BACK
Takht
Jathedars Cross Swords
Sardar Raghbir Singh*
All the wars that took place till the end of First World
War were the result of desires of different kings, dictators,
influential war-lords and other systems of capital formation
administrations to snatch the territories of others to increase
their circle of influence, add to their treasuries additional
sources of income and strengthen their armies capable of
adding more and more territories to their kingdoms. Examples
of Alexander the Great, Napoleon, Hitler and Punjab Partition
on sectarian grounds can easily be quoted in this regard.
Muslim war-lords and kings of the Middle East countries
invaded South and North West territories of India and established
their footholds here. British colonies including India were
also far flung and it was said that Sun never set over their
Empire.
All these wars were fought by the kings not for the benefit
of their people but in most cases for self aggrandizement.
It was only the 1917 Revolution in Russia which was claimed
to be based on the theory of equal rights for all in which
the principle of ‘he who does not work neither shall
he eat’ was to prevail. But unfortunately there too
it was the rule of only those who subscribed to the theory
of Communism in which the most prevalent concept of ever-solacegiver
‘God’ had no place and those who opposed it
were ruthlessly crushed and killed. The number of such killings
far exceeded the deaths in other wars. Still impressed by
this Theory, people of some other countries too rose against
their ruling dynasties which resulted in a lot of blood
bath there. Terrified by this increasing trend of such Revolutions,
the rulers with a view to checkmate it and befool the people
thought of inviting some influential and pliable people
of those countries to join their unashamed loot of the masses.
This no doubt checked the tendency to grab other territories
but it did not satisfy the lust for powers which were out
to carry on their loot otherwise. Instead of extending their
territories they thought of extending their sphere of influence
by establishing in other countries such governments, which,
apart from continuing their loot could allow such powers
certain privileges by which they, could find vast consumer
markets to dump their produce and also not only buy raw
material at cheaper rates but in due course take control
of the management of their natural resources too, directly
or indirectly. Such tactics were played in East European,
Latin American and South East Asian countries. But people
of these countries stood their ground steadfastly and international
opinion did not favour the foreigners to carry on their
exploitative methods. These days Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan
are the victims of wrath of the exploiting countries. People
of these countries are offering tough resistance to the
establishment of puppet governments in their countries by
the trade invaders.
For the establishment of a peaceful and contented world
community in which the poor and weak could not be exploited
by the greedy and powerful combines of ruling and priestly
classes through various types of misleading slogans and
whims, etc., concept of God as the creator of universe,
the sole dispenser of justice without any fear or favour
and fountainhead of human brotherhood, was first mooted
by Guru Nanak Dev. He, his successors and followers took
over 200 years for character building of the masses especially
in Punjab to oppose the tendency of such exploitation. This
campaign remained in full swing for another 150 years in
which the people of Punjab tasted the result of Sikh Thought.
In defence of natural law granting equality and brotherhood,
numerous sacrifices were made. This thought still survives
in spite of the efforts of inimical forces to decimate it.
Guru Granth Sahib lays down the parameters of behaviour
of the mankind and serves as code of jurisprudence for dispensation
of Godly justice. Anticipating differences of opinion about
the interpretation of this Thought, Sri Akal Takht, Throne
of God or Justice, was established by Guru Hargobind Sahib,
at Amritsar, to clear such doubts by the Sarbat Khalsa in
the light of gurbani through a gurmatta.
The established systems in India have been always on the
look out to create cracks in this Thought as their survival
lies in misinterpreting and diluting it so that masses could
be misguided. This is what has happened now with the Jathedar
Takht Patna Sahib challenging the authority of Jathedar
Akal Takht. May be some truce is arrived at between the
two with the help of certain mediating persons. Yet no wonder
if Jathedar Hazoor Sahib may also revolt in due course and
other Jathedars too may look for some opportunity to assert
their authority to issue Hukamnamas and thus defeat the
spirit underlying the establishment of Sri Akal Takht Sahib.
It would amount to each Jathedar considering himself like
the despotic king of yore.
Without going into the merits of the Hukamnama issued by
the Jathedar Patna Sahib and its opposition, the well meaning
Sikhs have to understand that the Jathedars depending on
their individual whims cannot be allowed to issue decrees
affecting the Panth as a whole, howsoever powerful they
may be in any other way. If anyone of them has difference
of opinion affecting the Panth as a whole, he must express
himself to Jathedar Akal Takht who should place that difference
before the Sarbat Khalsa for consideration and such action
as it may decide. Sarbat Khalsa alone held anywhere preferably
in Punjab, the homeland of Sikh Thought, where Sikh are
concentrated has the authority to express the cumulative
wisdom of Sikh Gurus as ordained by Guru Gobind Singh when
he passed on Gurgaddi to Guru Granth Sahib with such direction.
Gurmatta of the Sarbat Khalsa should be announced by Jathedar
Akal Takht from Amritsar. If Jathedars of other Takhts start
appropriating this authority to themselves, where does then
lie the difference between the fighting worldly thrones
and the Eternal Throne, i.e., Sri Akal Takht. This attitude
on the part of such Jathedars with the support of some persons
who do not seem to have complete knowledge of Sikh Thought
is nothing but an expression of a king’s Haumein (pride).
Takhts other than Sri Akal Takht are in the memory of Guru
Gobind Singh established after him with the approval of
the Government, whose interference in Sikh affairs has always
been opposed vehemently. Any Jathedar quoting the example
of Guru Hargobind Sahib or Guru Gobind Singh issuing edicts
from places other than Sri Akal Takht Amritsar for certain
historical reasons is simply trying to equate himself with
the Guru, which Sikhs can never tolerate.
syfs okik ;' pj? fi sys? bkfJe j'Jh
.. fiBh ;u[ gSkfDnk ;u[ oki/ ;Jh ..
– Guru Granth Sahib, p 1088
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