3 Jathedars of Akal Takht Sahib issuing 3 different Messages to the Sikhs, on the occasion of Diwali has further bamboozled an already confused community eroding the importance and significance of this unique institution set up by the sixth Master -Guru Hargobind Sahib. May Akalpurakh shower wisdom on the Sikhs to reclaim the glory of the Akal Takht Sahib!

Once upon a time in history, the Jathedar of Akal Takht Sahib -the provost of the Throne of the Almighty -the custodian of the sui-generis Sikh sovereignty, used to stand at the portals of the magnificent and benevolent fort-like edifice facing the spiritual centre of Darbar Sahib, also known as the Golden Temple, to address large sections of a thinly-populated assembly of the Sikh nation, on Diwali and Baisakhi, the community was all ears, listening and imbibing with rapt attention, faith and fervour, seeking and following the religio-political path proclaimed from there.

After four centuries, the Sikh community in its wisdom or lack of it, has reduced the meaning and respect of this unique institution of temporal and spiritual sovereignty propounded by its founder -the Sixth Master -Guru Hargobind Sahib.

Yesterday, on the occasion of Diwali and Bandi Chorr Diwas, 3 Jathedars gave out 3 messages to the Sikh nation, already confused and bamboozled to the hilt. Diwali is the Hindu festival of lights and Sikhs have adapted it as the Bandi-Chorr Diwas -to mark the release of 52 Hindu kings by Guru Hargobind Sahib alongside himself from the fort of Gwalior where Emperor Jahangir had imprisoned them.

“No Light entering the consciousness, no prisoner freeing from the cage, the transactional world keeps saying Happy Diwali. Without the oil, how can I light the lamp? Without the sovereignty, how can I enable freedom?”

Harinder Singh, Thinker and Writer Sikh Research Institute, USA

Giani Harpreet Singh -the acting Jathedar of Akal Takht Sahib, recently appointed by the SGPC read his message from the ramparts of the Akal Takht Sahib amidst ruckus created by a section of the Sangat who said, “we do not recognise you as Jathedar.” His message extolling the Sikh concept of Chardikala and Sarbat da Bhala -welfare for all humanity, echoes the political agenda of the Shiromani Akali Dal Badal being now pursued by the party relating to justice for victims of November 1984 genocide. It urges the Sikhs to start making preparations for the 550 years of the Birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Sahib. The content and the deliverance were hardly inspiring.

Bhai Jagtar Singh Hawara, who was appointed Jathedar by the Sarbat Khalsa in 2015, has sent his message from the Tihar Jail in New Delhi. This message steeped in Sikh history, calls for reclaiming Sikh social, economic, religious and political sovereignty and towards this end seeks Panthic unity. The message appeals for sacrifice of jealousy, egos and personal interests at the altar of the Panthic cause. How? When? Who will initiate is what the Sikhs are looking for today!

Bhai Dhian Singh Mand, who was appointed the Acting Jathedar by the Sarbat Khalsa in 2015, to officiate in place of Bhai Jagtar Singh Hawara has issued another message from the midst of the Bargari Morcha, which has entered its sixth month. Jathedar Mand’s message is primarily a justification of the Bargari Morcha where none is required. What the message does not tell us is that where was the grand hurry to issue a message when Jathedar Hawara had already issued a message a day earlier?

What is deeply saddening is that none of the messages have any call or prayer with which the ordinary folk can identify with. Three-fourths of the messages contain history and the others are only a narration of current events. They are all uninspiring.

“Every Sikh is responsible for the current mess and we need to come out of this stalemate at the earliest.”

Giani Kewal Singh, former Jathedar Takht Damdama Sahib

Contemporaneously speaking, Sikhs have never let themselves down so badly.  This is a relay race gone terribly wrong. The baton holder is going beyond the next player and attempting to reach the finishing line himself.

Dal Khalsa spokesperson Kanwarpal Singh, distraught at the turn of events, in a statement to the media has said, “The three messages have mocked the community. The role of the Jathedar is to unite the community, not disunite them. These parallel set of Jathedars have become instrumental in disunity Sikhs and that is deeply disturbing and painful.”

Though not referring to the dichotomy of the Jathedars, Harinder Singh of the Sikh Research Institute, USA, reacting to the “Happy Diwali” wishes, has retorted, “ No Light entering the consciousness, no prisoner freeing from the cage, the transactional world keeps saying Happy Diwali. Without the oil, how can I light the lamp? Without the sovereignty, how can I enable freedom?”

The current situation has undermined the significance and role of the Akal Takht Sahib in resolving disputes and creation of an environment in which Sikhs of different hues and shades can come together to democratically evolve largely acceptable solutions. For the present, this seems a distant dream, unless there is a big change of heart. Chances of that happening on either side of the spectrum appear grim. Confusion confounded!

“The three messages have mocked the community. The role of the Jathedar is to unite the community, not disunite them. These parallel set of Jathedars have become instrumental in disunity Sikhs and that is deeply disturbing and painful.”

Kanwarpal Singh, Spokesperson, Dal Khalsa

Giani Kewal Singh, former Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib, while speaking about the role and working of Akal Takht Sahib says, “The Akal Takht Sahib is not a Gurdwara, it is much more than that. It is time to revive the glorious tradition of instilling a sense of pride for the display of martial arts in the foreground of the Akal Takht Sahib.”  “Every Sikh is responsible for the current mess and we need to come out of this stalemate at the earliest.” he added.

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May the saviour of the Takht of Miri-Piri bestow good sense and enable the Sikhs to once again reclaim the glory of Akal Takht Sahib and make them become true inheritors of “the state within a state” which has historically rendered awe and fear amongst those inimical to the Sikh nation!