asked that Bibi Jagir Kaur had always maintained that she had the highest respect for Akal Takht and was willing to appear there, provided the five ‘traditional’ priests were present. How is PAC directive to her of any greater help ?

Here again a ticklish problem persists. At least three of the traditional head priests stand excommunicated. Who all will constitute the panel or will it be Giani Puran Singh alone?

In fact, Mr Talwandi had made it amply clear even on March 16 that there was no way to escape appearance at Akal Takht or for that matter defiance of the edicts, which among other things prohibit Sikhs from having any political, religious or social relations with excommunicated persons. On Saturday Giani Kewal Singh had to make a hasty retreat at Ludhiana when he was not allowed at a congregation, though, he went there for an appointment with Yogi Harbhajan Singh, say newspaper reports. Therefore Prof. Manjit Singh’s staying away from the Hola Mohalla celebrations is expected.

What has been happening since January 25 seemingly is a fire-fighting exercise fuelled by political exigencies. The crisis persists.

TNS looked at the issues involved in a wider perspective and spoke to Dr Kharak Singh of the Institute of Sikh Studies, who is closely associated with Panthic issues as well as the SGPCs religious (dharam parchar) committee.

He is very clear and cogent in his expression. It is a sad day that just when the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa, which commenced amidst much fanfare on Baisakhi day in 1999 are at their fag end a new controversy should have erupted. The Panth is divided and , perhaps, Sikhs cannot work together even on non-issues, say the adoption or Nanakshahi calendar, which ultimately led to edicts.

The developments become traumatic when even the head priests are divided and the edicts stand questioned. There is an atmosphere of uncertainty and fear. The excommunicated ones continue to do their duties normally, while efforts to defuse the crisis continue. The SGPC Executive remaining a passive spectator. The SGPC, as per the act and perception, is supposed to look after the Panth and its gurdwaras. But it so seems that instead the ‘control’ lies somewhere else. The ball is in the court of the SAD with PAC being seized of the issue.

Mr Parkash Singh Badal has an enviable task, which is difficult. He has to please all and has political compulsions as well. The postponement of the March 16 meeting itself means implicit acceptance of the directive of Giani Puran Singh. Therefore, Dr Kharak Singh says the choice is between orthodox views and moderate approach. With the control of the SGPC having moved outside its own control, has the SGPC become irrelevant, even if temporarily? Should all edicts of the Jathedar be accepted or only the ones which have the support of the Panth and have followed the maryada? Are the edicts arbitrary decisions of an individual? Should all involved be removed or it should be selective?

Against this backdrop, the malady, however, says Dr Kharak Singh is much deeper and none of the pallatives being suggested provide a lasting, widely acceptable solution. Who will decide what is right or wrong ? Who will implement what is decided ? What are the procedures for taking such decisions ? There is no clear answer to such questions. Where does the Panthic decision-making authority lie? With the SGPC, with the SAD, with the head priests, with the Akal Takht ?

Yes, authority of Akal Takht is acceptable to all but not the “absolute” authority of the Jathedar. The spirit of Sikh thought does not approve of dictatorial authority of an individual, however, highly placed, says Dr Kharak Singh. Quoting from Sikh history, he said such power and authority could be misused by an individual as was done by Arur Singh in honouring the man who had ordered the massacre at Jallianwala Bagh in 1919.

Therefore the second alternative with SAD President is the SGPC itself, while, the first was a choice between orthodox and moderate opinions. But is SGPC an ideal choice given the limited scope of its functions and role and the worldwide spread of the Sikhs ? The large diaspora is not adequately represented in the SGPC. Therefore this “parliament” of the Sikhs is incomplete. Since SGPC elections are fought on political lines the goal becomes a political authority of a hegemony of a faction or a group and not management of gurdwaras or serving the Panth’s interests. There are other organisations or parallel bodies as well. The Delhi Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee is just one example.

Who all should constitute the council of Jathedars or head priests? All the Takht Jathedars or even others can be considered, since Jathedars of Takht Patna Sahib and Hazoor Sahib seldom participate in what goes on in Amritsar. Neither are their qualifications nor a proper prescribed procedure for the appointment of the Jathedars. Not infrequently, says Dr Kharak Singh, their appointments result from political convenience or compulsions of the party in power. The cult of factionalism within the Akali Dal (S) further complicates the issues.

Thus there does not seem to be any single acceptable agency to represent the Sikhs or articulate their religio-political, socio-economic aspirations. This vacuum has to be considered in all its entirety and permanent solutions found rather than patchwork or piecemeal solutions as is being done now. At least a beginning be made now when the tercentenary celebrations are about to end. That itself will be a real “achievement” for the Sikhs, says Dr Kharak Singh.

This vacuum also shows how divided the head priests are, their deadly fights notwithstanding. The SGPC seems to have lost its control and is being controlled by outside forces. The Sikh intelligentsia is quiet and helpless while the fear of excommunication or being declared a “tankhaiya” (punishment for religious misconduct) is all pervasive in the SGPC and SAD leadership.