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Editorial
A Viable Course of Action
Gajindar Singh
An eventful year, 2008, witnessed a surcharge of devotion
and emotions celebrating completion of three hundred years
of the pontificate of Guru Granth Sahib. In the turbulent
period encompassing the three centuries of Sikh history,
the fledgling nation has amply proved its ability to face
the worst and emerge glorious time and again, whether it
was the horrors of genocide and repeated attempts to annihilate
the very religion of ‘Nanak Prastan’ of the
eighteenth century, the glorious establishment of empire
and its treacherous end in the nineteenth century or the
rejuvenated Singh Sabha movement and the successful Gurdwara
liberation struggle in the twentieth century. Three hundred
years of the Guru Granth Sahib have been full of events,
which have given direction to the ‘quom’ to
proceed on its way to progress. The tragic events of the
partition of the country in 1947 with its wholesale devastation,
particularly of the Sikhs and the terrorizing experiences
of the bloody ’84 have only reinforced the determination
of the Sikh people in increased devotion and love of the
Guru and Gurbani. It has justified the solemn trust reposed
in the Panth by Guru Gobind Singh when he entrusted the
Guru Khalsa to the guidance and direction of the Granth.
Year-long celebrations and huge expenditure in millions
stirred the chords of the ordinary Sikh devotees who rediscovered
the magic and spirit of Gurbani and its right appreciation
instead of daily dutiful but mechanical mouthing of the
holy texts. There has been a spate of resolutions and pledges
to improve facilities, services and opportunities in the
conduct of the Panthic affairs, in the fields of general
education, research and technology which can have large
scale ramifications in the bearing and trend of the destiny
of the community, if steered carefully.
The fourth century of the Guru Granth Sahib begins with
excitement for the future goals. The need of the hour is
coordination and collaboration of the various agencies together
to reduce wastage and ensure maximum utilization of energy
generated by the event into a wave of resurgence, beneficial
to the Sikhs in general and our Youth in particular. Our
future plans should concentrate on building up a strong
and formidable, efficient Youth power which can face the
fast changing values of 21st century along with giant strides
in education, primary as well as advanced courses in technology
and specialization with management skills to face competition
of the highly trained cadres in the world.
The corridors of power in today’s world are increasing
and becoming wider and easier to traverse if properly planned
with the right aptitude and correct attitude to position
oneself to the new challenges. Guru Granth Sahib is ever
beckoning to the seeker to develop the mental posture of
high thinking and evolving chaste living. The Sikhs have
excelled in every field by mere infixion of the sublime
gurmat doctrine, and what can be achieved by full commitment
and total dedication to the philosophy of the Guru Granth
Sahib, cannot be imagined.
Our Youth is yearning for Panthic guidance, aid and assistance,
for facilities and opportunities to forge ahead into the
main stream. It is for our elders, our leaders and those
at the helm of affairs to seriously chalk out a progressive
plan of action to facilitate the modes and forms to the
youth awaiting a fair chance to climb those heights. We
have ample funds, place and man-power to organize ourselves
into rejuvenating the community into purposeful activities
for a brighter future. What is required now is to systematically
proceed towards the cherished goal.
There is ample land attached, not fully utilized with our
major Gurdwaras, where industrial and craft units, big and
small, can be located to produce needful goods affording
opportunities to Sikh youth with gainful employment. Polytechnics
and Engineering institutions can be established in abundance
so that young people do not miss any chance due to a dearth
of break.
The standard of our educational institutions must vie with
the best schools in the country. Wherever this has been
attempted in earnest, for instance, the Baru Sahib experiment,
Sri Guru Harkishen Sahib Public Schools and others, it has
given excellent results. The need is to widely organize
it gradually at village level and use ample Gurdwara funds
judiciously. Each Gurdwara should be a beacon of activating
and energizing the dormant potency of our people with the
sole objective to improve the character and moral fiber
of our people. The sky is the limit.
¤
©Copyright Institute of Sikh Studies, 2007, All
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