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Evolution of Khalsa - Suffering and Successes by Ujagar Singh Gill

The Guru declared that there is only one God for the whole humanity. He could be worshipped and loved by anyone, by any name. Further that the others should not consider a believer of one faith as a non-believer, merely; because he prefers to use a word of his own language, for the same God. He preached: "There is no Muslim, there is no Hindu, all are equal human beings because they all, are the children of the same Father, God."

Contents Acknowledgements Introduction Fateh to Readers Evolution of Khalsa

Acknowledgements

For the state of my bad handwriting, often I do laugh at myself. To turn into a fine type, a long manuscript in my hand, is really a very hard job for anyone to do. Dr. P.S. Gill with his 3 staffers Junko, Sarah and Eril did that wonderful job for me. Necessity has been arising for bringing out prints with a great frequency. For that useful help was forthcoming from my daughter Mandeep Kaur Gill and a close relative Ranjeet Singh Chahal. My grateful thanks to all.

Any individual, institution or organization if interested in printing or publishing this work for the benefit of people could feel free to do so, if it is done free of cost to the readers.

Introduction

A small incident led to the need for it: a casual check up of old records, yielded the notes of opinions of Non-Sikh Scholars of East and West. These are given towards the closing pages. An idea came up, that it may be worth while, to make these opinions reach the Sikh households so that they could have a nice feel of pride, for the fact of World intellectuals, evaluating the Sikh Heritage as very high and rich. That may possibly, lead to a realization, at least on the part of some of the readers, that; on strictly practicing the Sikh values of life, one could be transformed into an ideal Human being - a Saint Soldier. The system, when practiced by our ancestor Sikhs, in history; could be seen as having transformed a totally Timid society into a totally Courageous one, which enabled them to challenge the mightiest of the mighty oppressors and tyrants of the times.

Throughout the past ages. our world has never been completely free, from one tyrant or another. The human nature being, as it has always been, the future could hardly be different. Against the thoughts and actions of such debased human beings, an insulatory system will always be necessary. Fortunately for us, our Gurus have already handed one to us, we need only to practice it. Our sufferings are, only due to lack of such a practice.

It is an established fact that the Sikh Values system came to the rescue of Hindu Valuation system and saved it. Even then. due to a narrow and jealous approach; the political leadership of India, on the falling of political power in their hands in 1947, set on the course of destroying the Sikh System of Values. Tools used were similar as were used against Buddhism in 8th-9th centuries. In the land of its birth [India]. Buddhism is now hardly visible, although it could be seen in other 6 or 7 Asian countries. With the military invasion of 1984 at Golden Temple / Akal Takhat Amritsar. Cultural attack was also in full swing when even from Guru Ram Das Library at Amritsar; original manuscripts and other Gurmat literature were taken away and destroyed. The loss of literature is much more serious. The chain of cultural invasion, so set bv the state, is being followed on and on, by its own agencies, as also by private ones. Misinformation about Gurus lives and their teachings and other Sikh Values is being spread far and wide. Two instances are quotable from pages 14 and 47 of April 1999 issue of Spokesman, Chandigarh .One refers to a book published from 4 cities [Delhi, Jaipur, Chandigarh and Jalandhar]. That carries a false story that Guru Tegh Bahadur was not beheaded by the then Government but one of his own Sikhs and that was on the persuasion of the Guru himself. The other story equally false, was published in a Hindi Daily of Jalandhar [namely ,Jag Bani] suggesting that 4th Guru was a worshipper of goddess Durga and that 5th and 9th Gurus visited Durgiana Temple.

In such numerous ways, Sikh Values are under constant attack. Such cases of injustice used to be taken up by the Akaii Party, but now no more .It could be due to the pressure tactics of Central Government that AkaIi Leadership has given up , gone selfish, demoralized and despirited. Thus, they have totally abandoned Sikh Values of honesty, fearlessness, sacrifice for just causes, selflessness and accountability to the Guru and Panth. By going back upon election promises, they have shamelessly betrayed the Sikh masses. Every Sikh expects the S.G.P.C. to take good care of Sikh religious affairs and an increased propagation of Sikhism. Instead, the politicians have made it a hot bed of politics. There, the vested interests took care, that one and same person was elected President every year and even for 25 years. The Takhat Jathedars, being the nominees of politicians, could hardly be expected to be independent and impartial. Direct system of elections, without any adequate safeguards against misuse, is the root cause of all problems, it created partisan politics, leading to quarrels in gurdwaras. Even baptized Sikhs, from whom virtues of humility, sweet reasonableness and cool temperament could be expected, are reported to have gone berserk and violent, in the presence of Guru Granth Sahib. Even this is, just a small picture of the mess, we are in.

