| Opinion | 2 May 2017 | Asia Samachar |
By Dr. Sarjeet Singh Sidhu
Introduction: This short write-up is an eye-witness account meant mainly to highlight and explain the circumstances surrounding and leading up to a shameful act in a gurdwara in Malaysia. On 1 Mar 2017 Inder Singh Ghaga was scheduled to give a talk at the Greentown Gurdwara (in Ipoh, Malaysia) but was prevented from delivering his talk by a group of ‘gursikhs’. What caused this incident?
PRELUDE
In late January 2017 I received an email from S. Gurcharan Singh Jeonwala that he and Prof Inder Singh Ghaga would be visiting Malaysia in February to give a series of talks on the Dasam Granth (DG), and that he wished to catch up with me whilst here. The talks were being arranged through the good offices of two Malaysian gentlemen. I was later made aware that Jeonwala and Ghaga would be in Ipoh on 28 February 2017, but that the talk venue and time were being kept under wraps for now as both Jeonwala and Ghaga were controversial in that they were against declaring the DG as being at par with the SGGS [Sri Guru Granth Sahib] and that they did not believe in installing the DG in any gurdwara. This was in line with my thinking on the subject. My views on the DG have been expressed in an article published in the Sikh Bulletin (SB) of Nov-Dec 2010 (http://sikhbulletin.com/Bulletins/SikhBulletinNov Dec2010.pdf). This article was again published in the online news portal Asia Samachar on 30 April 2016.
I was also made aware that a pro-DG group (PDG Group) was likely to disrupt the talk and that the group consisted of people averse to logic and reason. In any case the venue and time were ultimately confirmed, and since the organisers had been tight-lipped about it the talks went on smoothly. I attended the talks.
THE INCIDENT
It was no secret that the Greentown Gurdwara (in Ipoh, Malaysia) had invited Prof Inder Singh Ghaga to give a talk at their regular Wednesday evening sangat meeting at the Gurdwara.
About 2 weeks prior to that, a banner with the slogan “Ek Granth, Ek Panth, Ek Maryada”, displayed at the Greentown Gurdwara, had been torn down and burnt by a group of youths aligned to the pro-DG group, the whole incident video recorded, and circulated via You Tube and WhatsApp.
That the organisers (the Committee of the Gurdwara Sahib Greentown), more usually known as Ashby Road Gurdwara, anticipated some protests by the pro-DG group was evidenced by the presence of several uniformed policemen. The aim of the organisers was to prevent a disruption of the talk. No one foresaw the depths to which this PDG group would descend.
In keeping with the traditions of a Gurdwara no attempt was made to prevent anyone from attending. By the time I got there the dewan was full and constituted a large number of the PDG group members.
What happened thereafter is adequately described in the Asia Samachar report titled “Group disrupts Inder Singh Ghagaa programe in Ipoh”. SEE HERE
What shocked most of those in attendance that day was not the vocal protest, but the violence which accompanied the protest by the PDG group. Not only was Prof Ghaga’s turban knocked off, his shirt was torn and his beard violently tugged on resulting in a tuft of hair being pulled off completely: we had heard and seen (on You Tube) of violence and the use of swords in other countries and in India, but never in Malaysia. We had always been under the impression that this only happened in India or in host nations where there were first generation migrants from Punjab. For us this was a rude awakening.
On a personal level, I met up with Prof Ghaga immediately after the darbar sahib was cleared of the perpetrators of the vile act. He was sitting on the floor looking dazed and cut a forlorn figure. I held his hand and apologised to him on behalf of all decent Sikhs. I told him this was not our (Malaysian Sikh) culture: that we often disagree and get loud, but we don’t resort to violence. Is it any wonder that so many youths want to have nothing to do with religion? Whilst some degree of violence has been known in some political parties, and at gurdwara AGMs in some Malaysia gurdwaras, it has never, to my knowledge, been visited upon any speaker in a gurdwara even if one has disagreed with his views. Assaulting a speaker just because one disagrees with him or disallowing him to speak, albeit in a ‘passive’ manner, is a denial of free speech. Since when has Sikhi become so fragile that it needs protection?
