| Malaysia | 1 Aug 2016 | Asia Samachar |

A message and a video recording, badged as a ‘directive’ from the Sikh ‘supreme authority’ purportedly directing the community to accept the controversial Dasam Granth as an ‘integral part of the Khalsa Panth’, is making its rounds via the social media in Malaysia.

The recording features some key Sikh officials from Punjab. Also seated with them was an official of the Kuala Lumpur-based Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Academy (SGGS Academy).

It is seen to be fuelling further a recent debate on the acceptance of Dasam Granth in this part of the world.

“Those who dispute or question the position of Sri Dasam Granth and its role in the Sikh ethos are ‘Panth Virodhi’ (opponents of Panth) and ‘Panth Dhoki’ (inimical of the Panth) and are in fact regarded to be against Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji,” reads the message.

The debate has started. In one social media Gurmat discussion group, one commentator challenged the legitimacy of the purported directive.

“This video is NOT a “hukumnama” by any measure. The only hukumnama that Sikhs accept is from the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS). It’s neither a matta or a gurmatta either. At the very best, it’s an opinion,” it argues.

The commentator argued that on 16 June 2016, the Akaal Takhat issued a letter saying “no one has the right to amend the SRM” and that “those seeking to amend d SRM must follow the same procedure that was used to make it”.

Hence, he argued: “Holding a mic and speaking ones opinion is not part of that procedure. Given the above; the right thing for us Sikhs to do is to ignore this video (and others that may come later) and stick to the Panth accepted SRM.”

SGGS Academy was the same organisation that went ahead with a kirtan and katha of Dasam Granth in Kuala Lumpur in June despite objections from some quarters of the community, including the Malaysian Gurdwaras Council (MGC).

THE MESSAGE THAT WAS ATTACHED TO THE TWO VIDEOS:

DIRECTIVES FROM SIKH PANTH’S SUPREME AUTHORITY WITH REGARDS TO KATHA & KIRTAN OF SRI DASAM GRANTH SAHIB IN GURDWARAS.

Part 1: https://youtu.be/0xTGgwaAe74
Part 2: https://youtu.be/THRj2YACN24
Salient points from the video attached;

A) The entire Sri Dasam Granth is Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s Bani (Gurbani).

B) Sri Dasam Granth is an unquestionable integral part of the Khalsa Panth providing guidance on Sikh lifestyle (with relevance to Charitropakhyan), Code of Conduct (Rehat Maryada), Ardaas, Significance of Arms in Sikh faith, Amrit and Khalsa Panth.

C) Sri Dasam Granth complements Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji’s meanings in its deeper context.
D) Those who dispute or question the position of Sri Dasam Granth and its role in the Sikh ethos are ‘Panth Virodhi’ (opponents of Panth) and ‘Panth Dhoki’ (inimical of the Panth) and are in fact regarded to be against Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji.

E) The Katha & Kirtan of Sri Dasam Granth is done at all Takhats and historical Gurdwaras till date.

The above resolutions are passed in the presence of;
Singh Sahib Giani Gurbachan Singh Jathedar Takhat Sri Akaal Takhat
Singh Sahib Giani Mal Singh Jathedar Takhat Sri Keshgarh Sahib
Singh Sahib Giani Iqbal Singh Jathedar Takhat Sri Harmandir Ji Patna Sahib
Singh Sahib Giani Gurmukh Singh Jathedar Takhat Sri Damdama Sahib & Head Granthi Akal Takhat Sahib

At Gurdwara Lakhi Jungle on 30th July 2016.

PS: Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Academy is accredited by ALL the Takhats and Sampardas with regards to its syllabus and Parchar.

