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University of California Riverside
Rebuffs Sikhs
Baljeet Sahi
 Los
Angeles, CA: Sikhs in Diaspora were dealt yet another blow by the
University
of California at Riverside by endorsing Mr. Pashaura Singh’s
academic credentials and scholarship. In spite of a strong
opposition by the Sikh community and its discontentment to the
nomination of Mr. Pashaura Singh to the Dr. Jasbir Singh Saini Chair
in Sikh and Punjabi (Language) Studies, the university continues its
stubborn stance in favor of Mr. Pashaura Singh, a renegade Sikh
scholar, according to the members of Coalition of Gurdwaras of
California and the watchdog organization Sikhs for Preservation of
Sikhism and Sikh Heritage.
Dr. Stephen Cullenberg, Dean College of Humanities, Arts, and
Social Sciences in a letter addressed to the Coalition and the
watchdog organization as a follow up to his meeting on June 20th,
2008 with Sikh community members: Mr. Raminderjit S. Sekhon, Dr.
Jasbir S. Mann, Mr. Ajit S. Randhava, Dr. D.S. Gill, and Mr. Bharpur
Takhar, replied that: “We discussed the recent appointment of Dr.
Pashaura Singh to the Dr. Jasbir Singh Saini Chair in Sikh and
Punjabi (Language) Studies. We had a lengthy and open discussion
about our feelings around the appointment of Dr. Si ngh to this
chair. I appreciate and respect the concerns that you and your
colleagues have expressed. I know there are many who disagree with
his scholarship. However, a recent review of Professor Singh's
scholarship, carried out through the
University of
California's
academic personnel process, supported the view that Professor
Singh's research was of high quality. Given these differences of
judgment, I would hope that we could respectfully agree to disagree
while Dr. Singh occupies the Sikh Chair at UCR. Please be assured
that we welcome your thoughtful critique of Dr. Singh's research, or
any other faculty member's research at UCR for that matter, as such
critique is the very essence of the university's mission. Your
colleagues presented me with a letter dated June 20, 2008, which in
part queried Dr. Singh on 9 points regarding his research. I showed
Dr. Singh these queries and he informed me that he stands by his
research”.
Dr. Stephen Cullenberg was referring to 9 points forwarded to
him by the Sikh community members during the meeting. The 9
pertinent points were asked by a Sikh scholar review committee
constituted by Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee (SGPC) who
submitted a report to Sri Akal Takhat (Temporal Authority) on July
20th, 2005 delegated through the Conve ner S. Waryam
Singh, Secretary Dharam Parchar Committee. After reviewing two
books; The Guru Granth Sahib Canon, Meaning and Authority, by
Pashaura Singh, and The Making of Sikh Scripture by Gurinder Singh
Mann respectively the Sikh scholars requested Mr. Pashaura
Singh’s explanation to following 9 points: (1). Whether Sri Guru
Arjan Dev's demise date i.e. Jeth Sudi 4, 1663 BK (1606 AD) recorded
in MS # 1245, is in the hand of original scribe or not? (2). Have
you written or not on page 46 of your book that MS # 1245 was
prepared by Guru Arjan in 1599 AD? (3). Does the manuscript under
question comprise Kachi Bani attributed to the Sikh Gurus or
not? (4). Have you expressed or not in your book on pages 45-46 that
MS # 1245 (which includes Kachi Bani) was shown by Sri Guru
Arjan Dev to emperor Akbar? (5). Have or haven't you in the book on
pages 31, 46-50 concluded that Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji prepared this
Manuscript and then used it to fix the final text of Sri Guru Granth
Sahib Ji? (6). Have or haven't you affirmed on pages 23, 42-43 of
the book the role of Baba Budha as a caretaker to preserve the
above-mentioned Manuscript? (7). On pages 84-90 of the book, have
you drawn or not the conclusion that the original mul mantar
was different than that of the present one and Sri Guru Ram Das Ji
and Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji had made changes in it from time to time?
(8). By considering the text of Japu Ji Sahib recorded in MS # 1245
as the original one, have you drawn or not the conclusion that Sri
Guru Arjan Dev Ji had revised the present text from language,
vocabulary and poetic viewpoints? (9). On the basis of MS # 1245
(book pages 102-105), have you mentioned or not that Sri Guru Arjan
Dev Ji had revised the bani of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji from
poetic and vocabulary point of view? However, Mr. Pashaura Singh has
refused to address these questions and repeatedly declined comment.
The Sikh scholars committee members who critiqued Mr.