In any case, I caught up with Prof Ghaga again the next day, and it was heartening to see that he was physically and mentally well. When asked “How are you” he responded “Chardian Kalan vich”. He was far from the forlorn figure of the previous evening, in good spirits and determined to speak his mind without fear.
POSTSCRIPT
The final outcome of Ghaga’s visit would be determined by the Sikhs of Seremban (Malaysia). It was thought that the fracas in Ipoh would ensure that Ghaga would not be allowed to speak his mind in Malaysia. It was rumoured that if any other group should give Ghaga a platform the Ipoh incident would be repeated, or worse. The pro-DG group, it would seem, had been victorious in their aim.
The Asia Samachar report of 3 Mar 2017 tells a different story: “Seremban Sikhs stood their ground to allow Inder Singh Ghagaa to speak”. SEE HERE.
The stance taken and the courage displayed by the Seremban Sikhs ensured that the fracas in Ipoh had become a fiasco for the protestors.
[THE ARTICLE FIRST APPEARED IN THE MARCH-APRIL 2017 ISSUE OF THE SIKH BULLETIN PUBLISHED BY HARDEV SINGH SHERGILL. TO READ THE FULL ISSUE, GO HERE]
Dr Sarjeet Singh Sidhu, who is based in Ipoh in Perak, Malaysia, is an obstetrician & gynaecologist (FRCOG) by profession with a degree in Law (LLB Hons) from the University of London, and a strong interest in religion. He has been a contributor to, and on the editorial boards of, Understanding Sikhism: The Research Journal (from Canada) and The Sikh Bulletin (USA). His email: sarjeetsidhu@gmail.com
[ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs in Southeast Asia and surrounding countries. We have a Facebook page, do give it a LIKE. Follow us on Twitter. Visit our website: www.asiasamachar.com]
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When a fake parcharak and a anti Sikh gets a salother from guru maharaj right infront of the sanggat ….. madey Kaam da madey natijey hoondey ….
SOME RESPONSES AT THE ASIA SAMACHAR FACEBOOK PAGE (3 MAY 2017):
Indigo Karrlos: Dr Sarjeet was it necessary to disturb the hornets nest again unless you are looking for publicity ?
Jas Shinder: Why repeat negative news. Are we bankrupt of positive news….or some one trying to politice the issue once more?
Kamelinder Frwa: Yes why the negative news again n again
Let’s move on..share something which will be useful to all
Gurcharan Singh: People who do not understand…need to read…….RSS is a terrorist organization whose main motive is a Hindu nation. All sikhs see this organization as antisikh because it has attacked many sikhs. It misuses our bani and often prints pictures of our …See more
SOME RESPONSES AT THE ASIA SAMACHAR FACEBOOK PAGE (3 MAY 2017):
Savinder Manjit Randhawa: Sikhism was such a beautiful well respected beautiful Religion followed by Sikhs all this while when we did not have all sorts of ‘Fanatical’ preaching by all sorts of ‘Fanatical’ preachers with all sorts of distortions and new ideologies on Sikhism and the Guru Granth Sahib Ji which is going on lately.Do we need all this new preachings and confuse Sikhs on this beautiful Religion now.The answer is “”No”””So what has gone wrong with true Sikhs.Please tap your hearts and ask that question.Please do not complicate issues which are not meant to be by inviting all sorts of people to come here and talk on Sikhism.Our local priests should be doing that honourable job to promote Sikhism by spending some time every Sunday rather than just spending all the time on kirtan.There are people out there who are all out with a different agenda in their minds and that is to distort and weaken our Religion.Please do not not be weak enough to let that happen.So stay united.””united we stand,divided we fall””So please stick with “””Guru Manteo Granth””Nothing can be at par with our Guru Granth Sahib Ji.We Sikhs are a civilised well respected community.So please do not make it uncivilised by fighting and squabbling in Gurdwaras over this issue.It gives us all a bad name. ????????????????????????
Indigo Karrlos: fully agree with you how come all this happening now?what was the root cause?
Amritpal Singh: Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is our Guru . Dasam Granth ji is the Bani or Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. In the past always Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji was placed in a higher pedestal and Dasam Granth ji was placed lower in some gurudwaras. there has never been in the past and even now a challenge that Dasam Granth Ji is at par with Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji ,. Everyone agrees that our Guru is Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. This so called issues are raised with intensity recently and those who raise conflicting issues do so for their own agenda.
