As author Harjinder Singh Dilgeer challenges the Akal Takht order announcing his social boycott and ban on his books in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, he has perhaps opened a Pandora’s box which will be difficult to curtail in the times to come.

70 year old scholar alumni of the Punjabi University, researcher and historian, Norwegian citizen- Dr. Harjinder Singh Dilgeer, with a score of books to his credit, has openly challenged the authority of the Sikh apex body the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and the Jathedar of Takhts, including the present incumbent of Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh for issuing the 27 July edict asking the Sikh sangat -congregations to boycott him socially and that his books be banned because of the foul and irreligious language used in them in a petition before the Punjab and Haryana High court early this week, filed by human rights lawyer Navkiran Singh and returnable on 29 November, 2017.

The petition is likely to create a stir in the religio-political functioning of the SGPC and the Akal Takht Sahib. While the SGPC has been asked to file a reply, all five Jathedars have also been made respondents by the petitioner.

According to the Jathedars, “there is great resentment in the Sikh sangat about his writings about Panthic Maryada (religious code of conduct), respect to Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Amrit and Nitnem, …..he has used low level language for Amrit, Nitnem, Ardas, Kakaar, Dasam Bani, care and management of holiness of the religious places and Damdami Taksal.”

The Five Singh Sahibans -Giani Gurbachan Singh, Jathedar Akal Takht, Giani Iqbal Singh, Jathedar Takht Patna Sahib, Giani Jagtar Singh Acting Head Granthi Darbar Sahib, Giani Harpreet Singh, Jathedar Damdama Sahib, Giani Malkiat Singh, Head Granthi Akal Takht Sahib without giving details had said in a statement that, as per the reports of the Committee formed to look into the writings of Dr. Dilgeer, “the author has used low level language on various Sikh issues and so a decision is taken that till he appears before Sri Akal Takht Sahib and gives his explanation he should be boycotted by the Sikh Sangat and should not be allowed to speak on any religious/social/political platform and complete ban is imposed on the books written by him.”

“Dr. Dilgeer wants to be a know-all, his language is definitely unparliamentary, and on the other side the Jathedars instead of clearing the issue by pointing out what exactly is wrong in his writings, have imposed a blanket ban.”

After getting no response to the notice sent to the SGPC and the Akal Takht Jathedar, the petitioner has gone to the Punjab and Haryana High Court and sought quashing of his “excommunication order” on grounds of right to freedom of expression as guaranteed under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. He also claimed that the Takht Jathedars and SGPC have failed to provide him details of the impugned sections.

Sikh circles are caught in a cleft-stick. On the one side of the spectrum are Sikh scholars and activists who support the contentions of Dr. Dilgeer but do not support his move to go to an Indian court of law, others believe that he was pushed to the wall and had no choice while there are others who strongly feel that there is arrogance on both sides of the fence and that both should be made to see reason in the best interests of maintaining the sovereignty of Akal Takht Sahib.  They say, “Dr. Dilgeer wants to be a know-all, his language is definitely unparliamentary, and on the other side the Jathedars instead of clearing the issue by pointing out what exactly is wrong in his writings, have imposed a blanket ban.” One activist said that he should not forget that not very long ago, he accepted honours from the Akal Takht.

There is no doubt many a decision of the Jathedars taken at the behest of their political masters -namely the Badals, particularly the “pardon” to Sacha Sauda Dera Sirsa chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim, has grossly eroded the authority of the Akal Takht Jathedars, but we have to think “Have we not opened a Pandora’s box by going to court which could have been avoided by taking the more effective step of going to the Sangat?”

“Dr. Harjinder Singh Dilgeer has to be temperate in his language. He cannot be seen as the sole Sikh authority on everything and that as a historian and author while contending for his right to freedom of expression, he cannot be abusive and righteous in the approach.”

There are yet another category of religious activists, thinkers with their heart in the right place, who strongly contend that “Dr. Harjinder Singh Dilgeer has to be temperate in his language. He cannot be seen as the sole Sikh authority on everything and that as a historian and author while contending for his right to freedom of expression, he cannot be abusive and righteous in the approach.”  This category of Sikhs, who were at one time supporters of the author, also question his denigration of the institution of Akal Takht and various time-tested traditions which the author questions.

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The Panth awaits with a gasping breath the next move.

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