HVK Archives: Gurus are the real representatives...
Gurus are the real representatives... - Organiser
S. Charnjiv Singh
()
13 July 1997
Title: "Gurus are the real representatives of Hindu ethos and cultural unity"
Author: S. Charnjiv Singh
Publication: Organiser
Date: July 13, 1997
Sardar Charnjiv Singh, President, Rashtriya Sikh Sangat, will be the chief
guest at Bradford Centenary Hindu Marathon in the United Kingdom, to be
held on July 13, 1997. The Hindu Marathon is an annual event and over the
last few years has become. a prominent sports event in the athletic
calendar in which different nationals residing in the UK take
enthusiastically.
Talking to Organiser, Sardar Charnjiv Singh said that he would visit
countries like Germany, Denmark, Canada and USA apart from the United
Kingdom. His month-long visit is expected to boost the activities of the
Sikh Sangat in the .:countries he visits. Regarding 14 foreign mission,
Shri Singh pointed out that he would take the message of the Hindu way of
life to the alien lands. "Hinduism in the ancient times permeated the
whole world including the Babylonian and the Assyrian empires. In fact the
Sikh people and our great Gurus who always struggled against injustice and
authoritarianism are the real representatives of Hindu ethos and cultural
unity", he claimed.
Regarding the activities of the Rashtriya Sikh Sangat overseas he said that
presently there were about 16 branches outside India. In his present trip
he proposes to start new branches.
Elaborating on the problems faced by Sikhs in foreign countries he said :
"There are essentially two Mm of problem : first cultural and the second
political. There is a crisis of cultural identity. The young generation of
NRIs is influenced upon by the Western culture and is absolutely blind
about its own rich and profound cultural heritage. Therefore our objective
is to educate the young generation about the cultural background and
religious values of India."
Shri Singh further added : "There are certain organisations working outside
India which even now propound 'Khalistan' and some countries openly support
them. I shall use this opportunity to tell all those who support Khalistan
that the people of Punjab. are not desirous of Khalistan. Now the slogan
has become obsolete. They want only peace and tranquillity in the State.
Those who are supporting the Khalistan movement are playing in the hands of
our enemies."
Talking about the Rashtriya Sikh Sangat and the factors that led to its
formation he said: "It was founded on November 23, 1986, at Amritsar Sahib
on the occasion of Guru Parv, the birthday of Shri Guru Nanak Dev. The
Sangat was launched in extreme unfavourable circumstances, when the
Hindu-Sikh divide was at its worst. The Nirankari massacre of 1978, the
Operation Blue Star, Indira Gandhi's assassination, anti-Sikh riots, brutal
killings of innocent keshdharis were those events that vitiated the
atmosphere. But the devoted workers of the Sangat strived hard for
rebuilding the atmosphere of brotherhood between the two communities."
"There are 18 provincial committees, 500 local units and 20,000 active
workers working in this field in India", Shri Singh explained.
As to the factors that were responsible for communal disturbances he
maintained : "It was the British conspiracy that divided Hindus and Sikhs
in India. Even though keshdhari Hindus and non-keshdhari Hindus have
separate 'cultural identities, they have common spiritual foundation. For
the purpose of instigating hostility between Hindus and Sikhs, the British
planted one Macaliff who got himself converted to Sikhism. He then
translated Guru Granth Sahib into English and interpreted it to suit his
ends. According to him : 'The Sikh Panth is not a part of Hinduism.
Religious conduct of Sikhism is entirely different from that of Hinduism.
Hinduism has such a remarkably assimilating character as it will absorb all
other faiths and it is making serious efforts to absorb Sikhism. Therefore
Hinduism is greatest enemy of Sikhism.'"
Even though some Sikh scholars exposed the intention of Macaliff, many
Akali brothers became victims of the British conspiracy of bringing about a
cleavage in the Hindu society-thus to divide and rule.
Here comes the relevance of the Rashtriya Sikh Sangat. "Many of those who
supported extremism in Punjab have now realised that nothing can be gained
through violence. The recent elections in Punjab and the BJP-Akali Dal
alliance's victory vindicates the stand taken by the Rashtriya Sikh Sangat
all along", Shri Charnjiv Singh observed.
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