Jan-March 2006 - Institute of Sikh Studies

2ABSTRACTS OF SIKH STUDIES : JAN-MARCH 2006 / 537-38 NSthe 19 th century, and has not been able to recover it since then. Theexperience of the last few decades and the indignities and reversessuffered during this period, and the dispersal of the Sikhs with attendantproblems, have led to an unprecedented awareness of the need forinvoking the doctrine of Guru Granth – Guru Panth. The doctrinehas been practically redundant, and leadership has remained in thehands of a few individuals following partisan goals or personalaggrandisement. The interests of the Panth have been relegated tothe back burner. One particular feature of the situation is that Sikhintelligentsia, by and large, have remained aloof and silent spectatorsto the tragic happenings. Their criticism, if any, has been confined todrawing room discussions.The decision taken at the Conclave demands that all Sikhs andtheir existing organisations make a united effort to identify and achievethe long-term goals, as well as to solve the problems that confront thePanth today or are likely to arise in the future. We need to followpolicies which will ensure a place of honour for Sikhs in India as wellas abroad. Fortunately, a large number of Panthic societies as well aseminent Sikhs have already offered their support. More and more arejoining every day. The ISC has already been registered with the PunjabGovernment. An office has been set-up in Chandigarh, thanks to theKendri Singh Sabha and its President, Giani Harinder Singh, whichhas already started functioning with necessary staff and equipment.Enrolment campaign is going on, with good response in India aswell as abroad. Major support has come from the World Sikh Council(America Region) and the American Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee,whose representatives, Dr Surjit Singh and Sardar Yadvinder Singh,respectively, traveled all the way from the US to attend the Conclave.Representatives from Australia, Canada, Malaysia, New Zealand, UK,etc., have also shown enthusiasm.The ad hoc committee appointed by the Conclave is very active,and hopes to call a meeting of the members enrolled so far in January2006 to chalk out a provisional programme. It is planned to convenea general meeting of all Primary members in April 2006 to finalise theprogrammes of the ISC. In the mean time, effort will be made toorganise the various Advisory Councils on a provisional basis to lookafter Religious affairs, Education, Economic affairs, Legal and