Selected Editorials - The Sikh Bulletin
Selected Editorials - The Sikh Bulletin
Selected Editorials - The Sikh Bulletin
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Dr. Gurbakhash Singh Gill was one of those 21 members. He was now not a reformer but a member of<br />
the establishment. Although the reports were that Calcutta had ordered secrecy in its deliberations but we<br />
found out that most vocal opponent of us was Dr. Gill. It will come as no surprise to us if we found out<br />
that it was he who suggested to shut us down, because as soon as I returned from Chandigarh I found that<br />
a three year lease was signed for a rival Gurdwara while I was still in Chandigarh. Before the year was<br />
out this Gurdwara had split into two because the only thing they had in common was opposition to us. In<br />
the face of three Gurdwaras where there was one we shut the reform Gurdwara in April 2005.<br />
When there is no leadership to inspire, sangat does not like change.<br />
Hardev Singh Shergill<br />
*****<br />
EDITORIAL<br />
MARTIN LUTHER HE IS NOT<br />
[Editorial from March-April 2010 <strong>Sikh</strong> <strong>Bulletin</strong>]<br />
Martin Luther was born in Germany 14 years after the birth of Guru Nanak and died 7 years after<br />
Guru’s passing. His father wanted him to become an attorney after he completed his M.A. degree. But he<br />
preferred to become a priest instead. At age 27 he traveled to Rome, the highest seat of Catholic Church.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re, instead of religious discourses and activities he witnessed rampant corruption. He witnessed sinful<br />
transgressions forgiven in exchange for money. He witnessed religious offices and positions being sold.<br />
Utterly disgusted and disappointed he returned to his native Germany and started preaching true<br />
Christianity. At the age of 34 he pinned to the Church door his famous 95 theses and demanded answers<br />
from the Pope. Pope summoned him to Rome. But his companions and well wishers, knowing that he will<br />
not get justice from the Pope, did not allow him to proceed to Rome. He kept on preaching. Pope accused<br />
him of 41 violations. He burned them in the presence of multitude of intellectuals, doctors and his<br />
students. Pope excommunicated him. His books were burnt. He was thrown in Jail. In the prison<br />
Protestant Church was born. Christianity split into two. At this time Catholic Church is under siege in<br />
the courts of U.S.A. and Europe for the moral degradation of its clergy and the number of its adherents is<br />
on the decline. <strong>The</strong> number of the faithful in protestant churches is on the increase.<br />
Does this sound familiar Is the situation described above in 15 th Century Europe not repeating itself in<br />
today’s Panjab and <strong>Sikh</strong> Community A few months back there was a golden opportunity for our own<br />
Martin Luther to come forward, Darshan Singh Khalsa, at one time himself Akal Takhat Jathedar.<br />
But Martin Luther he did not become; just as almost ten years ago when I invited him to join us in the<br />
movement for reformation in <strong>Sikh</strong>i, he chose to stay out. To his credit, inspire of his upbringing in the<br />
environment of Nanaksar and his lifelong adherence to the corrupt practices that have crept into <strong>Sikh</strong>ism,<br />
including the acceptance of Dasam Granth as the writings of Guru Gobind Singh, a transformation did<br />
come in him with regard to Dasam Granth about ten years ago upon reading Gurbakhsh Singh Kala<br />
Afghana’s critique of Bachittar Natak.<br />
More recently he has been more forth coming in his criticism of Dasam Granth and thus ran afoul of those<br />
who are pushing Dasam Granth as the rival Granth in order to dilute the message of Guru Nanak by<br />
splitting the community; among them Atty. D. S. Gill, Atty. G. S. Lamba, Akhand Kirtani Jatha and<br />
Damdami Taksal.<br />
Unlike Martin Luther, Darshan Singh Khalsa did respond to the summons of the Jathedar (<strong>Sikh</strong> ‘Pope’)<br />
by appearing at Akal Takhat before what would have been a kangaroo court anyway. That was his first<br />
mistake. Obviously he did not have companions and well wishers of the same caliber as did Martin<br />
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