Jan-March 2006 - Institute of Sikh Studies

6ABSTRACTS OF SIKH STUDIES : JAN-MARCH 2006 / 537-38 NSthe Panth, unless its underlying centrifugal force is matched by acentripetal force of equal intensity. The proposed International SikhConfederation (ISC) is an answer to this situation, and has not come aday too soon.The problem is aggravated by the existence of schisms and thethreat of new ones, the mounting list of unsolved ideological issuesand challenges to Rahit Maryada and Sikh identity. No responsibleSikh can close his eyes to this extremely disturbing situation, and theconsequent need for a central authority to deal with it.Even a cursory look at the Sikh history makes it abundantly clearthat our community cannot do without guidance of a responsible centralauthority. During the Guru period, this was provided by the Gurusthemselves, and history is witness to the fact that Guru Nanak infuseda new spirit of freedom and self-respect in a society completelydemoralised and enslaved for centuries. And by the time of GuruGobind Singh a new proud, powerful and self-reliant nation committedto the cause of freedom, justice, equality and service to the poor andthe weak, had been created. In their march towards glory and humandignity, the Gurus always involved their Sikhs in all major decisions,imparting to them training in leadership. The sangats established byGuru Nanak and his successors, had full authority from the verybeginning. There are instances galore to show that Guru Gobind Singhencouraged his Sikhs to make decisions even in disciplinary matters,which sometimes did not spare the Guru himself. And eventuallywhen he pronounced the end of personal Guruship and declared GuruGranth Sahib as the living spiritual Guru of the Sikhs, he passed onthe responsibility for all temporal affairs to the Khalsa.Subsequent history also yields the same lesson. So long as thePanth or the collectivity of the Sikh community discharged itsresponsibility and provided the leadership, its ascendancy continued.The eighteenth century was the most challenging period of Sikh history.The Sikhs not only survived, but managed to establish, first principalitiesunder popular leaders, and later a Sikh empire in the north India. Thatbecame possible because of the collective leadership and theirdecisions known as gurmattas.On the other hand, when the Panth relaxed and neglected itsresponsibility, ambitious self-seeking individuals took over. This led