SOME RESPONSES AT THE ASIA SAMACHAR FACEBOOK PAGE (3 MAY 2017):
Harkiran Singh Wathan: What Datuk SSS wrote was his view of the event ,it may not be the view of others .
In following the tradition of the gurduara if it was known that the speaker is controversial then the talks should be held outside the gurduara .management knew about this and pressed forward .
Sunil Frwa: I totally agree with u. There were many more there with a different view. Datuk SSS should be giving a unbias view. He has now given a very bias view. Asia Samachar needs to understand it’s supposed to be a unbiased. It’s,more like Mera Samachar
SOME RESPONSES AT THE ASIA SAMACHAR FACEBOOK PAGE (3 MAY 2017):
Melinder Kaur Dhillon: Poor “Indians and First Generation Migrants from Punjab” got the ‘beating’ for nothing.For my brothers and sisters in India,these views dont represant the rest of the Sikhs here in Malaysia.
Two points amused me:
1)stopping the sanggat (when did we start discriminating sanggat geographically) from entering a gurudwara is described as “display of courage”.i thought it was cowardly,something you do out of fear,not courage.
2) you invite police officers to the gurudwara and yet you did not see the dept of the possible disharmony.
I dont agree with the violence nor do i think DG is at par with SGGS,but just the way you anti-DG gentleman feel disturbed and hurt with the recitation of banis from DG,have some compassion for those of us who love Guru Gobind,love reciting Jaap Sahib,Chaupai Sahib,and all other beautiful writings of desmesh pita.
Take your Anti-DG discussions out of the gurudwara,there is no room for discussions in the darbar,its a one way process.Take it to the hall,give people like me an equal ground to Gagha.Give me chance to refute him.
P.S Gagha makes no sense.Just listen to his youtube videos/parchars.He is not anti-DG.He is anti-sikhi.
Harkiran Singh Wathan: That’s exactly what I’ve said before .listen to his you tube answers or discourses ,what really amuse me is that the so called learned people seemed to agree with what he says.
Creation of non existent problems?
SOME RESPONSES AT THE ASIA SAMACHAR FACEBOOK PAGE (3 MAY 2017):
Dave Singh Sandhu: Arent we surprised that the attack on Dasam Granth was intensified after 1984 with the emergence of Kala Afghanas and likes when the post 1984 lacked a good Sikh leadership and the whole of Punjab was in a state of chaos? Attack on Harmandir Sahib as we know was well planned and not only the Highest seat of the Sikhs was attacked but our Greatestest Library was looted and till today our stolen literature and sacred original books have not been returned. Now the emergence of these paid bythe GOI ( Govt of India) Lallu Parsads are suddenly rising knowing that the sikhs are now so weak….questioning the very core of Dasam Patshahs writings. The attack has been intensified creeping into the core of the malaysian Sangat and has started dividing us. Ask youself this question Sangat ji before you accept these missionaries who look like us and walk amongst us …….why NOW??? The episode that happened in Ipoh was very well planned by these group to gain the sympathy of the sangat and also a good oppurtunity to blame the SGGSA . Remeber sangat ji inspite of what these nindhaks say about our nationa Anthem….we were still “Subh Karman teh kabhoo nah daroo”.
Dave Singh Sandhu: for a balance view please visit Gur Vichar on FB.
Gurnam Singh Dhaliwal: EK GURU , SGGS .
Manjit Singh: By the way, are these people RSS in disguise to destabilise Sikhism?
Indigo Karrlos: They have managed to drive a wedge within the Sikhs who are generally very peacefull where Sikhism is the modern and tolerant religion
Gurcharan Singh: No,it is the other way round.The BN was projected more intensively,the opposition with equal intensivity,but not supported the state as it supports asdimilation of sikhs into hinduism,which the Bachiter natak preaches and is the link thru which fundam…See more
Gurnam Singh Dhaliwal: Dave , EK Guru , only SGGS is relevant to the topic . If all of us accept only SGGS as our only Guru , and Ek Panth with Ek maryada the disgrace and sad event at Ashby gurdawara would not have taken place .
Dave Singh Sandhu: Gurnam Singh Dhaliwal was the position of SGGS as our only Guru ever denied Gurnam? What happened in Ashby Road..I have already mentioned.
