Taking a beautifully endearing step, strengthening inter-faith camaraderie, a Christian Bishop in Mumbai greets Sikhs on Guru Nanak Sahib’s 549th Parkash Purab. The author, who is a regular resource person of the Inter-faith Dialogue Cell in Mumbai expresses gratitude and reiterates that such steps will lead to triumph of humanity and a peaceful world devoid of hate and confrontation. She also expresses concern about Sikh-Christian relations in Punjab.

In an endearing step towards building firm and endurable relationship with the Sikh community,  Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas, Secretary General of Catholic Bishop Conference of India has conveyed greetings on the occasion of the Parkash Purab of Guru Nanak Sahib.

As you can listen to the video, it is notable that he begins his message with the Sikh greeting of ‘Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!’. Moreover he uses the words “Parkash Purab” rather than the oft-repeated ‘birthday.’ It is significant to note such attempts are being made to  understand more about other faiths to do our bit towards working together to confront hate and fanaticism at the global level.

On the auspicious eve of Parkash Purab of Guru Nanak Sahib, as the Sikh world is rejoicing and greeting each other, comes the endearing news of a Christian pastor greeting the Sikhs and endorsing the teachings of the First Master of the Sikh faith.

“As you can listen to the video, it is notable that he begins his message with the Sikh greeting of ‘Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!’. Moreover he uses the words “Parkash Purab” rather than the oft-repeated ‘birthday.   ”

Today, we all live as a global community, where no land or man is alien. In the domain of religions and faith, understanding and respecting each other is the key to harmony and given the discord amongst nations and religions, it is a rather sentimental and paramount issue of concern too.

Guru Sahib’s teachings recognise fatherhood of God and brotherhood of mankind. The Sikh community always welcomes any small step towards building bridges between communities and religions.

Sometimes relations between communities become strained due to steps taken by a section of any community towards conversion of a particular faith group. There are issues between Sikhs and Christians in this regard with respect to proselytization activities amongst the poorest of the poor Sikhs in various parts of Punjab. 

Though things have not gone to a head, but the image of Christian missionaries in the Punjab amongst the Sikh community is not good as we have observed that some of their missionaries have crossed the limits of tolerance, decency and are indulging in clearly anti-Sikh activities in Gurdaspur and parts of the Malwa belt -Ludhiana, Sangrur and Bathinda of Punjab. I am disturbed to learn that attempts at conversion have begun amongst the Sikligar Sikhs in Delhi too. Maybe the news of inter-faith understanding from across western India will enable a change of scenario in northern India.

“The Sikh community welcomes the greetings and reiterates that the message of Guru Nanak is for the whole world and not just for the Sikhs.  ”

It makes me happy to share that the situation is not the same all over India. While the painful state of affairs continue in northern India, in the state of Maharashtra and particularly in Mumbai,  as part of the Inter-Religious Dialogue Cell, Christian religious leaders are operating at a level of understanding the Sikh faith and its roots.

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I have no hesitation in saying that they fully respect Sikh religion and are learning Sikh philosophy through sewa and participation in sessions at various Gurdwaras in Mumbai. The Sikh community welcomes the greetings and reiterates that the message of Guru Nanak is for the whole world and not just for the Sikhs.May Guru Nanak Sahib bless all humankind!