Source:
http://www.panthic.org/articles/5525
AMRITSAR
SAHIB, PUNJAB - As the freedom campaign for Sikh political prisoners
intensified across the globe with Panthic organizations standing
together in unity in support of Bhai Gurbaksh Singh's indefinite hunger
strike, the self-styled "Gurmat Sidhant Parchark Sant Samaj", a union of
dubious sampardai deras, and Nihang dals, in a bid to possibly torpedo
this synergy, have begun raking up unnecessary controversies such as the
Nanakshahi Calendar and the Sikh Rehit Maryda during this critical
juncture.
BADAL LOYALISTS
Interestingly, most of these self-proclaimed “sadhs” and Nihangs of this
Sant-Samaj (“society of saints”) have a particularly close working
relationship with ruling Badal (Akali) Dal party who have the blood of
the Shaheeds on their hands since 1978, and have openly campaigned and
supported the Dal in recent elections, and have been virtually
unconcerned about the hunger strike initiated by Bhai Gurbaksh Singh
Khalsa since November 14th. The babas see their political alliance with
the Badals as a golden opportunity to make further inroads into Sikh
religious institutions they do not directly control, but have always
been under their radar.
TARGET: SIKH CALENDAR & MARYADA
While Panthic organizations and institutions across the globe have been
focused on the efforts of Bhai Gurbaksh Singh and the plight of Sikh
political prisoners, the zealots of Sant-Samaj, contrary to the
sentiments of the rest of the Panth, have oddly launched a campaign for
the elimination of the NanakShahi Calendar altogether and demanded the
implementation of the lunar based Bikarmi/Vikarmi calendar. Latter
calendar derives its name from the ancient Hindu King Vikramdatya, and
has been traditionally used in north India and Nepal for several
centuries.
The
union of sadhs have also requested the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht to
take steps to clarify the “ambiguity” of certain Nitnem Banees in the
Sikh Rehat Maryada.
It needs to be noted that the Sikh Rehit Maryada is an exhaustive and
collective effort of eminent Sikh scholars and institutions who spent
nearly half a century researching and compiling evidence of various Sikh
traditions and norms of the Khalsa Panth. Furthermore, the eminent
personalities who played a critical role in formulating the original
“ਖਰੜਾ” or draft of the Sikh Rehit Maryada were highly respected within
the Sikh Panth and led spiritually pious lives in accordance to the Sikh
commandments of “ਕ੍ਰਿਤ ਕਰੋ, ਨਾਮ, ਜਪੋ, ਵੰਡ ਛਕੋ”.
SAINTS OR CHARLATANS?
It would not be wrong to state that the jeevan and character of those
that comprise the Sant-Samaj is nil when compared to those purely
religious personalities of the early 20th century who were part of the
Gurdwara Reform Movement, and the played a key role in formulating a
standard Maryada for the Panth. None of them have the spiritual depth or
religious integrity of the GurSikhs from the past.
Until individuals of such spiritual caliber and veracity come forth
under the sovereignty of the Khalsa Panth, no self-styled sant-politician
or puppet Jathedar should have the authority to revise or tamper with
the Sikh Rehit Maryada. Only those who are politically and spiritually
sovereign in accordance to Khalsa norms should have the capability of
amending or ratifying this document.
How many of these sadhs or Nihangs follow the basic commands of “ਕ੍ਰਿਤ
ਕਰੋ, ਨਾਮ, ਜਪੋ, ਵੰਡ ਛਕੋ”? Most of them live lives of luxury by exploiting
the sangat’s offerings (“ਪੂਜਾ ਦਾ ਧਾਨ”) for their personal status – such
misuse of the sangat’s donations is strictly condemned in the Sikh
Rahitnamas.
Similarly like the celibate priests of the Catholic
Church, many “babas” have been hounded by allegations and charges of
sexual abuse, improprieties, and even rape by their younger apprentices
and other members of their congregation, but no action is ever been
taken by the Sant-Samaj when such serious transgressions of Rehit occur.
Strangely, this organization seems infatuated with hijacking the Sikh
code of conduct but not following it or enforcing it on themselves.
There are countless cases every year brought out in the press where
babas are caught red-handed committing immoral acts, but rarely is any
action taken against them.
According to the Sikh Rahit Maryada such
individuals can only be classified as "ਬੱਜਰ ਕੁਰਿਹਤੀਏ" or "ਤਨਖਾਈਏ", not
only are they then not allowed to perform religious duties and
functions, but also barred from entering the Sikh Takht Sahibs.
If that is the case then the direct interference of such individuals in
the affairs of the Khalsa Panth's is despicable and should never be
tolerated until they seek forgiveness for their misdeeds and are
reprimanded in accordance to Panthic norms.
Furthermore, their obsession to further “Bikramanize” the already
muddled Nanakshahi Calendar, and also tamper and “saffronize” the Sikh
Rehat Maryada in accordance to their Nirmala-Udasee oriented practices
needs to be challenged at all levels.
There is little doubt that such issues are being orchestrated by pro-Sanatan
religious fanatics such as the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the
Badal (Akali) Dal backed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for their
political benefits in the upcoming national elections and in turn cause
further divisions within the Sikh community.
Panthic organizations need to be vigilant of such groups and tactics
that attempt to muddle our sovereign Sikh identity and undermine Panthic
unity.
