Sikhs Today By Khushwant Singh

[kuthaman]

Sikhs are the most prosperous religious community of India today. They comprise landowners, business tycoons, professionals and tradesmen. They head industrial corporations like Ranbaxy, Fortis, Apollo Tyres and others. Their control organizations like Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee ( S.G.P.C) which controls all the historical shrines has an annual budget of almost Rs 30 crores and runs a large network of schools, colleges, hospitals and ancillary institutions. In a country where malnutrition and famines are common, no Sikh goes hungry. In a country full of beggars, it is rare to see a Sikh stretch out his palm and beg for money.

However there is a dark side to this view of prosperity. Nearly a third of the community cannot read or write. The rate of fetal killings of females is about the highest in the India. So is the malice of violence, drink, drugs and alcoholism. Shameful discrimination of Dalit Sikhs known as Mazhabi’s persists: they are forced to live on the outskirts of villages, have separate wells and gurudwaras, inter-caste marriages in a community which claims to be casteless is unknown. An increasing number of young Sikhs do not conform to the Khalsa form of Sikhism: they trim their hair and beards, smoke hookahs and cigarettes. In the elite Patiala Clubs you can see the sons of the rich smoking and drinking while playing cards.

It is this negative aspect of the community which has given birth to the breakaway sub-communities like the Nirankaris, Namdharis and Radhasoamis. It also explains the eruption of deras like the Sacha Sauda & hundreds of others across Punjab. They proliferate because they do not have caste discriminations and welcome Hindus into their fold. Venting anger against deras is not good enough. We should coolly examine the phenomena and rectify our errors.

I have no concrete suggestions to make what steps leaders of our community should take to mend this sad state of affairs. It is for them to chalk out a plan which is workable and has the support of those who have the welfare of the community in their hearts.

[S1ngh]

Their control organizations like Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee ( S.G.P.C) which controls all the historical shrines has an annual budget of almost Rs 30 crores

I think its 300 crores (thats what they write in papers), figures seems to be between 400 and 500 crore..

[ms514]

VAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA, VAHEGURU JI KI FATEH

Whatever comes out of Khushwant Ram's mouth should always be scrutinized very thoroughly for inaccuracies/deliberate misrepresentations.

The first paragraph is decent enough. The second paragraph, provided the numbers are accurate, seems to be generally correct given the news that comes out of the Punjab. I am sure the forum members from India can verify with greater accuracy.

Now, from there comes the fud:

"It is this negative aspect of the community which has given birth to the breakaway sub-communities like the Nirankaris, Namdharis and Radhasoamis."

Namdharis were around post Maharaja Ranjit Singh period, so the current vices in the Sikh community did not give birth to that movement. The Nirankaris were a similar reformist movement to the Namdharis and true Nirankaris no longer exist and were founded well before the current ills - they have merged into the Khalsa Panth - it is the sant Nirankaris/Narakdharis that, by government support, antagonized the Sikhs and were declared a separate identity. The Radhasoamis are seen as the easy way out - no Rehat and the Baba guarantees liberation in a few births (7 if I recall correctly) and again, this movement that was popularized by Sawan Singh Radhasoami in the Punjab was around prior to the current ills of the vices present in the Sikh community today. It would be irresponsible not to mention the government's full backing of these groups and the side benefits that they offer - like monetary prizes for their members to convert people into their folds (at least with the Radhasoamis).

To say that, "They proliferate because they do not have caste discriminations and welcome Hindus into their fold." is somehow implying that Sikhism does not allow the same, which is obviously untrue. Granted, cultural elements are taint how Sikhism comes across to others, but the principles of Sikhism are there for all to see and overwhelmingly support equality and openness to all who wish to become adherents.

Sacha Sauda and other deras - granted, the inequalities definitely push a lot of people into those deras and indeed, long term analysis and tactical strategy is necessary to tackle the aggressive dera problem, as violence will beget violence, where Sacha Parchar will overcome inferior/fake parchar.

[kuthaman]

VAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA, VAHEGURU JI KI FATEH

Whatever comes out of Khushwant Ram's mouth should always be scrutinized very thoroughly for inaccuracies/deliberate misrepresentations.

The first paragraph is decent enough. The second paragraph, provided the numbers are accurate, seems to be generally correct given the news that comes out of the Punjab. I am sure the forum members from India can verify with greater accuracy.

Now, from there comes the fud:

"It is this negative aspect of the community which has given birth to the breakaway sub-communities like the Nirankaris, Namdharis and Radhasoamis."

Namdharis were around post Maharaja Ranjit Singh period, so the current vices in the Sikh community did not give birth to that movement. The Nirankaris were a similar reformist movement to the Namdharis and true Nirankaris no longer exist and were founded well before the current ills - they have merged into the Khalsa Panth - it is the sant Nirankaris/Narakdharis that, by government support, antagonized the Sikhs and were declared a separate identity. The Radhasoamis are seen as the easy way out - no Rehat and the Baba guarantees liberation in a few births (7 if I recall correctly) and again, this movement that was popularized by Sawan Singh Radhasoami in the Punjab was around prior to the current ills of the vices present in the Sikh community today. It would be irresponsible not to mention the government's full backing of these groups and the side benefits that they offer - like monetary prizes for their members to convert people into their folds (at least with the Radhasoamis).

To say that, "They proliferate because they do not have caste discriminations and welcome Hindus into their fold." is somehow implying that Sikhism does not allow the same, which is obviously untrue. Granted, cultural elements are taint how Sikhism comes across to others, but the principles of Sikhism are there for all to see and overwhelmingly support equality and openness to all who wish to become adherents.

Sacha Sauda and other deras - granted, the inequalities definitely push a lot of people into those deras and indeed, long term analysis and tactical strategy is necessary to tackle the aggressive dera problem, as violence will beget violence, where Sacha Parchar will overcome inferior/fake parchar.

When I first started learning about Sikh history I use to respect Khushwant Singh and his writings. The more I read and learned, it made me realize he has a hidden agenda. The man is not even a Sikh, his classifies his son has a Mullah or some <banned word filter activated>. He is only Sikh for the image, and all. I have strong doubts about his intentions and writings, but many Sikh orgs unknowlingly give him respect. I found this article on the Sikh foundation site.

[S1ngh]

Most of the Sikh Organizations r willing to lay red carpet welcome if the person is well connected politically or is DAMN RICH. Khushwant is rich and well known in all social/political circles. Such person should not be allowed because of degraded/twisted views of female gender.