If You Become The Jathedar Of Sri Akal Takht For 4 Years Post... What Will You Do? - Contest

[S1ngh]

If today you take over the office of Jathedar Sahib of the Akal Takht in a democratic voting system and now you have 4 year term but have limited cash access because of let's say SGPC bureaucratic red tape etc. Tell us your strategy or how and what will be your road map to bring sikhi back in today's youth in Punjab? Please take your time to answer the following questions. You have a team of 10 highly well educated gurmat principled advisers appointment by others, so you do not know anything about them apart from their resume.

Advantages: Head of Sikh Community worldwide. Community looks up to your decision. You can challenge any authority within sikh community. You don't have to answer or can be called by any country court etc. Unlimited donated land of sgpc and various school/colleges.

Dis-advantages: Limited funds. Have to work with less gurmat principled members. Deal with Punjab Politics. Can't use violence. Can't force anyone. Can't fire anyone unless a specific reason.

1. What will you do? (try to avoid making dictatorship or violent decisions - such as remove him or her, ban this or that).

2. What major positive or negative changes you will plan to bring? (please be realistic, you can't say: kill him or arrest them)

3. What will be your 4 major policies or your signature ideas (1st to be highest priority. Example: Obama's signature platform was healthcare and clean energy)

4. What changes will you prefer or plan to bring in SGPC? (Some facts: There are 175 members, mostly voted by rural folks. They are official holders of annual 600 crore budget).

5. Create your own question and answer it by yourself !!

Please share your knowledge with others and later on sangat will vote whose policy is the best.

Top 3 Winners will get awesome free goodies from SikhSangat :D

Some rules: You can't overturn previous jathedars' decisions or ruling. You can't decide on matters such as Raagmala, meat, keski, dasam granth sahib and so on. Oct 18th, 11:59 this thread closes automatically and then poll will start in another thread.. Sikhsangat Sewadars are welcome to participate but they won't be eligible for prizes.

Have fun & take your time GO !!!!

[pedrorizzo]

I am amazed after how much we as Sikhs give it the big one about what should happen re panthic affairs that noone has even bothered to reply to this thread.

Vjkk Vjkf

1. As Jathedar, I will focus on policies that bring the panth together and issues of common interest rather than appealing to one single faction/jathebandi. I will ensure that the any agenda that the Sikhs follow, will be pursued though peaceful and legal channels and that any kind of open militant and violent activity is discouraged, purely for the protection of Sikhi, and the protection of Sikh people.

2. I will look to raise funds for a big parcharik body in Punjab. It will have headquarters, buildings and branches all over Punjab. It will have both paid and voluntary staff. The role of this body will be for the delivery of Sikhi into the villages by trained, educated and knowledgable parchariks, who do not represent a certain jathebandi except Akal Takhat Maryada, Amrit and belief in Guru Granth Sahib ji. This body will aim to increase the number of Kesadhari and Amritdhari Sikhs in Punjab and compete with all the deras mushrooming throughout Punjab. It will do this through many different media, including, schools, colleges, universities, literature, camps, evening classes and by liasing with local gurdwaras in villages and cities and forming a large network.

I will raise funds for the formation of a legal team with headquarters, buildings and branches if necessary. This will be a focused team of the best lawyers in the country who will pursue Sikh rights through legal channels, including rights to wear kakkars, bringing about legislation which protects Sikhs and Sikh symbols in India, bringing to justice perpetrators of beadbi and crimes against Sikhs and the Sikh Kaum. The team will consist of both paid and voluntary staff.

I will raise funds for the formation of a private security company. The purpose of this will be to guard gurdwaras, the sanctity of Guru Granth Sahib ji, other Sikh establishments and interests, and protection of the community during possible times of civil unrest, eg riots etc. It will consist of paid and voluntary staff, and will look to recruit ex-military and police personnel. It will be present all over India, and not just in Punjab. It will be a well disciplined and trained security company with uniformed staff. However, this will not be a militant or para-military group and we will be careful not to present it as such.

I will convene a meeting of the top Sikh scholars, intellectuals and sants and propose that another meeting takes place so that a consensus can take place on a unified Sikh maryada, as it was done in the 1920s and 1940s, as presently, lots of different jatheh are continuing to folllow lots of different maryadas that are confusing the sangat.

