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Sirdar Kapur
Singh’s contribution hailed
Jagjit Singh
BUENA PARK: A two day conclave dedicated to the life and times of
Sirdar Kapur Singh was organized at Buena Park for which Balwinder
Singh and Sukhvir Singh Mundi took a major initiative. On the first
day of the conclave, Raminderjit Singh Sekhon (Romi) briefed the
audience about Sirdar Sahib's contribution to the panth and the
philosophical seriousness of his work. The key speak er, S.
Prabhsharandeep Singh, said the life of Kapur Singh not only
signifies the story of one man but is a reference for an entire era
through which the Panth passed and how it evolved through those
times.
Sirdar Kapur Singh, who passed out from
Lahore College and then did MA from Cambridge, was interested in
Sikh affairs from his college life itself. All through his life, his
efforts were aimed at guiding and tempering the thought processes of
the contemporary Akali leadership but unfortunately, for the Akalis
of those days, neither were his efforts of any value nor were they
interested in the well being of the Sikh Nation. Kapur Singh's
persona was one that at the same time underlined philosophical
vision as well as a complete and unwavering commitment to the
Sikh thought. The seminar was followed by discussion on the issues
raised by Prabhsharandeep Singh.
On
the second day of the seminar, Prabhsharandeep Singh underlined the
need to understand the philosophic standpoint of Sirdar Sahib and
explained how the great scholar narrated three different ideological
positions in Sachi Sakhi. The first of these was Hindu-vaad, the
second was the British-backed colonialism and the third was Sheikh
Ahmed Sirhindi Mujadid Alafsaani's Naqashbandi line of thought now
commonly known as radical Islam. He said Sirdar Kapur Singh
explained that the martyrdom of the ninth Sikh Master, Guru Tegh
Bahadur, made it clear that Sikhs wanted the construction of a
society that was inclusive, religiously accommodative and had space
for people to worship their own gods. The martyrdom for the Janayu,
which has no place in Sikhism, meant clearly this.
The young scholar also referred to Prasharprashna and other books of
Sirdar Sahib and said the
great academic and activist was adept at explaining the social and
political aspects of Sikhism without any contradictions.
Incidentally, the Sikh quom is celebrating the centenary year of the
great scholar. The seminar organizers were keen to have similar
ventures in future too.
19
August 2009
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