by Harihar Swarup
She raised woman’s status among Sikhs
SIKHISM is, perhaps, the most versatile and progressive religion in the world. Many years ago when practically all religions established male superiority over his female counterpart, the Sikh Gurus placed the woman on a higher pedestal. The election of 45-year-old Bibi Jagir Kaur as President of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee was, therefore, in keeping with Sikh tenets

by Hari Shankar Vyas
Sai Baba does some plain speaking
PRIME MINISTER Atal Behari Vajpayee is surrounded by so many problems created by his own people that he is not able to wriggle out of it. He is completely shaken. It began with his meeting with the Sai Baba who was in the Capital last fortnight.

75 Years Ago

Akali leaders’ trial
THE hearing of the Akali leaders’ case was resumed today before Mr P.J. Anderson, Special Magistrate, in the Lahore Fort.

by Harihar Swarup
She raised woman’s status among Sikhs

SIKHISM is, perhaps, the most versatile and progressive religion in the world. Many years ago when practically all religions established male superiority over his female counterpart, the Sikh Gurus placed the woman on a higher pedestal. It is a matter of fact that Sikhism does not distinguish between man and woman. The oft quoted shlok — “Asa ka Var” — from Adi Granth lauds the virtues of gender equality and divinity of womanhood considered the progenitor of mankind.

The election of 45-year-old Bibi Jagir Kaur as President of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee was, therefore, in keeping with Sikh tenets and a landmark in the chequered history of the SGPC. She achieved three firsts to her credit — the first woman to head the powerful body, the first Dalit to have risen to that exalted position and the first to dislodge the mighty Gurcharan Singh Tohra, who had established a record having been elected 25 times.

There was a time when women could rarely make it to the 15-member SGPC executive but the situation changed dramatically in the mid-nineties when the Sikh body took another bold decision and introduced reservation for women ensuring at least 30 seats for the weaker sex in the 180-member SGPC house. It was only in 1996 that Bibi Jagir Kaur was fielded as Shiromani Akali Dal candidate in the SGPC election held after nearly 16 years and her victory was resounding. The Akali Dal leader, Parkash Singh Badal, spotted talent in her when in the 1997 elections he handpicked her from Bholath constituency. She romped home with a comfortable majority.

The Bibi’s stars were on the ascendancy. Even though she was a first-term MLA, Badal broke the convention and inducted her into the government as a Cabinet Minister and allocated her the portfolios of Tourism, Social Welfare and Women’s Development. She thus added two more “firsts” to her credit — first-term MLA and first-time a Cabinet Minister. Bibi Jagir’s projection as candidate for the coveted post of SGPC chief and her subsequent election in place of Tohra was a real surprise. She resigned her ministerial post soon after her election.

The meteoric rise of Bibi Jagir in last four years is in sharp contrast to the rounds of misfortune she had undergone. Fate has been unkind to people as young as her. She was happily married in 1980 to Charanjit Singh, son of an Akali politician and a minister in the Badal cabinet in 1969. Baba Harnam Singh was not only an important leader in the Akali hierarchy but the “Mukh Sewadar” of the dera of Sant Baba Prem Singh Muralewale.

She must have inherited the quality of iron will from her father who was in the Army but after retirement took to teaching. Obviously, the father did not believe in family planning — he produced nine children and Jagir is the last but one.

Tragedy struck Bibi Jagir three years after she tied the nuptial knot. Her husband died of cancer leaving behind two infant daughters. Her father-in-law had already passed away and the responsibility of bringing up two children and also heading the ‘Dera’ fell on her. This was a daunting challenge but she showed extraordinary courage and determination. The adversaries were not to overtake her; she overtook her miseries.

She obtained a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the Government Girls College in Chandigarh, a B.Ed degree from Guru Nanak College, Jalandhar and took up the job of a teacher. Teaching to eke out a living, nurturing two children and discharging her religious duties did not dampen her spirits to fight the plight in which fate had plunged her. She struggled for 14 long years demonstrating that she had nerves of steel and sufferings could not overwhelm her.

The tide of fate took another turn when Badal gave her the party ticket for the assembly elections. The nightmare for Bibi was over as she rose from strength to strength and made history by achieving the distinction of becoming the first woman to head the SGPC.

Dressed in spotless white, she neatly covers her head with a scarf, carries a “kirpan” round her waist and a “kada” round her wrist. She never uses makeup.

One of the priorities of Bibi Jagir is to carry out the much-needed gurdwara reforms. A determined person as she is, the Bibi may accomplish the task. She appears to be serious in her resolve to depoliticise the SGPC, making a break from the past. The SGPC after all, controls 300 Sikh shrines which together have an annual budget of Rs 100 crore.

Delhi grapevine
by Hari Shankar Vyas
Sai Baba does some plain speaking

PRIME MINISTER Atal Behari Vajpayee is surrounded by so many problems created by his own people that he is not able to wriggle out of it. He is completely shaken. It began with his meeting with the Sai Baba who was in the Capital last fortnight. After attending a public function with him, he met the Baba separately along with his foster daughter Namita, alias Gunnu, and her husband Ranjan Bhattacharya. The Prime Minister had to wait outside Sai Baba’s room for over half an hour.

They were together for 20-23 minutes. When they came out, they appeared to be sulking. Mr Vajpayee told one of the attendants outside Baba’s room that he would like to meet him the next day, alone.

Vajpayee, it is said, remained in a sulking mood the entire day. He is reported to have called the chief of one of the agencies and asked him for dossiers on a lobbyist and a hotelier. He categorically asked him to give the report directly to him. Obviously, Sai Baba must have done some plain speaking. When the Baba, who lives so far away from Delhi, was aware of the happenings in Delhi, the political circles here must have been keeping regular tabs on it. Mr Vajpayee too must have been aware of it.

