WHY WE AND OUR CHILDERN ARE GOING AWAY FROM SIKHISM ?
In 1967, I had a chance to go to Pakistan. I had been to their along with a Jatha (Religious Group) for a pilgrimage to celebrate the Birth Annivarsary (Gurpurb) of our First Guru Dhan Dhan Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji at Nankana Sahib (Pakistan). It was for the first time that I went to another country and nothing was known to me because I was at young age, but there was some persons from our village and some others who had been to there many times. We were well received at the Border as well as at Nankana Sahib, I saw most of Sindhi Hindu, Sikh and Muslims were doing all the services of Langar and other hospitalties. They were demanding Sikh religious books, Gutkas, Sainchis, Punjabi (Gurmukhi) learning Priemery books, Karas & Kanghas etc. I felt very guilty that we are not having anything like it rather some other items and articals for home use and trading purpose. No body was worried or concerned about these demands of Religious and Historical books or literatures. Everybody was busy in sale of Indian goods and purchase of Pakistani goods. Even on religious tours or pilgrimages our intentions are not religious but of entertainment and business etc. As usual, our Jatha was lead by the Authorised Officials of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Amritsar. The main aim of our people should be to spread the message as given by our Great Gurus and Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji by written literatures and other modern media etc.
I have to make business trips throughout India and thus to meet different shades of people. South India have very different culture and languages than North India. Most of the youngmen there do not know much about Sikhism. Some time they will offer sigrettes or will ask why we are keeping hairs and tie Turban etc. It is quite clear they do not know any thing about Sikhism. The same is the case in foreign countries. It indicate that our religious leadership have failed to tell the world that what is Sikhism. This lack of information have some time created very difficult situations for the Sikhs living throughout the world. In 1989-90, I had been to USA, Los Angles. One day I was just walking on the roadside and one American youngman went by my side in his car and started shouting at me ‘O-SHEIKH!, O-SHEIKH!’. I was just wondered to hear him and started thinking that why he was calling me like this. Afterward I realised that he was misunderstanding me as a SHEIKH from Iran being similar appearances. If we give proper attention to these matters seriously, such incidents can be minimised. Instead of hating us, they will appreciate Sikhismbeing one of the most modern, universal and real religion of the world. The need is of proper and concerted effrots in the right direction. In this very visit of USA, I had a chance to attend a merriage ceremony of one of our close friends, who was a follower of Bhai Harbhajan Singh Jogi. There I was just wondered to see how American Sikhs are doing Shabad Kirtan better than our kirtan jathas here in Punjab. Every person in the Sangat was properly following the Shabad Kirtan and receiting the same alongwith the Kirtani Jatha because everyone was provided with Computer Printed copies of the Shabad with its complete meanings and pronounciations in English. Why we are not following this pattern everywhere so that everyone should properly understand what is being sung. This can also help in removing so many misunderstandings and wrong propaganda about Sikhism.
In 1980, when we formed S. Jassa Singh Ramgarhia Federation (Regd.), Afterward as ALL INDIA S. JASSA SINGH RAMGARHIA (REGD.), AMRITSAR, we started attending the NAGAR KIRTAN on the GURPURB of our Great Gurus, we were invited by the SGPC, to attend the preparatory meetings for the forthcoming Nagar Kirtans. There, we were asked for our views on the Nagar Kirtan. I humbly requested that there are about 4-5 Nagar Kirtans in a year and all are taken through a fixed route in the interior of the city, it will be better if every Nagar Kirtan be taken by different routes in the different parts of the city with this most of the citizens will be able to participate in the event. Furthermore, in every Nagar Kirtan, there should be printed historical literature of the Guru ji Whose Gurpurb is being celebrated be distributed freely so that even strangers should know about our Guru Ji and Sikhism. This should be the case wherever and whenever any Nagar Kirtan, Shabad Kirtan or any celebration is performed. While we are spending lacs and crores of rupees on building new Gurdwaras here and there, can we not spend the required amount on Literatures, religious books, Gutkas, Sainchies and Sri Guru Granth Sahibji with the complete aunthicated meanings and other details in different languages of the world over and distribute it Free of Cost or at a very nominal cost. At some places some Individuals are doing some efforts in this regard which is very appreciable but it should have been done by the S.G.P.C., which is formed for this purpose and it has vast resouces to do it, if it desire to do it can definitely do. The only need is to give some serious consideration and to do hard work in this direction. In our Gurudwaras, we are giving more attentions to rituals like other religious places which is like Karam-kand as told by our Gurus, whereas there should be all out efforts to make known of our Gurus Teachings and its practical following in our daily life. All modern techniques should be used for this purpose so that present young generation may understand it properly and quickly.
