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100
ABSTRACTS OF SIKH STUDIES : APRIL-JUNE 2005 / 537 NS
he has used this example. In his opinion, Mr Macauliffe gave up his
promising career to pursue his study of Sikhism. Even though he
studied Sikhism for such a long time, he did not convert to Sikhism.
Similarly, many others who studied and praised Sikh Scriptures, did
not convert to Sikhism. What are the reasons He does not bother to
investigate. Instead he concludes that the Sikhs have denied them the
experience of gurbani. How and when, he does not bother to investigate.
But at the same time he hopes that if a person is exposed to gurbani, he
might have the desire for five ks as well. In fact he is working on a
flawed thesis. There is no cause and effect relationship between the
appearance of a Sikh and the experience of gurbani. Both have their
own separate roles to play in the spiritual progress of a Sikh.
At the end, S Hardev Singh Shergill concludes that it is time that
Sikhs residing outside India should liberate themselves from the
restrictions of 5 ks. He perceives this as something immediately
required to take Sikhism on to the twenty first century. We have seen
above that this perception is based on illogical thinking and
misunderstanding of basic concepts of Sikhism. It is extremely
unfortunate that this comes from an organization established for spread
of Sikhism and is named after the glorious Singh Sabha movement. It
is coming from an organization that accepts donation under the name
Khalsa Tricentennial Foundation. One can safely assume that it was
established on the occasion of three hundred years of the advent of
Khalsa. That is the day when Guru Gobind Singh blessed his Sikhs
with five ks. This comes from an organization that has one of its
objectives to “promote Sikh way of life in accordance with the
teachings given in gurbani incorporated into the Aad Guru Granth Sahib
and by Sikh Rehat Maryada (code of conduct) laid down by Sri Akal
Takhat Sahib as an institution.”
It is not time to disassociate or delink Sikhi from five ks. Sikhism
will never be Sikhism then. Five ks are the face of Sikhism as conceived
and authorised by our great Gurus. It is also surprising that this advice
is given to the diaspora Sikhs only. Why not this advice to Sikhs in
Punjab Are we having different brand of Sikhism in different
countries
A Sikh is a Sikh only if he/she is a Sikh. And a Sikh is not a Sikh
if he/she discriminates between a Sikh and a non-Sikh. That in nutshell