editorial articles reviews news & views - Institute of Sikh Studies

96
ABSTRACTS OF SIKH STUDIES : APRIL-JUNE 2005 / 537 NS
detail, they shift the focus of their talk to a popular theme to win their
point. No one in this world will deny the significance of character.
Both character and appearance have their own separate roles to play
in the life of an individual. Emphasis on one does not necessarily
mean abandoning the other.
The learned editor now comes to his point. He starts with a
reference to the WSC held in Sydney in September 2004. I had the
opportunity to attend this conference on its opening day. There were
about 50-60 people present on that day including the organizers,
government officials and invitees from other religions. I would like to
mention one thing about this conference, before we go further into
the discussion about the editorial. S Hardev Singh Shergill said in his
answer to one of the questions that in Sikhism there is no place for
priests. But before the start of the proceedings for the day, a priest
from a local gurdwara was specially called to perform ardaas or prayer.
And he left immediately after the prayer. The non-Sikh attendees
must have gone with the impression that in Sikhism they need a priest
to say their prayer. It would have been better if S Hardev Singh or any
one from the attendees would have come forward to say the prayer. In
short, we are sending conflicting signals to the world. This is the crux
of the problem. This is also one of the main reasons behind this
confusion about the five ks. We are giving conflicting gestures to our
kids and to the world at large. This editorial is doing exactly the same
thing. In Sikhism there is no place for priests, because every Sikh is
supposed to be a priest. How many of us are ready to perform the
duties of a priest, if need be
Coming back to the topic, S Hardev Singh Shergill refers to the
questions about the definition of a Sikh put to him by some attendees
during this conference. He refers to the definition given in the Sikh
Rehat Maryada. Astonishingly, he interprets this definition as being
silent about the uncut hair. The definition, as quoted by him, reads
like this: “Any human being who faithfully believes in one immortal
being; the ten Gurus, form Guru Nanak to Guru Gobind Singh; the
Guru Granth Sahib; the utterances and teachings of the ten Gurus
and the baptism bequeathed by the tenth Guru, and who does not
owe allegiance to any other religion is a Sikh”. What S Hardev Singh
is saying here is that teachings of our all the Gurus and the amrit