Dave Singh Sandhu: The replies to these Nindaks of Dasam Granth is not carried out by this so called Asia samachar who claimed to be a independant portal. Please go to Gur Vichar.
Gurnam Singh Dhaliwal: What happened at titiwangsa makes me worried because BN was given the same protocol as SGGS . This should not have happened . I saw the video .
SOME RESPONSES AT THE ASIA SAMACHAR FACEBOOK PAGE E (3 MAY 2017)::
Anildev Singh Malhi: There are many opinions on the issue. Any divisive speaker should not be permitted to address the Sangat, especially in the Darbar Sahib. With regards to the Dasam Granth issue, Sikhs should read and study history to have a grasp of the issue before any healthy debate can take place. Nevertheless, it is shameful for a Sikh’s turban to be removed following a ruckus in the Darbar Sahib. I hope that lessons have been learnt, and that this never recurs in any Gurdwara Sahib. Let us move forward as a United Panth. o(;-)
Gurcharan Singh: Does that include divisive SGGSA.There are many opinions,but there is clear ruling Only Guru Granth sahib can be master of the divaan,according SGPC maryada,not dera.THE ACTIONS OF SGGSA ARE DIVISIVE AND REMAIN SO as un titiwangsa The Sggsa is no authority to direct the 31,000,000 SIKHS WORLD WIDE
Anildev Singh Malhi: I understand your point, Gurcharan Singh. The Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji (SGGS) is our one and only Guru, and therefore remains supreme. I also agree that the Dasam Granth should not be accorded equal status as the SGGS, BUT the parkash of the Dasam Gran…See more
Gurcharan Singh: All gurduaras are dera bava gurduaras.Thr BN was never placed in Akal Takhat,but in small mirmala and udasi bungas that came abt,But were removed in 1922.There were stone statues within the harmander sahib removed in 1922.
Patna and hazoor are not participant to SRM,they are also not supreme.Their culture and practice is hindu culture.At patna they slaughter goats and use the blood as tika on foreheads.
Patna uses tikka of sandhoor on foreheads…Wld you sir,we should all emulate their deviant practice.We know they are also controlled by hindu govts.Iqbal of patna is a four time married womaniser,plus one unmarried mistress …Sir should we flow his example?I stick to Aksl takhat maryada,even though in current times it is politicalised too.
Anildev Singh Malhi: I am aware of the practices, not the politics. I am in no way suggesting we follow practices blindly. If there is a doubt, then we must strive to get an answer, and the best way to do that is by reading/researching. With regards to ‘Hindu Culture’ – who is to draw the line between what is right and wrong? Two of Five Takhts follow such practices and there is absolutely no leadership from the Sri Akal Takht, which sows confusion in the community. Personally, I follow what my heart tells me is right, based on whatever little research i have done. I do not know if that’s the correct way, but it surely feels so.
Gurcharan Singh: Yes we all do a little here and a little there.But here is a blatent deviancy .It is during unsettled times the enemies take opportunities to create chaos .This is exactly what is being done.The takhats are only a concept not the law nor gods Thus it is important the gurbani be sought,and matters not changed or questioned until such time sane duscussion and guidance becomes available.
The BN is not part nor had been of sikhi.Thus trying to sneak it now is certainly a conspiracy of anti sikhs.
In malaysia the status quo is a non BN climate.
The option is clear.Dera or hazoor or patna have no authority .Their authority is local as long as it does not clash with AT .But they have no business or authority to change the akal takhat maryada.The BN does not feature at all .Period.
SOME RESPONSES AT THE ASIA SAMACHAR FACEBOOK PAGE (3 MAY 2017):
Sunil Frwa: A very well written statement by Datuk Dr. SSS. Just want to know one little thing. Please show me one gurudwara where the Dasm Grant is in par with Our Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
Every one who is against it are only able to talk and shout here. Let’s see u all go and put ur views in Harjur Sahib.
Datuk Dr. SSS you are a member of the Asbhy Road Gurudwara, so please tell me when was there a thought of Dasm Granth to be brought in there to be put at Equal par. It’s easy to write and disturb the peace of the sangat and gurudwaras. This temasha is only here in our country by a,few who have recently had some time to look at sikhi.