3. Has been answered in point 2.

4. I cant really comment on the SGPC as I do not know enough about its structure. However, I would make structural changes that would allow for the above objectives to be delivered and achieved as necessary.

The thrust of my points is that Sikhs are a wealthy community as individuals, however, we lack rich institutions. We have many many unanswered issues and few organisations to address them. However, I feel that if a rich Parchar body, Legal body, and Security body were set up, this would be a big step in the right direction, and alot of issues would be resolved by these three bodies alone.

vjkk vjkf

[TejiKaur]

1. What will you do? (try to avoid making dictatorship or violent decisions - such as remove him or her, ban this or that).

1) My first step would be to find a cabinet of chardikala gursikhs with full knowlege who must at least know the nitnem banis kant as well as the meanings of all the banis and must be touched with the messege

2) My second step would be to gather a meeting of sarbatt khalsa and sent up jathas in every country so that there will always be communication on Sikh issues and we can unite easily

3) From these jathas build parcharaks in the old days sikhs used to live togather and for that reason we were united now Sikhs have forgotten the meaning of Khalsa and erveryone lives there own life. For example if a women sees a girl at the gurudwara she will think it is someone elses daughter. I want to clash this independent thinking and make it one panth where all our brothers and sisters. no more chugli and nindak . A sikh is a sikh n their alllegiance shud b to sikhi first. Guru sahin never cared about quantity only quality.

so here is how the jathas would run

money is put togather those who dont work do seva for the jatha

children are taught togather the values of sikhi

in these communities is a large gurudwara and parcharakhs which speak the language of the people in the place they are located

a gurudwara centers the community and is the place where all will recive meals ect and engage in seva learning and charity

these communites will be great centers for parupkareee and will work to do all sorts of seva for all people crossing all borders and always defend justice

the reason behind this is that sikhism has always been about giving ones head to guru jis dharma to the naam

so this is to weed out those who truly want to follow the path and those who just want to goof around vbecause if we dont we will never become strong

in the past sikhs were always united and this will be true sangat because for the most part only those who truly love sikhi would be able to live in such a place where salaries are merged life runs on seva and the only misson is spreading goodness to humanity

those people who are still stuck in dualty n rituals or who are more punjabi would not be attracted to such a lifestyle but those who are merged in simran and seva would and this type of simple life wiolll help kill ego and sangat sangat everywhere

think about it , if u have ur community how easier is it for youth to stay on the right path, for women to wear keskis n keep kesh, for men to wear turbans, to combat the vikaars so for this reason i would issue hukamnamas that as much as possible sikhs stay in groups of jathas togather so they could support eachother on the inside and support the world on the outside

4) I would make a rule that a Sikh is defined alone by rehit and love of Guru Sahib. I would get rid of association with jatha but not practices. for example a Sikh can follow whichever rehit they please , respect all mahapurakhs like sant ji and bhai randhir singh and baba nand ji and all these would come under one khalsa but noone would have the right to call themselves taksali or akj instead

all sikhs will respect and believe in the taksal for matters of studying gurbani and the best scholars versed in all great gurubani teekas from our past and all history books will teach a curriculum and the taksal will be responsible for all parchar

the nihung dal will be responsible for seva and for insuring that we are always ready to stand for dharam in the form of selfless service or jung

there will always be samagams and always all rehits will be tolerated and loved. in a family brothers and sisters disagree but we are all children of one parent. the khalsa too is the same .

5) Stop bowing down at the feet of badal and congress and all govenrnmen

- get rid of the shameful indian gov provided security guards , come on the jathedhar of akal thakat using security

B) Use the tons of money I have to do seva and parchar and

6) Make the sgpc schools affordable and corruption free and have free tuition centers as well as the best most elite free hospitals in all Gurudwaras ( this is because education is a must for punjabs yputh and must schools are corrupt and unaffordable and the healthcare in india is a mess) education is the key for Sikhi to exel in the world

7)have after school programs in every village

8)allow bibia full freedom to do kirtan

9) have Prof Sahib Singh Jis teeka fully in english as well as other dharamic texts

10) Pass a hukamnama to stop the printing of Birs of Guru Granth Sahib ( Gurbani will still be available to all in electronic format and/ or at Gurdwaras) if there is museebat like a Sikh lives far away than each case will be revieved but limit where copies of Guru Sahib are (in order to stop beadbei)

11) Make shelters seperate from Gurdwaras (so those who are intoxicated have a temporary support where they can turn around)

12) Make a test for parcharaks as well as higher their pay make sure they are on the same page and ritual free (if they are bowing to statues and wearign red threads what will they preach to sangat?)

