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Fighters must re-establishing credentials to extricate Sikh nation from crisis: SYA conclave
WSN Network

Fremont: In order to extricate the Sikh nation from the crisis-ridden times, the activist Sikh organizations will also have to re-establish their own credibility. Often it is seen that when the struggle's peak is passed, the suspicion and mutual distrust start taking the center stage. With the breakdown of communication channels and coordination systems, differences develop within the leadership and each starts pointing the finger at the other. The common people are left with nothing but a depressing feeling. In such a scenario, the political leadership and religious as well as intellectuals in the forefront must bear a larger responsibility. The Sikh Quom is passing through exactly such times.

In order to safeguard the unique identity, the Sikh leaders within India, in Punjab and even among the Diaspora must iron out their differences and channel all their energies to counter the enemy.

This was the general consensus and a clarion call to this effect rang out from the annual conclave of the Sikh Youth of America here in Fremont .

Representatives from many gurughars, religious personalities, cultural forums and sports clubs joined their heads at the conclave organized at Raja Sweets Hayward by the Sikh Youth of America which has been in the forefront of the fight for Sikhs' rights for the last over two decades.

The Chief Guest at the occasion, Sardar Harinder Singh Khalsa, said the situation in Punjab is now precarious and even more than in the political domain, the need for grassroot level activity was more acute in social and religious turfs. He said the electoral fight has done no good and it was of no use to chase the votes. Even the Chief Minister of the state leading the Akali Dal is not sincere towards Sikh issues, nor if the Akali Dal now deserving of being called a panthic party. The jathedars of the Akal Takht, the chief of the SGPC and other top brass are subservient to the political leadership and there is no gainsaying in reiterating the fact.

Khalsa Sahib recalled how he used to bow before the Gurughar at Sri Harmandir Sahib every time he was to appear in an exam or faced a difficulty. He said after the army attack on the holiest of the holy shrines, he burnt his entire service record on June 18, 1984 and has never looked back, though this was a decision which even forced him to wash utensils at a dhaba. He could return to India only in 1990 and then remained a secretary of the SGPC before entering the Lok Sabha in 1996 and later becoming a member of the SC/ST Commission of India.

He said he was among the decision makers and joined hands with leaders like Bhai Daljit Singh Bittu and others to firm up a Khalsa Action Committee after it became clear that there was little will in the established Akali leadership to fight against the Sirsa Dera head Gurmeet Ram Rahim. He said as a result of the efforts of the Khalsa Action Committee, a widespread public awakening among the Sikhs against the derawad was achieved. Now, he said, it was time to take this good work forward with more stridency.

Sikh thinker Sardar Ajmer Singh, in his brief address, praised the fighter fringe of the community for its efforts to keep alive the idea of independence of the community but also at the same time pleaded for efforts to identify the flaws and aberrations in the struggle and its modes. He said the challenges being faced by the Sikhs were not ordinary and in order to take the struggle forward, we need intellect as well as patience.

He laid particular stress on learning the art of reconciling the differences and addressing the tricky matters of disagreements on crucial issues. He expressed disappointment at the way the political elements were indulging in calling and believing each other as agents of the government. He said such a political culture of dirty public debate through hurling allegations has already done much harm to the Sikh cause.

Sikh community leader S. Balbir Singh Ragi welcomed Sardar Harinder Singh Norway very warmly. Bibi Gurbaksh Kaur Kahlon called Sardar Harinder Singh as Hero of the Sikhs and Sardar Ajmer Singh as the warrior who was fighting with his pen instead of the sword.

Among others present were Parminder Singh Grewal, Kulwant Singh Khehra, Dr Pritpal Singh of AGPC, S. Yaadwinder Singh who had come from New Jersey especially for the occasion, S Gurinderjit Singh Maana and Makhan Singh Bains. The stage was coordinated by S. Bhajan Singh Bhinder.
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24 October, 2007
 

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