Some well-known
controversies about members of the Sant-Samaj:
-
All main Sant-Samaj
Babas and their Nihang counterparts openly campaigned on
behalf of Pakash & Sukbir Badal’s in previous state and SGPC
elections (2011-12) (sources: all leading news papers and reports)
- Sant Samaj General
Secretary Hari Sinh Randhawa visited the living Namdhari
“Satguru” Jagjit Sinh before his demise, and received siropas of
honor and blessings from his guru who throughout his entire life
challenged the authority of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. (sources:
photos and evidence on file with KP – to be publicly released in the
near future)
- Sant Samaj leader Baba
Sukhchain Sinh Dharmpura alleged that in during the 1986
Sarbat Khalsa, Khalistan was erroneously declared by the Panthic
Committee headed by Baba Gurbachan Singh Manochahal after they were
bribed with $2 million rupees cash by someone from Pakistan.
(Source: May 2011, speech by Baba Dharmpura at Guru Nanak Darbar
Gurdwara, Grevsend, UK - report on file with KP.)
- Baba Maan Sinh Pehowa
hounded on charges of rape, attempted murder, sexual molestation by
his female devotees (sources: Col. GS Sandhu, Jathedar Bhai Ranjit
Singh Ji, affidavits and videos of victims on file with KP)
- A Key Sant Samaj leader
continues to be hounded on allegations of sexual misconduct
and serious improprieties with younger members of the dera. (Source:
affidavits of victims on file with KP)
- Baba Ghala Singh Nanaksar
Kaleran, charged and sentenced for murder of five individuals
in Barnala in a dera dispute. His sentence was eventually commuted
by Badal. (sources: Tribune India, Ajit Daily)
- It is a well-known fact that the Badals
often visit the deras of most of these Babas and Nihangs, including
the headquarters of Balbir Singh’s Buddha Dal in Patiala and Baba
Bidhi Chand Nihang headquarters at SurSingh Village.
Should such
organizations that are so embedded with corrupt anti-Sikh lobbies be
allowed to gamble with the destiny of the Sikh Nation?
ਟਿੱਪਣੀ:
ਤੇ ਇਸੇ ਸੱਪ ਸਮਾਜ
ਨੇ ਭਾਈ ਗੁਰਬਖਸ਼ ਸਿੰਘ ਵਲੋਂ ਵਿੱਢੇ ਗਏ ਸੰਘਰਸ਼ ਦਾ ਬੇੜਾ ਗਰਕ ਕੀਤਾ, ਪਰ ਭਾਈ
ਗੁਰਬਖਸ਼ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੇ
23 Dec 2013 ਨੂੰ ਹੋਈ ਪੰਥਕ ਕਾਨਫਰੰਸ 'ਚ ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਹੀ ਬੇੜੀ 'ਚ ਵੱਟੇ ਪਾਉਣ ਵਾਲਿਆਂ ਦੀ
ਸ਼ਲਾਘਾ ਕੀਤੀ,
ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਸੰਘਰਸ਼ 'ਚ ਸਾਥ ਦੇਣ ਦਾ "ਦੂਜਾ ਨੰਬਰ ਸੰਤ ਸਮਾਜ ਨੂੰ ਢੁਕਦਾ ਹੈ। ਸੰਤ
ਮਹਾਂਪੁਰਖ, ਬਾਬਾ ਜੀ ਦੇ ਚਰਨਾਂ 'ਚ ਬੇਨਤੀ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਜਿਨੀਆਂ ਵੀ ਹਸਤੀਆਂ ਇਥੇ ਬੈਠੇ ਹੋ,
ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਸਿਰ ਝੁਕਦਾ ਹੈ। ਮੈਂ ਨਾਮ ਨਹੀਂ ਲੈਣਾ, ਇਹ ਤਾਂ ਮਹਾਂਪੁਰਖ ਨੇ ਆਪ ਜਾਣਦੇ
ਨੇ।" ਇਹ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦਾ ਭੋਲਾਪਨ ਸੀ, ਪਰ ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਸੱਪ ਸਮਾਜ ਵਾਲਿਆਂ ਤੋਂ ਅਸੀਂ
ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਵੀ ਆਗਾਹ ਕੀਤਾ ਸੀ, ਅਤੇ ਹਮੇਸ਼ਾਂ ਕਰਦੇ ਰਹਾਂਗੇ, ਕਿ ਭਾਈ ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਤੋਂ
ਬੱਚਕੇ ਚਲੋ। ਇਹ ਕਹਾਵਤ ਵੀ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਸੱਪ ਜਿਥੇ ਵੀ ਦਿਖੇ, ਮਾਰ ਦਿਓ, ਨਹੀਂ ਤਾਂ
ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਮਾਰ ਦੇਊਗਾ। ਇਹ ਹੁਣ ਸਿੱਖਾਂ ਨੇ ਆਪ ਸੋਚਣਾ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਸੱਪਾਂ ਤੋਂ
ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਦੀ ਰੌਸ਼ਨੀ 'ਚ ਕਿਵੇਂ ਬੱਚਣਾ।
ਸੰਪਾਦਕ ਖ਼ਾਲਸਾ ਨਿਊਜ਼