13) Self rule- since when did sikhs start siding with julum sarkars? never from the time of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. We Sikhs are still the khalsa of the jot of Guru Nanak which is in gurbani. and the body of that jot is the khalsa forever and ever. In the old days we sikhs never gave taxes because the government was corrupt we were fearless and united.That is why we grew. Now we are scared and that is y we have lost power plain n simple. We chase after maya n fear death and dont connect with God. Those sikhs were jeeven mukath who cud kill them? We too must reach that state cause even if we dont have land yet who cares this earth belongs to waheguru this earth belongs to dharam and we are the defenders of true daya and dharam. wherever we are we will never bow down. it is sad that guru sahib made akal thakat to be stronger than dehli thakat but we have bowed. never anymore.

2. What major positive or negative changes you will plan to bring? (please be realistic, you can't say: kill him or arrest them)

Well i would make keski for females as well but not a kakaar tho. meaning it is required as much as it is for males because in my expirience i never felt more belonging to the guru thn i did the first day i wore a keski it is important for equality as well and will take our mothers away from the spirit of rituals and fasts to the spirit of being singhnees.

well most of my changes are up there in number one the communities ect but i would make sure all sikhs had acsess to the best shastar as well and free kakaars always as this is a problem for indias poor

i would run a free airline for sikhs ( the sgpc is rich enough) with flights going to amritsar always and if thats hard than a navy fleet where all could always come and do darshan anytime and once again the panth would be togather. these flights would be kirpaan accessible.

3. What will be your 4 major policies or your signature ideas (1st to be highest priority. Example: Obama's signature platform was healthcare and clean energy)

1)bringing the spirit on fearlessness n naam back into our panth as well as self soveignity

2) Sikhs living in jathas all across the world and these jathas being run uniformily

3)making sure the panth is united and communication limes are always open.

4) providing all basic needs (schools food hospitals healthcare) to all people (all of humanity ) in each gurudwara and lots los of parupkaar

4. What changes will you prefer or plan to bring in SGPC? (Some facts: There are 175 members, mostly voted by rural folks. They are official holders of annual 600 crore budget).

use the budget for education and parupkaree and the airline and giving sikhs kakaars ect

require a test be given and those who occupy the seats be adept in path, meanings sikh history and philosipy

make a test for those who vote as well , because they too must be informed inorder to make the right choice, the right to vote will be a privilige only for those who are involved and know enough to make a wise choice

and from the jathas we have before in each one one leader will be apointed and two representives who will fly to amritsar each year and we will have a congress of them so that the needs of all sikhs are heard and adressed

note the vote test will be open to the world because khalsa isnt only in punjab anyone who passes the test will earn the right to vote period

5. Create your own question and answer it by yourself !! i will in a lil bit

[Singhstah]

Very interesting reads... look forward to seeing what other ideas the sangat has

[Guru_Da_Chella]

I would bring jathedaari back to pre-1920 lineage?!

[N30S1NGH]

Excellent thread..!!

Here are my 50 cents:

1. What will you do? (try to avoid making dictatorship or violent decisions - such as remove him or her, ban this or that).

- Preserve old manuscripts, calligraphy of sikh arts, heritage, stop this insane white wash marble tile renovations over artistic sikh heritage...if it needs to renovate..it should replaced by innovative methods of renovating sikh heritage building/gurdwara where original quality is not lost. Digitized all the old manuscripts, calligraphy of sikh arts.

