Caste Named Sikh Gurdwaras Banned, Nihang Dharam Singh Delared Tankhaiya By Sri Akal Takht Sahib

[singhfauja]

CASTE NAMED SIKH GURDWARAS BANNED, NIHANG DHARAM SINGH DELARED TANKHAIYA BY SRI AKAL TAKHT SAHIB

PANTHIC.ORG | Published on June 13, 2012

Sri Amritsar Sahib (KP) - In a proclamation issued from the secretariat of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, the five Singh Sahibans declared a controversial Nihang Sikh preacher a "tankhaiya" (a religious apostate), and issued several directives related to the proper management of Gurdwara Sahibs. : http://panthic.org/articles/5433

[JSinghnz]

Great to hear that Akal takht has finally decided to take action against the caste labeling of Gurdwaras.

I pray that the Panth be able to get rid of this nuisance of castes one day and we get rid of all caste

based Gurdwaras.

[Pyara]

Regarding the abolition of caste divided Gurdwaras, question now is how do we (the collective Sangat) implement this directive from Akal Takht??. Are the likes of Sikh Council UK really willing to take this issue on and start to address it with the Ramgharia, Bhatra and Ravidas labelled Gurdwaras in the UK??

Currently, I don't believe the Sikh leadership in the UK have an "appetite" to take this issue on and I think it will be another directive from Akal Takht that Sikhs just ignore. It's too "culturally sensitive" as it's caste divisions play a big part of the previous generations thinking.

Is it then up to the sangat (the non-influential) to accept ownership and implement Akal Takht's directive?

[JSinghnz]

We have to make a start from somewhere. The Sangat has to take the lead here and force the Sikh leadership

to implement the directives of the Akal Takht.

[singh135]

We have to make a start from somewhere. The Sangat has to take the lead here and force the Sikh leadership

to implement the directives of the Akal Takht.

agreed. Our leaders don't lead! Needs to be a grass roots movement!

[SarabhaPanjab]

Regarding the abolition of caste divided Gurdwaras, question now is how do we (the collective Sangat) implement this directive from Akal Takht??. Are the likes of Sikh Council UK really willing to take this issue on and start to address it with the Ramgharia, Bhatra and Ravidas labelled Gurdwaras in the UK??

Currently, I don't believe the Sikh leadership in the UK have an "appetite" to take this issue on and I think it will be another directive from Akal Takht that Sikhs just ignore. It's too "culturally sensitive" as it's caste divisions play a big part of the previous generations thinking.

Is it then up to the sangat (the non-influential) to accept ownership and implement Akal Takht's directive?

True, its such a long deep rooted problem, only a slowly slowly approach, over years, maybe decades will work.

But definitely a step in the right direction.

[Guru_Da_Chella]

I see lots of Ramgharia gurdwaras in UK? And also jathebandi labelled gurdwaras and gurdwara events?

[bally712]

SSA

Aren't you guys missing the point here? "Caste based" gurdwaras have predominately come about due to restrictions on the right to worship/right to be on the committee/right to have a voice in “higher caste” dominated gurdwaras; isnt the edict thats been given saying that those “higher caste” gurdwaras should be changing their policies rather than starting saying that Ravidass, Ramgharia, Batra etc gurdwaras should be the ones changing? Just like when FTSE 100 companies want to change their culture they make a concerted effort to change the mindset of their senior mgt team first and allow time for the changes to permeate throughout the rest of the organisation, surely then in this case the changes to the culture at the top of the pyramid first,and more crucially being seen to being adopted and then all will follow?

[JSinghnz]

SSA

Aren't you guys missing the point here? "Caste based" gurdwaras have predominately come about due to restrictions on the right to worship/right to be on the committee/right to have a voice in “higher caste” dominated gurdwaras; isnt the edict thats been given saying that those “higher caste” gurdwaras should be changing their policies rather than starting saying that Ravidass, Ramgharia, Batra etc gurdwaras should be the ones changing? Just like when FTSE 100 companies want to change their culture they make a concerted effort to change the mindset of their senior mgt team first and allow time for the changes to permeate throughout the rest of the organisation, surely then in this case the changes to the culture at the top of the pyramid first,and more crucially being seen to being adopted and then all will follow?

No one is missing the point here. Only when we all together change our mindset and stop recognizing any " “higher caste” "lower caste" in Sikhism, is when we

get rid of this curse of casteism from our gurudwaras and our community. As said by singh135,"Needs to be a grass roots movement!