Jan-March 2006 - Institute of Sikh Studies

124ABSTRACTS OF SIKH STUDIES : JAN-MARCH 2006 / 537-38 NSbeing the perceived reluctance on the part of the authorities in Amritsarto respond in a meaningful way to any approaches.I have often wondered whether the Sikh leaders in India andelsewhere, religious and political, were alert to the dangers to thecommunity; whether they were aware of the pitfalls and the perils towhich Sikh youth of today (and not only of the Diaspora) are subject.If they are aware, they do not seem to be doing anything to the youths'total and inevitable alienation; if they are not, then they are guilty ofa blatant dereliction of duty. Past experience has shown that Sikhsonly wake up to the dangers to the community when there is acatastrophe, such as the one the community faced in 1984. Now, thatwas a providential opportunity for the leaders to galvanise thecommunity into a cohesive community as envisaged by Guru GobindSingh. The clear need at the time was for enlightened men with a clearvision, men of discipline, steeped in the Maryada, men with a spiritualdepth, not uncaring bigots, above all men of moral courage who, onehoped, would stand like a rock, who would speak to our deep instinctsthat there was more to life than self-indulgence, personal power orposition that modern culture seems not only to expect and condone,but encourage, men who would be alive to the challenges to thecommunity and demonstrate the ability and the courage to articulateits concerns, its apprehensions and its aspirations and who would settheir faces like flint against any fissiparous tendencies, men with theperspicacity to identify and define the goal for the community andgive imaginative, decisive leadership and not dither or quarrel amongthemselves. But the disarray in the community was utter. I believethat it was with all that in mind that some ten years ago, the WorldSikh Council was set up. I was appointed Chairman of the EuropeanSection. Now, we all know what happened to that organisation. Sadly,once again, the opportunity was wrecked. It was all very disheartening.And I asked myself, must we wait for catastrophes to happen to bringus to our senses?Sikh values and Sikh identity are being assailed, as much fromwithout as from within. We cannot always point the finger of blame atthe stars or at others for our misfortunes. We must be prepared toaccept our share of the blame. The need to put our house in order hasnever been greater or more urgent. It is the future of the Sikh Panththat is at stake. All this makes the case for a new global organisation