- Hire an excellent Public media relation sevadars for each gurdwara abroad which is able to handle all media related inquiries

- Implement an auditor/compliance departments looking over maryada of maharaj and maharaj darbar, sachkhand darbar, these department should travel inside punjab /abroad quarterly/mid/yearly basic and audits an gurdwara randomly, reports back to Sri Akaal takth sahib with reports, recommendations. Gurdwara committe members found to be non compliant should be given recommendations and deadlines if not met should be exposed on sikh media (See- below)

- Monthly if not weekly webcast/t.v broadcast over the air- sikh media sikh channels/ alpha punjabi of progress reports from Sri Akaal takth covering various types of issues, renovation plans of all gurdwaras, compliance reports of gurdwaras inside punjab and abroad. Best way to enforce any rules is not by force but through media (bad advertisement) so gurdwaras are forced to comply (as sad it may sound - losing business its all about that these days)

- Implement another maryada on satkar of maharaj and of maharaj's darbar i.e- mandatory perhaadars(paid or sevadars) to maintain sanity in maharaj darbar.

- Bringing various different school of thoughts ( vidya from udasi, nirmale, sevapanthis, taksal, nihangs, singh sabha) within Sikhism into one centralized university where sikh theology is taught for at least 5 years(degree) before authorizing anyone to be parcharaik/katha vachik/kirtani/shastarvidyakar/saastarvidyakar.....Sikh theology course should be spread across various different grades, classes, courses, at the final course - covers all different school of thoughts, history, kirtani reetas/shastarvidya. Vidya shouldn't stop at 5 years, after 5 years, one can take specialized courses, if one is keen towards explore more either keertan vidya, shastar vidya, saastar vidya, one can take advance courses like that....off course in the course of learning, one should never forget simran, mandatory daily 1 hr session of naam simran chanting at beginning (done in a way it resonates the chanting all surrounding - clear and in one pace).

- Sri Akaal Takht sahib sevadars should lobby politicians/indian politicans abroad to push sikh/human agenda- equality for all, exposing human rights violation of people across the globe, bring awareness of sikhi saroop in work field, mainstream.

- Sevadars should get best of best innovators/innovation companies to help/maintain sikh infrastructure ( gurdwaras abroad(including pakistan), heritage sites), i believe we should let companies bid among each other to fetch best qualities, best price.

more reforming ideas on here: http://www.sikhsanga...dream-gurdwara/

[xtremesingh18]

1. females wear keskis- enough of this nonsense that only males wear dastars and it is "optional" for females

2. change in stance of meat in rehat maryada, regardless of the method of killing it is not allowed

3. more lareevar saroops. and manglacharan should be in correct position

4. Saroops should be written/ printed however someone wants (ie with or without ragmala)

5. Maintaining satkaar of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, those who violate should be punishment

6. Get rid of the corrupt politicians who have no clue about what is best for sikhs.

so basically we go back to how sikhi was in the good old days.. :cool2:

inb4 ban

[S1ngh]

Very Nice replies !!!

-----

1. What will you do?

I will get raw data from all over punjab before taking any step. First year, I will analyze the whole situation. I will think of a solution on how to bring back time of 1930 or 1940's when it took years of years for a mona sikh to find a girl to marry. I will put half of annual budget in creating new brand education system both in worldly knowledge and sikhi knowledge. Main Points will be to provide sikh knowledge to individuals and then let them make decision of their own life. Bring Pagri back on the youth and bring back real basic rehat sikh characteristic attitude in every sikh living in this world.

2. What major positive or negative changes you will plan to bring?

1 year R&D Plan: I would put up a strong team of dozen statistician with minimum of 200 sikh volunteers from abroad for data mining purposes. Their main purpose will be to collect actual figures and information. They will be totally un-biased and collect figures as said by person they are interviewing or getting forms fill-out. Team will be divided in following groups.

• Dera system: Report on why people choose to visit dera rather than pind gurdwara sahib.
  
• Hair Beadbi: Report from actual members of sikh community on why don't keep hair and what they give reason behind this beadbi.
  
• Social Problems: Why, when and how many youth are living on drugs. Why sikhs are not progressing in sports (national), education (Sikh institutions), politics (Sgpc), media (News, tv).
  

5 year Education Plan: De-link all Sikh schools from easy going Punjab Board Syllabus System within 5 years. I will have Sikh Schools create their own school syllabus system which will be comprable to convent/catholic school running ICSE board.

5 year Media Plan: Encourage independent contractors/agencies to train sikh youth for positions such as tv host, vocal artist, journalist and have a in-house audio company who will control the audios of ragis jatha and have them sing in gurmat oriented music rather than catchy bollywood music trend.

