This letter was published in Panjab Times on Thursday 23rd September 2021 and has been emailed to Sikh Council UK and Supreme Sikh Council. Conflict and funding none.
ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਕਾ ਖਾਲਸਾ ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਕੀ ਫਤਿਹ
My name is Rajveer Singh, and I am a Sikh student currently studying at university. However, I also spend my time as a Sikh preacher, teaching young Sikhs in the UK about Sikhi. My organisation is Khalsa Diary, a blogging platform I use to write literature for youngsters to read.
However, as a young parcharak who has been in many debates, there are specific questions that the Sikh Panth has, and these are questions non-Sikh religious preachers and anti-Sikh groups will ask us repeatedly. It’s slightly disappointing that many Sikh youngsters are being coerced from the Panth due to these few issues. So I would urge you to take out some time to please answer these questions that many youngsters have so that Sikh parcharaks in the western world will not have to put up with the perilous situation we are currently dealing with. After all, a definitive response from the Jathedar of the Akal Takht is something that will be recognised throughout the world and held in high regard.
- Sikh philosophy stands on the basis of two things, “Guru Granth” and “Guru Panth”. This philosophy has given Sikhs great power, something we have witnessed throughout our entire history. This ideology is contained within the Sikh Rehat Maryada, something that was prepared by the leaders of the Singh Sabha movement to separate Gursikhi from everything else definitively. However, it’s unfortunate to see that despite this being one of the primary duties of the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib since the 1990s, the Panth has been completely divided to the point where no one has a single Maryada. As an advocate of the collective power of the Sikhs, what steps are being taken from your side to propagate a single Sikh Rehat Maryada that satisfies all? With this, it would put an end to the many different issues within the Khalsa Panth and between the many Jathebandis as well.
- Throughout Gurbani, we are told repeatedly that worshipping a body, a stone, or a specific area is incorrect. And the worship of delusional fake godmen is also prohibited within Gursikhi. Having said that, it’s unfortunate to see that even within the great Guru Nanak Dev Ji University, a chair has been established in the name of human guru’s (“Satguru” Ram Singh) from the Naamdhari sect, which clearly undermines and contradicts the “Guru Granth” and “Guru Panth” philosophy. The Radha Soami sect has proved time and time again that they will never stand with the Panth, and yet their so-called baba will happily come to Darbar Sahib claiming to be the disciple of Guru Nanak Sahib Ji. So when will the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib assume his position as the advocate of truth and take charge of this issue?
- In the University of Birmingham, a chair is being established by the name of Guru Nanak Sahib Ji by the Indian government. Alongside this research, opportunities have been created and will be funded by the Indian government. Over the years, we have seen the Indian government slowly destroy Sikh literature, from raiding the Sikh reference library in 1984 to publishing new editions of older books containing tainted information. When this research opportunity was opened, I emailed the SGPC, Sri Akal Takht Sahib and the university as well as other Sikh bodies, about this issue. Will Sri Akal Takht Sahib be launching a panel to govern the research going on to ensure it will actually be about Gursikhi instead of the majority of nonsense being published?
- Sikh history contains many attacks on Sri Darbar Sahib, and every time the Sikh Panth sought revenge for this. In June 2021, the respected Jathedar openly accepted that the Sikhs are slaves in the Indian state and that Operation Blue Star should be renamed Amritsar Genocide. This was a significant step and was relished by the Sangat. Whilst this step was much appreciated, many Sikhs are concerned with the safety and integrity of Sri Darbar Sahib, with the task force being untrustworthy and impending threats from the RSS and other linked groups. The complex itself is always full, with Sangat from all over the world visiting Sachkand Sri Darbar Sahib 24/7. What has been done to ensure Sri Darbar Sahib’s fortification if the government decides to attack Sri Akal Takht Sahib or Sri Darbar Sahib once again? Before Misl Akaali, led by Shaheed Baba Gurbaksh Singh, used to be stationed there, which was a long-standing tradition. Will it be revived, or has something else been put in place? Or, if a natural disaster befalls the area, what is the evacuation procedure for the Sangat?
- The issue of the West Midlands Three, three Sikh activists who are being extradited to India, is something that “Godi Media” has picked up on and is calling for other groups’ support for their extradition. What is being done by Sri Akal Takht Sahib to protect these Sikhs, who worked with world level organisations to expose the unlawful acts of the Punjab Police? Veer Jagtar Singh Johal has been in police custody for so long, and where is the concern for a non-Indian Sikh who has done so much seva in the Panth by creating a database which documents the Sikh Genocide? And if this route opens, how do you plan on protecting Sikh activists throughout the world?
- The RSS made a 25 point attack on the Khalsa Panth. These can be found posted online, and to this day, there has been no open challenge to the RSS to answer their claims on Gursikhi. These are points that are used against young Sikhs like me over and over again, and we are constantly forced to go on the defensive against these attacks. Will you be taking the RSS to the task or providing literature to the Panth so that each individual will be capable of answering these attacks on Sikhi?
- Finally, you came to inaugurate the statue of the 21 Saragarhi Shaheeds, Sikh soldiers enshrined within British Colonial history. However, in Punjab, apart from Mehdiana Sahib Gurdwara, there are very few statues of those Sikh heroes who fought for Punjab’s sovereignty. It’s sad to say, though, that, in their place, the people who butchered Sikhs, such as Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and Beant Singh, all have statues in Punjab’s biggest cities, such as Ludhiana. Meanwhile, Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale, Bhai Sukhdev Singh Babbar, Bhai Avtar Singh Brahma, Bhai Harjinder Singh Jinda, Bhai Sukhdev Singh Sukha and other countless Shaheed Singhs and Kaurs, both past and present, are still being branded as terrorists. So what is being done to honour our Shaheeds and prevent our killers from being glorified?
These were just the humble requests of the Guru Panth, who used to gather on a Sarbat Khalsa to talk about these issues and the Jathedar chosen by the Sangat would ensure that these issues were dealt with. So I humbly request that you please take the time to answer these and please send me your answers on my email:
I hope you will accept these humble requests of the Sikh Youngsters, who will one day lead the Panth.
Please forgive me for any mistakes made,
Kind Regards,
Rajveer Singh
Head Of Khalsa Diary
ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਕਾ ਖਾਲਸਾ ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਕੀ ਫਤਿਹ
Khalsa Diary 