SOME MESSAGES THAT FOLLOWED IN ONE DISCUSSION GROUP SEEN BY ASIA SAMACHAR:

COMMENT A: 1. Which Jathedars? Those rejected by Sarbat Khalsa last year? Or those appointed? 2. Issued from Akaal Takht? Or elsewhere? Directive can be issued from elsewhere when Akaal Takht Sahib is under siege or occupied by inimical forces. Traditionally, decisions are announced by the Akaal Takhat Jathedar, not any other. Those who like to hear their own voice, can be persuaded to speak, more so if a video is being recorded that will go viral.

COMMENT B: Does this Jathedar has any credibilaty to lead Sikh Panth? I am sorry I have lost respect for him after he has issued MAAFI-NAMA to a Dehra Baba whose preaching & actions are against Sikh Dharam. Gustakhi Maaf

COMMENT C: Points to note. 1. This video is NOT a “hukumnama” by any measure. The only hukumnama that Sikhs accept is from the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS). It’s neither a matta or a gurmatta either. At the very best, it’s an opinion. 2. It’s an opinion by someone who has transgressed the Panth’s Sikh Reht Maryada (SRM) which says no other book can be installed in the presence of the SGGS. The Dasam Granth is installed in Patna and Damdma. And that is against the SRM. So Iqbal Singh is guilty of violating the SRM. People guilty themselves are in no position to issue Gurmattas (edicts) 3. It’s an opinion by someone who is insulting the SGGS by suggesting the SGGS is in-complete. 4. On 16/6:2016 the Akaal Takhat issued a letter saying “no one has the right to amend the SRM”. And more “that those seeking to amend d SRM must follow the same procedure that was used to make it”. Holding a mic and speaking ones opinion is not part of that procedure. 5. Given the above; the right thing for us Sikhs to do is to ignore this video (and others that may come later) and stick to the Panth accepted SRM.

COMMENT D: The jathedars mentioned are going AGAINST the SRM that the Akaal Takhat agreed to in 1945. So could it be that the jathedars are guilty of being Panth dokhi?

COMMENT E: In the video, Jathedar Iqbal Singh of Patna says: “Bahut saariaan aisiaan vicharan hun jihrhiaan gurbani parhan naal bhedh nahin khul sakde.” A concerted move to prove that Guru Granth Sahib Ji is unable to guide the Panth and the world. Any bigger Panth dhokhis than these? Recording it and labelling it as “Directives from Sikh Panth’s Takhats” is also an attempt to mislead the sanggat…

COMMENT F: Response From the video. NOBODY is questioning all the sacrifices by our beloved Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji in any way whatsoever. We are all indebted and have tears in our eyes when we read all those stories about his sacrifices where ultimately He sacrificed everything including his whole family for Sikhi. In fact the so called DG is discussed due to all the sacrifices made by our Beloved Guru for us and because we know certain DG content does not reflect on our Guruji’s character, thoughts and sacrifices. In fact it has distorted the supreme character of our Guruji and his his real beliefs.

2. The argument when the Jathedar says if go against DG we are going against Guru Gobind Singh himself is totally flawed and misleading to create more confusion and fear in Sangat.

3. By continuously saying Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji needed full “support” from outside sources and could not stand alone oy by its own is fact the BIGGEST INSULT of them all to our Guruji. What is truly happening is the other way around where outside source are being strengthen further based on Gurbani Pangtia to authenticate it as everyone already know SGGSJ is the Supreme Source of all.

4. The directive would have been more authentic if it is solely based on SGGSJ Hukamnama as our Supreme Throne. Everybody knows our Rehat Maryada is made-man to guide us to basic ways of living as Sikhs and it was made BASED on SGGSJ and what was already accepted as Gurmat then.