10 year Prachar School Plan: Use all Sikh Controlled gurdwara sahib and turn them into hub for pracharak activities. Every Gurughar will have busy daily activities for people to get busy and know about their religion. First 5 years will have stringent leadership/counselor training program in education, santhiya, kirtan, katha, english and physcology courses.

3. What will be your 4 major policies or your signature ideas

Prachar

Education

Health Care (Free4all)

Social bad elements (Against dowry, drug etc.)

4. What changes will you prefer or plan to bring in SGPC?

SGPC: Initiate a secretative 10 year plan to target all 172 official members of SGPC and their families to either become puran gursikh or have full funded gursikh candidate to stand against them in order to win SGPC seats. Only doctorate level graduates can pass SGPC annual budget. Have outside independent company overlook accounting books of SGPC every month.

5. What else would you do?

Limitations on Akal Takht Jathedar position: A good salary of minimum of Rs. 10 lakh per month and future pension secured and security/car/housing provided to his/her family. A total limit of 10 days they can stay out of india in developed countries, however they can stay as long as they want in 3rd world countries such as some parts of africa and so on. All gifts will become the property of Sri Akal Takht Sahib or SGPC office. All politicians, diplomats, jathedars, courts have to come to Sri Harmandir Sahib in order to discuss/meet/talk with Singh Sahib on any issue.

Jathas/Groups: Initiate a roundtable talks with all jathebandia in order to bring a polished, universal, upgraded and clearer version of Sikh Rehit Maryada within period of 5 years. Figure out a way or plan to have only one person represent one jatha (simple logic).

[N30S1NGH]

Excellent ideas s1ngh sahib...

[TejiKaur]

1. What will you do?

1. My first step would be to find a cabinet of chardikala gursikhs with full knowlege who must at least know the nitnem banis kant as well as the meanings of all the banis and must be touched with the message.
   
2. My second step would be to gather a meeting of sarbatt khalsa and sent up jathas in every country so that there will always be communication on Sikh issues and we can unite easily.
   
3. From these jathas build parcharaks in the old days sikhs used to live togather and for that reason we were united now Sikhs have forgotten the meaning of Khalsa and erveryone lives there own life. For example if a women sees a girl at the gurudwara she will think it is someone elses daughter. I want to clash this independent thinking and make it one panth where all our brothers and sisters. no more chugli and nindak . A sikh is a sikh n their alllegiance shud b to sikhi first. Guru sahin never cared about quantity only quality.
   So here is how the jathas would run
   - Money is put togather those who dont work do seva for the jatha
   - Children are taught togather the values of Sikhi
   - In these communities is a large gurudwara and parcharakhs which speak the language of the people in the place they are located
   - a gurudwara centers the community and is the place where all will recive meals etc and engage in seva learning and charity
   - these communites will be great centers for parupkareee and will work to do all sorts of seva for all people crossing all borders and always defend justice
   The reason behind this is that sikhism has always been about giving ones head to guru jis dharma to the naam. So this is to weed out those who truly want to follow the path and those who just want to goof around because if we don't we will never become strong
   In the past sikhs were always united and this will be true sangat because for the most part only those who truly love sikhi would be able to live in such a place where salaries are merged life runs on seva and the only misson is spreading goodness to humanity. Those people who are still stuck in dualty n rituals or who are more punjabi would not be attracted to such a lifestyle but those who are merged in simran and seva would and this type of simple life wiolll help kill ego and sangat sangat everywhere.
   Think about it , if u have ur community how easier is it for youth to stay on the right path, for women to wear keskis n keep kesh, for men to wear turbans, to combat the vikaars so for this reason i would issue hukamnamas that as much as possible sikhs stay in groups of jathas togather so they could support each other on the inside and support the world on the outside.
   
4. I would make a rule that a Sikh is defined alone by rehit and love of Guru Sahib. I would get rid of association with jatha but not practices. for example a Sikh can follow whichever rehit they please , respect all mahapurakhs like sant ji and bhai randhir singh and baba nand ji and all these would come under one khalsa but no-one would have the right to call themselves taksali or akj instead.
   All Sikhs will respect and believe in the taksal for matters of studying gurbani and the best scholars versed in all great Gurubani teekas from our past and all history books will teach a curriculum and the Taksal will be responsible for all parchar.
   The nihung dal will be responsible for seva and for insuring that we are always ready to stand for dharam in the form of selfless service or jung. There will always be samagams and always all rehits will be tolerated and loved. in a family brothers and sisters disagree but we are all children of one parent. the khalsa too is the same.
   