Mr Vajpayee, Mr Lal Krishan Advani and Mr Pramod Mahajan, all the three have met over this issue many a time during the past week. All the three are shaken by this problem. The matter relates to the murder of a journalist. The Delhi police has told the Home Ministry that it cannot handle this case. The direction in which the needle of suspicion is pointing could prove disastrous for the government. The three top most functionaries of the government are clueless as to what should be done. Though they feel that it is part of the conspiracy unleashed by the detractors of the government.

* * * *

The tea party of Dr Subramaniam Swamy is unlikely to create a storm for the government. Jayalalitha and Bhagwat are not the potential dangers to the government for the time-being. The volcanoes that can topple the government are different and unpredictable. These may erupt any day or remain docile for months. Matters relating to the murder of a journalist and that of Deepak Talwar can be bad omens for the government. One of the most vocal supporters of the Vajpayee government, Vaiko created a sensation in Parliament when he claimed during a speech that he was offered over Rs 10 crore by Mr Talwar. Anyhow, Mr Vajpayee and Advani are seeking more details from various agencies about the activities of Mr Talwar. A letter written by Mr Navin Patnaik to Mr Dilip Ray has given the agencies the much desired breakthrough. There are many other issues which if they see the light of the day, could prove disastrous for the government.

* * * *

The Vajpayee government completed its one year amidst the speculation that the Congress and the Sangh may like to wait till November this year. But, the BJP leaders are panicky. They are crying foul as if the Congress is trying to topple the government, Jayalalitha’s Delhi visit has further compounded the suspense. In fact, government’s panic is in the root of it. Right from Prime Minister Vajpayee to Home Minister Advani and BJP spokesmen Jagdish Prasad Mathur and Krishan Lal Sharma all speak about the impending dangers to the government.

To aggravate their panic, Dr Subramaniam Swamy is throwing a tea party in her honour. And Sonia Gandhi rescheduled her Kerala visit to remain present in the party office. This has further shaken the government. The impromptu summoning of the Coordination Committee meeting was a result of this panic. To counter Dr Swamy’s party, BJP MP Vijay Goel was asked to organise a tea party at his residence in her honour.

There must be some behind the scene activities which must have perturbed the BJP leaders. But when one speaks to the leaders of the Congress or the Third Front, the things appear to be different. The Congress does not seem to have decided anything other than forcing the government to form a JPC to look into the charges levelled by Admiral Bhagwat. While Mulayam and Laloo are unhappy with the Congress and are trying to maintain their distance, Comrade Surjeet has not been able to break the ice despite his best efforts. Therefore, the government seems to be sitting pretty. It is certain that there is no dialogue between the BJP and Jayalalitha. That is why her Delhi visit has made the BJP restless. The objective of her visit seems to exert a psychological pressure on the government. At the most, she may put the government in the corner by supporting the Congress demand on the JPC. Dr Swamy’s tea party may not create any storm.

* * * *

What has triggered off the speculation about the fall of the Vajpayee government? Sonia Gandhi is as confused as the media about the things taking shape. Yet, two incidents give some hints about her bend of mind. Mani Shankar Aiyer drafted a press release on the “one year of disgrace” of the Vajpayee government. In his draft, he used a cliche, “if you cannot shape, ship out.” The draft was sent to 10 Janpath for approval. When it came back, there was little change directed at the government, “Since you cannot shape, ship out.” Last week again, when some CWC members met informally to discuss the Budget proposals, Mr Rajesh Pilot said the Congress should force the government to rationalise proposals about the pharmaceutical industry. Even if a cut motion was to be introduced, the party should not hesitate. But Sonia Gandhi had much more in mind. She said, “No, we shall resolve this issue ourselves next month.” These two incidents have made the Congressmen believe that she does have something up her sleeve. Ever since they discussed these with their friends in the BJP, the latter are in a tizzy.

* * * *

Mr PA Sangma is not Pierre Cardin. But poor man was entrusted with the job of selecting deserving women to man the posts in the party committees at different levels. His search for them is far from over. But he is so tired of catwalks that he has asked the high command to ease the rules in this regard. He is lamenting that the party is not getting the requisite number of women to fill the quota of 33 per cent earmarked for women. This is particularly impossible in the North East. However, it is to be seen whether Sonia Gandhi concedes this demand of Sangma or not.

75 YEARS AGO
Akali leaders’ trial

THE hearing of the Akali leaders’ case was resumed today before Mr P.J. Anderson, Special Magistrate, in the Lahore Fort.

Lala Haveli Ram, Naib Tehsildar, examined by P. Jawala Parsad, Public Prosecutor, stated that on the 10th January 1923 there was a diwan in the Akali Bagh, Amritsar, under the Presidency of Sardar Gopal Singh. The President made a speech in the course which he said that there were 24 crores of Hindus, but they were not so powerful. There were only 7 crore Muhammadans, but they were powerful because they depended upon Afghanistan, Turkey and Kamal Pasha. The Government had cut off one arm of the Sikhs by deposing the Maharaja of Nabha from the throne.

On the 6th September, 1923, there was also a diwan in the Akali Bagh where Giani Sher Singh made a speech in which he said that the Government had stopped all diwans in the Nabha state; but they had a right to go to Nabha and hold diwans.

Lala Karam Chand, the next witness, stated that on the 10th July, 1923, a diwan was held which he reported and his written report was quite correct. Sardar Kirpal Singh made a speech exhorting the Akalis to join the Jatha in order to go to the Nabha state.