COMMENT G: Agree to disagree when it concerns an opinion and preference. Should we agree if some say that the false is true or otherwise? Shouldn’t the record be set straight? Do we keep quiet and let certain parties continue to make Guru Gobind Singh look different, weird and off tangent of Nanak? As addressed earlier, is it all about bir ras? Guru arjan, guru Hargobind , guru teg bahadur were all devoid of bir ras ? So God regretted creating women? If it were from another faith I would let it be for that what their scriptures say. Here if certain people choose to belive so, so be it. But they also choose to corrupt others. Then why should we let it be? It’s Disturbing and hair splitting indeed but for whats necessary do we must. Guru Nanak stood up against Babar all alone. And someone tell me that’s not bir ras

COMMENT H: When someone says another granth is needed to complement or to explain Guru Granth Sahib Ji, then he is insulting Guru Granth Sahib Ji and Guru Gobind Singh Ji. When someone says only those who read Dasam Granth compositions are capable of offering shaheedee, he is insulting Guru Arjan ji, Guru Teg Bahadur ji, and a host of shaheeds like Bhai Mat Das, etc.

COMMENT I: This is again is a political and cowardice ploy to discredit the Sarbat Khalsa n divide the Sikh Nation especially the Malaysian sanggat. The Malaysian involved are cowards for not sitting on a round table with MGC to come to a clear understanding but using the backdoor and stained Jhatedars to meet their objectives. This video is more of an attack on Malaysian Sikhs who hv voiced out strongly on DG. The Academy felt the pressure and ran to stained Jhatedars for their support.

COMMENT J: I come to understand from the discussion on DG that most of the members giving opinions are very learned and have excellent knowledge of SGGS without any external sources. I laud their knowledge on SGGS. Unfortunately there are many may of us who have to learn SGGS by using external sources. SGGS is not easy to appreciate when we try to read/learn it on its own. We have to rely on external sources.

We have some very useful resources available for these purposes e.g. Dictionaries (Mahan Kosh, Punjabi Uni Patiala), Vaaran Bhai Gurdas, Prof Sahib Singh’s teak, Manmohan Singh’s teak. There are many then current concepts prevalent then that are referred to in SGGS. Some of these concepts are from other denominations.

Varan Bhai Gurdas is a very important reference since it outlines and freezes the concepts, including those from other denominations, referred to in Gurbani that were current when our Gurus wrote Gurbani. It is highlighted that the concepts, from other denominations, which may not be prescribed in Gurbani, are used only for illustration purposes in Gurbani. Our Gurus and Bhai Gurdas had the foresight, being aware of the possibility of alteration of the texts which relate to these concepts and hence had the Vaaran prepared.

Similarly I think one of these resources is the DS and believe it outlines the thought, concepts etc (sort of like VaaranBG) that were current then. I have not read the DS so cannot vouch for this but is just the inner gut feeling from a bystander perspective.
Without these reference, modern versions of these concepts could become corrupted with changes and therefore the meaning altered. Thus a future student of Gurbani may be presented with a concept that is different than that during the time of our Gurus. Therein lies the invaluable importance of Vaaran of Bhai Gurdas etc.

I believe that substantial resources were destroyed in 1984 so we must preserve whatever we have left. By accepting the DS as such a resource we would not have lost anything.
So far we have not gained anything with the DS issue. Let us agree to disagree and move on. There are bigger pressing issues.

Let someone, group or organisation do as they wish with the DS but we want to develop ourselves and therefore agree to disagree and move on.

COMMENT K: Thank you for pointing out d distortion in d SRM done in the name of translation. The mistake is purposive and – you won’t believe this – commited by d Dhram Parchar Committee of the SGPC! Another indication that our primary institutions have sold their soul to those bent to destroy our Maryada and beliefs. The SGPC was supposed to be the guardian of the SRM.

COMMENT L: We lost Sikh raj due to traitors manipulated by the English. Now we are manipulated by anti-Sikh elements who use the British technique of divide and rule. Why can we follow the simple formula of tapping the divine knowledge in SGGS while accepting DG as a literary masterpiece whether compiled by Guru Gobind Singh or others and the Jaap and Saweeia in our daily prayer.

COMMENT M: Only we can destroy ourselves. It is imperative that we equip ourselves with the gian of SGGS. That’s what we are attempting to do here I believe. The bad guys look like Sikhs but are not. That’s a big challenge.

[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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