5. Stop bowing down at the feet of Badal and congress and all governments. Get rid of the shameful indian gov provided security guards, come on the jathedhar of akal thakat using security.
   
6. Use the tons of money I have to do seva and parchar and Make the sgpc schools affordable and corruption free and have free tuition centers as well as the best most elite free hospitals in all Gurudwaras ( this is because education is a must for punjabs yputh and must schools are corrupt and unaffordable and the healthcare in india is a mess) education is the key for Sikhi to exel in the world.
   
7. Have after school programs in every village.
   
8. Allow bibia full freedom to do kirtan
   
9. Have Prof Sahib Singh Jis teeka fully in english as well as other dharamic texts
   
10. Pass a hukamnama to stop the printing of Birs of Guru Granth Sahib ( Gurbani will still be available to all in electronic format and/ or at Gurdwaras) if there is museebat like a Sikh lives far away than each case will be revieved but limit where copies of Guru Sahib are (in order to stop beadbei)
    
11. Make shelters seperate from Gurdwaras (so those who are intoxicated have a temporary support where they can turn around)
    
12. Make a test for parcharaks as well as higher their pay make sure they are on the same page and ritual free (if they are bowing to statues and wearign red threads what will they preach to sangat?)
    
13. Self rule - since when did sikhs start siding with julum sarkars? never from the time of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. We Sikhs are still the khalsa of the jot of Guru Nanak which is in gurbani. and the body of that jot is the khalsa forever and ever. In the old days we sikhs never gave taxes because the government was corrupt we were fearless and united.That is why we grew. Now we are scared and that is y we have lost power plain n simple. We chase after maya n fear death and dont connect with God. Those sikhs were jeeven mukath who cud kill them? We too must reach that state cause even if we dont have land yet who cares this earth belongs to waheguru this earth belongs to dharam and we are the defenders of true daya and dharam. Wherever we are we will never bow down. It is sad that guru sahib made akal thakat to be stronger than dehli thakat but we have bowed. Never anymore.
    

2. What major positive or negative changes you will plan to bring?

Well i would make keski for females as well but not a kakaar tho. meaning it is required as much as it is for males because in my expirience i never felt more belonging to the guru thn i did the first day i wore a keski it is important for equality as well and will take our mothers away from the spirit of rituals and fasts to the spirit of being singhnees.

well most of my changes are up there in number one the communities ect but i would make sure all sikhs had acsess to the best shastar as well and free kakaars always as this is a problem for indias poor

i would run a free airline for sikhs ( the sgpc is rich enough) with flights going to amritsar always and if thats hard than a navy fleet where all could always come and do darshan anytime and once again the panth would be togather. these flights would be kirpaan accessible.

3. What will be your 4 major policies or your signature ideas

1. Bringing the spirit on fearlessness n naam back into our panth as well as self sovereignty.
   
2. Sikhs living in jathas all across the world and these jathas being run uniformly.
   
3. Making sure the panth is united and communication limes are always open.
   
4. Providing all basic needs (schools food hospitals healthcare) to all people (all of humanity ) in each gurudwara and lots los of parupkaar.
   

4. What changes will you prefer or plan to bring in SGPC?

Use the budget for education and parupkaree and the airline and giving Sikhs Kakaars etc. Require a test be given and those who occupy the seats be adept in path, meanings Sikh history and philosophy. Make a test for those who vote as well because they too must be well informed in order to make the right choice. Right to vote will be a privilige only for those who are involved and know enough to make a wise choice.

Jathas we have before in each one one leader will be apointed and two representatives who will fly to Amritsar each year and we will have a congress of them so that the needs of all sikhs are heard and addressed. Note the vote test will be open to the world because Khalsa isnt only in punjab anyone who passes the test will earn the right to vote period

5. Create your own question and answer it by yourself !!

i will in a lil bit. gurufateh g rewrote mine