Both from outside and inside, serious dangers to Sikh valuation system are lurking ahead. We do need to put our house in order. The Tenth Guru, showed us the way; when obeying the consensus of Guru Panth, he decided to leave the Chamkaur Garhi [mud fortress] and later on also, when regarding Dadu Peer incident, he accepted the punishment from the Panth. In the name of Sarbat Khalsa, our ancestor Sikhs of the 18th century worked with the same concept and they reached phenomenal heights and established a vast kingdom. But then, Ranjeet Singh grew Individualistic and just stopped Sarbat Khalsa and for that the whole edifice fell, within ten years of his death.

May be that the Guru wants the year 1999 to serve us as a wake up call; so as to energize us to revive the spirit of Sarbat Khalsa. In the past, we reposed too much confidence in the good common sense of our leaders or just expected of our traditions to work on their own, but they have not. As of now; we better get serious to frame up a strong system of Checks and Balances leaving no scope for an individual or an institution to fail us. Such a system provided by the U.S. Constitution Makers, is working very well over the centuries.

My humble experience is that on matters of Panthic Interests of all kinds; Spokesman, Chandigarh; is presenting very fair, independent and mature views. Of the conditions we are in, it has presented an informative analysis at pages 31 to 38 of its April 1999 issue .The August 1999 issue, at pages 37 to 39, carries an article from one Jeewan Jeet Singh of Bhopal. In my humble opinion, the proposals therein, do deserve kind attention of Guru Khalsa Panth. Those briefly are:

Sikhs over the whole world, will form an Electoral College to elect a body of 2000 representatives. The minimum qualification for each of them will at least be a graduate. Ten thousand Sikhs will be selecting one such person. The Electoral College of such 2000 will elect council of 200.This body will attend to almost all-important matters of the Panth. They will further elect an executive body of 20 persons and the executive will be accountable to the council. Jathedars of Takhats will deal with, only those matters, which the executive refers to them. Age qualification for a voter is 25, and for a representative, at each level, it increasingly moves upwards. Proposed minimum qualification for Takhat Jathedar is at least M.A. in Divinity, Sikh history, religion, research in Gurbani, 5 years term, renewable for one term, Bheta Rs. 15000 to 20000, car with driver, house, medical allowance. The above looks to be a good attempt at setting our house in order, which otherwise is in bad shape. If we succeed in finally evolving a strong system, with proper checks and balances, the year of celebrations will become really memorable. May Sat Guru grant us the necessary strength! September 25, 1999.

Fateh to Readers

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa-Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh:

Each one of us, young or old, is fortunate to be a participant of the year long celebrations of the 300th Birthday of Khalsa Panth as an occasion of a great rejoicing, in as much as, it reminds us of the level and stage of the Guru, accepting his Sikhs as perfect human beings and or Saint Soldiers, all in one. The level is so high, but then, tests applied, were equally high. Guru Nanak had originally set the standard : by specifically telling:

"He who wants to play love with the Guru, needs to come forward with his head set on his Palm and on once choosing that path, there need be no hesitation to sacrifice one's head." Thereby desiring a total obedience to Guru's word: possible only on a full control of ego self.

During the intervening period of more than two centuries, all the ten great Gurus, had helped the Sikhs, to reach that standard of maturity and perfection. At an appropriate moment, Guru Gobind Singh literally put the demand and an appropriate response came from the Five Beloved Ones who were accepted and baptized. At stanza 16 of Japji Sahib, Guru Nanak had already spoken of high respect and presiding position of such 5 approved ones. In due recognition, the 10th Guru faithfully bowed before the 5 approved ones and in all humility begged of them to be baptised; and that was duly done. The Guru recognized Khalsa, as Soldiery of Akal Purakh (God). Further that Khalsa had appeared as willed by God. Explaining his Mission into this world, he said that it was to promote Saints and root out the oppressors.