M A I L B A G

Time to restore original Bir at Darbar Sahib

I expected the Prime Minister and the Punjab Chief Minister to work for the restoration of the original Bir at Darbar Sahib where people from all strata come to pay their respects. It is not too late to restore it at Darbar Sahib.

All VVIPs were presented siropas in the Golden Temple on August 31 and September 1. Puran Singh and Vedanti should have reminded them to show proper respect and only then present them siropas. Why accord them a special darshan when they do not have anything special about them? Ordinary devotees, who are perhaps more closer to Guru Granth Sahib than VVIPs, were made to wait.

“False from within, honourable from without, if such be one’s way in the world, one’s dirt goes not, even if one bathes at all the 68 pilgrim stations. They whose heart is silken soft, though they be robed in rags, they are blessed ones on the earth. For they are attuned to their Love and seek ever to see His Vision, and care not for any but their Lord, the God, and what He gives they eat, and wait ever upon His Door”. (Var.Asa.M.1-SGGS)

NARINDER SINGH, Director, English Literary Foundation, Ludhiana

II

Kuldip Nayar’s article “Guru Granth Sahib’s message” (Sept 1) is an excellent portrayal of the 400th anniversary of the Installation Day of Shri Guru Granth Sahib. The veteran journalist’s inferences are true and factual.

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leaders behaved as if it was their sole right to organise the celebrations. The total show smacked of political opportunism wherein Mr Parkash Singh Badal tried to keep himself always in focus with the media. On the contrary, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh put up a better show of his humility and devotion to the Guru Granth Sahib as he did not try to grab a photo opportunity here and there or for some particular seat on the dais. The SAD leaders made a great show of their political fervour though they remain miles away from the lessons of the sermons in the Adi Granth.

Prof J.S. JOGI, Amritsar College of Engg & Tech., Amritsar

III

By reading out the unexpected message of United Progressive Alliance Chairperson and Congress President Sonia Gandhi before the august gathering and sea of devotees in Amaritsar, the Congress has taken the wind out of the sails of the Shiromani Akali Dal. By her magnanimity and single act of ‘tyag’, Mrs Gandhi gave the country the first Sikh Prime Minister.

The SGPC invited and honoured the Queen of England some years back to the Golden Temple. It was even prepared to honour Bill Clinton, the then US President, who was indicted of the charges of moral turpitude. Is it not a clear case of playing politics with religion?

B.M. SINGH, Amritsar

IV

Apropos of the report “Scholar of Guru Granth Sahib ignored at celebrations” (Sept 1), I pity Punjabi University, where Dr Manmohan Sehgal worked for over 20 years, for ignoring Dr Sehgal during the celebrations. I also question the “secular” credentials of the Punjab government and the SGPC for neglecting such a great scholar of Guru Vani during the quadri-centennial celebrations of Adi Granth. It’s time he was accorded due recognition and respect.

I.D. JOHAR, Faridkot

V

Not only Dr Manmohan Sehgal but many more scholars have been neglected and ignored. Scholars who have been attending national and international religious and educational seminars for the last 30 years were not united to the Parkash Utsav celebrations.

I was the first woman scholar who translated Guru Granth Sahib in Devnagri script along with Hindi explanation under the title ‘Manik Moti’ in ten volumes. Five volumes are already in the market and libraries of different colleges and universities. The other five are in the press. The SGPC has not extended any help to my work. The SGPC, DSGMC and universities concerned are so much politicised that no one bothers for the scholars and propagation of Gurmat literature.

Dr JAGJIT KAUR SALWAN, Principal (retd), Saharanpur (UP)

Tapping micro hydel power Apropos of the editorial “Future fuel” (Aug 23), one source that we can immediately tap is micro hydel power. The hilly areas in the Himalayan region have a number of perennial streams having discharges that can be harnessed for small power generation. In the plains, the canals have many small drops available. These drops are small, but the discharges are significant. Every little discharge and drop needs to be utilised to generate power. The generating equipment is cost- effective; different equipment can be chosen for constant and variable discharges, little or more, and with respect to the space available across or along the flow of water. The energy generated by a micro hydel project can be consumed near the project itself, saving expenditure on transmission and distribution lines. Himachal’s remote villages can be lighted up through micro hydel projects. These projects can also be connected to the available grid at an appropriate voltage. Their gestation periods are also very short, with no long waiting as in the case of a large hydroelectric power project. JAGVIR GOYAL, Chandigarh