Now a days, we are asking paid Gurbani readers (Granthis) to read the Gurbani for us to fulfill our rituals and wishes. It is being done at all Gurdwaras as well as at all other places. No body listen, understand or follow to it properly because we are busy in other works and give no attention to it. It is just like if any body takes some medicin for the illness of some one else. This gives a wrong message to our younger generation. Every body should be asked to read, write and learn GURUBANI himself. We should appoint very learned and missionery type Granthis in our Gurdwaras and should provide with printed literatures historical as well as religious free of cost so that any one can learn and have any information about Sikhism. No doubt, we have some Institutions are doing some work in this direction but it is not enough. Very few youngmen or learner can avail of it whereas it should be done on a very large scale so that it be in the easy reach of people as maximum as possible.
WE SHOULD EXPLAIN THE FOLLOWING FACTS OF SIKHISM TO THE WORLD:
- Sikhism is not a religion, Sikhism means to seek the Truth, understand the Truth and follow the true path in life. Whosoever will do it can be a SIKH.
- SRI GURU GRANTH SAHIB JI, teaches us all the above Truths of our life and of our Universe.
- All our TEN GREAT GURUS followed in total practical the True path of life and told the whole world that it is quite possible to follow it if one have the determination, love and faith in GOD.
- God helps and sides only those who truly loves Him and follow the true path of life.
- Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is a TRUE UNIVARSAL LIGHTHOUSE as it contains Teachings of not only of Sikh Gurus but of many Sprititual Bhagats, Soofi Fakirs and Pandits of other Faiths.
- THE GOD IS ONE AND HE IS THE ONLY ONE MALE, ALL OTHER LIVING CREATURES ARE HIS FEMALES, BODIES ARE DIFFERENT BUT SOULS ARE THE SAME.
- No one is bigger and no one is smaller, all are equal in the eyes of GOD.
- Any body can love HIM and can become HIS LOVER.
- All the human beings or childern when born, BORN AS SIKHS. If we do not cut his hair or make MUNDAN or do not CIRCUMCISE ( cutting of foreskin of mail organ as being done by Chiristians and Muslims etc.) , he will grow as a SIKH. He can maintain his shape by tying the Turban on his head to protect his hairs. To clean it he needs KANGA also. American Doctor, JANET LANT MD, says that human Skull is made of 52 nos. of Bones and it remains intact and at proper place when we TIE THE TURBAN on our head. Therefore, medicaly it is good for mental health to tie the turban. Also it helps to safegaurd our head in case of any accident or injury to it. Our Great Guru Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, with His vision understood the Truth and RESTORED the REAL SHAPE OF THE HUMAN AS GIVEN BY THE GOD. Those, who cut their hairs have to protect their heads with Iron Helments to face the enimy in case of any fighting or accident. While a Sikh is always ready to fight with his Hairs and Turban having a natural protector. It is incorrect to say that Guru ji converted us from Hindus rather the fact is that all the Ancestors of the Hindus were having the shapes of SIKHS. It is only in the recent past they had made such traditions, forgetting the Old Time Living. KIRPAN is for self defence and for the protection of the defenceless and not for any offence. KACHHEHRA (underwear) is for Self restraint for NO SEX relations with other females, but only with one’s own wife.
- If we make the World known about these facts and Truth, I believe the whole world can be SIKHS and NONE ELSE. I hope we will take some right steps in this regard and will do true service of the humanity and our coming generation will also follow it as it should be.