Pashaura Singh’s inferences were: (A) Dr. Darshan Singh, Professor
Emeritus & former Head, Guru Nanak Chair of Sikh Studies,
Punjab University,
Chandigarh. Who has been working in the field of Sikhism since 1972
and has written 20 books and 200 Research Paper on Sikh Theology,
Philosophy, and History. (B). Dr. Kharak Singh (Retd.), an Eminent
Sikh Scholar who had worked with FAO Rome. He was a founding member
of Institute of Sikh Studies, Chandigarh and had worked on Sikhism
since 1970 and written many books and Research Paper in the field.
He was working as a chief Editor of Sikh Journal named abstract of
Sikh Studies at the time of his demise this month. (C) Dr. Ram
Singh, Principal of Akal Degree College, Mastuana, District Sangrur.
He is M.A. in English and Religious Studies and has been Head of the
English Department,
Guru
Hargobind
Khalsa
College,
Guru Sar Sudhar, Ludhiana. He is chief organizer of Guru Gobind
Singh Study Circle, a Non Government Organization active in the
field of Sikh Studies. He has contributed several research papers
and books on Sikhism. (D). Dr. Jasbir Singh Sabar, former Professor
and Head of Guru Nanak Studies Department Guru Nanak Dev University,
Amritsar. Presently he is the Head of Bhagat Ravidas Chair Guru
Nanak Dev University, Amritsar. He is M.A. in Punjabi and PhD on
Medieval Sikh Literature. He has written about 20 books and 270
Research Papers on Sikh Literature and Religion. Since 1976 he is
actively involved in research and teaching in
Guru
Nanak
Dev
University,
Amritsar. (E). Dr Mohinder Kaur Gil, former Principal,
Mata
Sundri
College,
New Delhi. She holds a degree of M.A. in Punjabi Literature and has
done her Ph.D. on the editing technique of Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
She is a reputed Sikh Scholar and has written about 20 books on the
various aspects of Sikh scripture and Sikhism. Since 1974 she is
actively involved in the research on Sikh scripture. (F). Dr.
Sarbjinder Singh presently working in the Department of Sri Guru
Granth Sahib Studies and also Chief Editor of Nanak Parkas Patrika
Journal of Sikh Studies Punjabi University Patiala. He did his M.A.
in History, Religious Study and Punjabi. He has an M.Phil and PhD in
Religious Studies, and a Diploma in Persian and French. He wrote 5
books and 35 Research Papers for various Journals of Religious
Studies. His book Divine Revelation was Awarded 'Book of Year' by
Indian Government.
Speaking on the issues regarding the 9 points and Dr. Jasbir
Singh Saini Chair in Sikh and Punjabi (Language) Studies, members of
the Coalition and the watchdog organization said that earlier this
year the university conspired with The Sikh Foundation of Palo Alto
California to push Mr. Pashaura Singh through the back door of the
academia by first getting him appointing as a professor of Religious
Studies and then nominating him to the Chair. The Sikhs feel they
have been deceived by the university authorities because earlier
they had been essentially assured through a letter by Dr. Ellen A.
Wartella, Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost on
September 8th,
2005 that “Dr. Singh was previously considered a candidate for
the Dr. Jasbir Singh Saini Endowed Chair in Sikh and Punjabi
Studies. It has been determined that he will not hold this chair
and, in fact, the search for a chair-holder has been indefinitely
postponed pending formal approval of the chair by the University of
California Office of the President”.
It’s disgusting the way an academic institution is playing
with the sentiments of peace loving Sikhs and inciting them to sort
of an academic battle said the members of the Coalition and the
watchdog organization. A member stated that this was historically a
typical work of disgruntled Sikhs such as founders of The Sikh
Foundation with deep pockets who connive to scheme and further their
agendas of dividing Sikh populous and initiating fraudulent research
and portraying kachi Bani as Sachi Bani by dissecting
Sikh Holy Scriptures in order to destroy Sikhism. They added that
the British taught few Sikhs their plan of divid e and rule to
destroy very well and “during their rule in
Punjab sent several
scholars to annihilate Sikhism”, unfortunately the progeny of such
thought continues its quest. The Sikh community is now preparing a
peaceful protest at the university grounds in Riverside on September
26, 2008 from
11:00 AM to
1:00 PM to voice their deep regrets and concerns. All Sikhs are
invited to join the protest which will begin at Gurdwara Riverside,
7940 Mission Blvd.,
Riverside, CA 92509 at 10:00 O’clock after refreshments.
The author is affiliated with the Coalition of Gurdwaras of
California and Sikhs for Preservation of Sikhism and Sikh Heritage
27 August, 2008
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