Jan-March 2006 - Institute of Sikh Studies

56ABSTRACTS OF SIKH STUDIES : JAN-MARCH 2006 / 537-38 NSDr Singh emphasized that the Sikhs, having a similar checkeredhistory of persecutions and future threats of impending extinction,must emulate and implement this Jewish paradigm. They must riselike a phoenix from the ashes of the past under the guidance of anumbrella organization like the International Sikh Confederationconsisting of some really enlightened, selfless, politically neutral andeminent persons and Sikh institutions as well as the representativesof established Sikh institutions in India and abroad to draw a clear cutcharter of aims and objectives to combat the existing maladiesthreatening the Sikh society in India as well as the Sikh diaspora inforeign countries and to empower the Sikhs to face the challenges ofthe modern, globalised western-media dominated world. Setting asideall individual egoistic aspirations and political aspirations andobsessions, they must discuss, debate and arrive at a consensus aboutthe real challenges and the ways to meet those challenges.The one aspect that needs urgent attention of the entire Sikhcommunity is their excessive adherence and indulgence in senselessritualistic aspects of Sikh religion and non-adherence, rather intentionalavoidance, to the essential spirit and teachings of Sikhism. “Packagehas become heavier than the substance” to use the words of the learnedDr Singh. Let us shed the flab of excessive ostentation and return tothe basic fundamental Sikh way of life – a life of hardwork based onrational, educational approach, faith in one eternal, physically invisiblebut mentally and spiritually understandable Waheguru we must contributesomething to that cause of the community which is committed toeducational empowerment of the Sikhs rather than to the medievalmaths, monasteries and deras of semi-literate phony babas and selfproclaimedsants. The prophetic prayer of the Sikhs, Raj Karega Khalsawill materialise only when we truly understand the real implicationsof these words, which means the Sikhs must purify and polishthemselves in words, thought and deeds and deserve to be Khalsasand empower themselves with the modern arsenal of various kinds ofeducational tools. To conclude, in the words of Rattan Singh Bhangoo,the real empowerment of the Sikhs means :The Khalsa must be autonomous and self-respecting,An embodiment of all the Divine attributes,Never submitting to the sovereignty of anyone else,Except the sovereignty and autonomy of God alone.¤