Gurcharan Singh: Bhai sabh hazoor and patna does NOT listen to akal takhat…So who will it listen to.It listens to RSS…Bhindrawala tried telling…See what they did.FORGOTTEN?Why the abuse of Guru Granth sahib?To belittle Guru Granth sahib ..So that BN can b brought in.Would you like to tell hazoor sahib?Patna and hazoor are regionol takhats …only education can awaken these takhats who are already chamchas of rss in mind actions and practice.
Sunil Frwa: My understanding is very simple what happened in Asbhy Road gurudwara should not have happened.
The Dasm Granth is not and will not be ever in par with Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
The issue is where have there ever been any talk or thought of bringing the Dasm Granth par to our Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji in Malaysia? None. So are we creating a divide. Why don’t this 2 groups sit down and talk this out.
I hope and pray that there will not be a repeat of the Ipoh fiasco.
Gur Fateh
No,it was not neccessary to reignite memories of uncivilsed behavior.It happens in india.A year and half ago,open swords were flying against each other between two groups in the Akal Takhat.. A number of guruduaras in Mumbai,Delhi and Punjab, UK ,USA,Canada and yesterday in Italy have witnessed similarly disturbing violence from a section of the community that is ignorant,and brainwashed,unable to see beyond the parrot teaching that had been infused without logic or rationale and guidance from Gurbani
Guidance from history and Gurbani is very clear and in practice for 94 years until some ego led sub-humans decided they want to be gurus and self imposed dictators of a faith that is very liberal within common sense reasoning; and IMPOSE heresay and oral history upon with any means,even with criminal intent and actions.
It is natural such uncivilised and bullying criminal behaviour is met with a simple common sense rational by the larger peace loving community:that wishes to maintain the long standing status quo.
The majority of the more civilised section,liberally acommodating community feels these are matters for the Supreme Spiritual Authority to decide upon.
Not wayside,individuals with gigantic ego and under disguise of fake and false claims to dictate,as seen in Ashby Road and the attempt at Seremban.
So question arises,who are the culprits bteaking the peace,the commnity had enjoyed since 1860 in thid country?
Who are the gangsterS trekking from KL,Ipoh to ASHBY Road Gurduara,with an intent to cause such violence and attack individuals,based upon false heresay?
Who are these bullies that again trekked all the way to Seremban to threaten congregations gathered to listen to gurbani guided views?
The root culprit is the SGGSA,a hoodlum led organisation of a few hundereds.It is trying to bully 31,000 000 Sikhs with lies.
So, should the rest of majority remain a silent spectator ?
And let hoodlums,literally 99% of whom have never read,let alone understand a bastardised book of porno ,that the Guru Sahib, never wrote nor acknowldged,be imposed by such hoodlums from Malaysia,many of whom are not even visible as Sikhs?
Jas ji,i agree with what you said qouting the pope.But what the pope has ommitted to confess is just how many crusader wars it took to arrive at that view?
Unless the truth is exposed,we will continue to suffer the hooliganish and gangsterism from a small but loud mouthed crooks.
It is a pity,the authorities in Malaysia ,who are well aware of Guru Granth sahib ,are not yet aware the porno book the violent hooligans are promoting actually contains Five lines that INSULT ISLAM.
Surely,we cannot have such hooligans hiding under the guise of deviancy of Sikh religion in Malaysia ,upsetting our muslim friends and state?
Perhaps,creating the awareness and presence of this book in the country is necesary to put an end to these rascally inclined deviants?
I m aware,police warning at the GSC,quickly put a damper on the call of the not so sher to demonstrate ,at the Hotel Vistana
I am also aware the Home Ministry has sought an insight & understanding of this fictitiously planted book.
At end of the day we ard Sikhs and the panth has given the freedom to read or not read that porno book at individuaI level,so leave the status quo as it is.I appeal to the sangat to be not misled by deviants and return to the peace abd love we had prior April 2016.
I believe Dr Sarjit is not seeking fame nor stoking the fires,that are constantly being lighted by foreign based sites like gur vichar from Australia,run by a child molesting character called Haarnak,who left Malaysia,in a hurry a few many years ago.
Sometimes,such continuous mallicious allegations from frustrated sources,need to be revisted,very very sadly,so that the future can be rosier,and lessons learnt.
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