170 SGPC members selectively elect an impotent President -Gobind Singh Longowal, under clear instruction of the Akali Dal leadership gone astray from the ideals of the founders of this august institution, compromising principles and traditions, leaving the Sikhs in the lurch.

There are times when the flock of a community is under watch. Every 29 November is one such time in Amritsar, when the SGPC house convenes to elect their leader for the next twelve months. In this test, the current SGPC flock has not only failed but made Sikhs a laughing stock.

154 elected members of this august body of the Sikhs, amidst slight resistance from 15 members (12 rebels from those owing allegiance to Badal Dal, 3 from Shiromani Akali Dal Amritsar), with 1 abstention and 1 SGPC in jail, all of whose tenure is over but who continue due to an anomaly in the Gurdwara legislation, played sheep and selectively elected a vastly impotent forty-second president, whose best quality is his unquestionable political loyalty to the powers-that-be, whose name was proposed by a lady on bail for the murder of her own daughter and whose name was “cleared” by a three-member committee of the leadership of the party the president belongs to, “accepted” by the feudal lord who is presently out of power and then the President was “honoured” with a Siropa by the provost of the highest temporal body of the Sikhs, who had a few months back declared him a renegade for going to Sirsa dera for votes and was awarded a punishment.

The first words that came out of the mouth of the newly elected SGPC President Gobind Singh Longowal were one of unflinching loyalty to Parkash Singh Badal and Sukhbir Singh Badal. The second words brought out the true colours, “I did not go to Sirsa dera for votes during the assembly polls.” Well, it is good you did not go, then why did you undergo tankhah -punishment for five days at Darbar Sahib for which there is ample video footage too? Why does your name feature in the list of 39 people issued by Akal Takht Sahib Jathedar who did the Sewa after pleading guilty at the Akal Takht Sahib? No answer.

Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh has justified Gobind Singh Longowal’s election by saying that since he has undergone the punishment, there is no bar on his assuming this office, or any office. That is fine, but now he is challenging the very basis of the punishment he devotedly carried out! Who is lying so openly and so flagrantly? Sikhs want to know the truth. However, in the present scheme of things, the Sikhs do not matter, do they?

““I did not go to Sirsa dera for votes during the assembly polls.” Then why did you undergo tankhah -punishment for five days at Darbar Sahib for which there is ample video footage too? Why does your name feature in the list of 39 people issued by Akal Takht Sahib Jathedar who did the Sewa after pleading guilty at the Akal Takht Sahib? No answer.”

We will probably need someone more than anthropologist Joyce Pettigrew who did a study on Sikh politics in the last century and social scientist Pramod Kumar who monitors Punjab from various angles, to understand the mind of father-son Parkash Singh Badal-Sukhbir Singh Badal. Why on earth should they choose a lame-duck President, which annoy the masses, create fissures in their own party, dilute the significance of the Sikh religion by anointing someone who is a one-time tankhaiya and whose credentials are questionable and whose only quality is unquestionable loyalty to the father-son duo leading the Akali brigade? Why, oh why?

The only explanation is that of my old humanist friend from Kolkata, who while visiting Punjab said, “the whole atmosphere smacks of feudalism and materialistic fear of losing status. The social vein, the political strain, the religious domain -all show nothing but a total allegiance to the feudal lord. Just as the Indian state does not tolerate dissent, Punjab’s feudal party leaders brook no inner-party dissent.”

The whole vernacular and English media in Punjab is rife that Sukhbir Singh Badal did what he did as he wanted to “sideline Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa” in Sangrur, where he and his son were a force to reckon with, did not like Sewa Singh Sekhwan from Gurdaspur as he used every party forum to discuss and debate party moves and felt embarrassed that the last incumbent President Prof. Kirpal Singh Bandurgar made uniliteral appointments and expressed political opinion. All of these are anti-feudal methods and situations, isn’t it? Is there any other explanation? We would love to listen to something else.

Reacting to the SGPC President’s election, Dal Khalsa spokesperson Kanwarpal Singh said, “The degeneration is complete. The SGPC headed by a controversial person is a new low. It shows bankruptcy of leaders in the Akali Dal. He warned that the new committee should get ready to face a stiff opposition from Panthic quarters.”

Sukhdev Singh Bhaur, leading 20-odd SGPC dissidents in a quickly put together Panthic Front, did put a hindrance to the selection of the President by calling for an election, but, actually ended  lending credence to the undemocratic election.

On Facebook and Twitter, individuals and activists are spewing venom against the new president and the SGPC.  Remarkably, the father-son duo reaction is typical, “Sikhs be damned”. For them, only their politics is of a paramount concern.

154 members vote for one person without a whimper, the SGPC house elects all members of the executive without a challenge, discusses ordinary issues, avoids debate on substantive issues including celebrations of Parkash Purab of Guru Gobind Singh on 5 January as suggested by the SGPC member from Anandpur Sahib -all this amidst Bole So Nihal Sat Sri Akal! Where is the Sat -the truth!

Since his election, the one-time assistant of former Akali President -Sant Harchand Singh Longowal, signatory to the still unfulfilled Rajiv-Longowal Accord of 1985, SGPC President Gobind Singh Longowal is being seen at the wrong places at the wrong times. Viral videos are adding to his and his party’s woes. However the oft-repeated Akali refrain is maddeningly appropriate, “Saanu dhuurdda piara hai, dharm nahi.” -In our scheme of things, what the party thinks, or within the party, what one group thinks, that is key and dear to us, not what the diktat of the religion says! So much for Akali democracy!

When Gobind Singh Longowal looks into the mirror, will he be able to see eye to eye with SGPC stalwarts -Sardar Sunder Singh Majithia, Baba Kharak Singh, Master Tara Singh, Jathedar Udham Singh Nagoke? In a season of dwarfs, why should Sikhs expect giants? Given the apathy of the Sikhs in general and the internecine battles in which the whole Sikhdom -homeland and Diaspora, is engaged, leaving the ground free for the dwarfs, we get what we deserve, isn’t it?

““Ki fayda, ki oh sudharange?” What is the use? Do you think they will change? Well, I don’t think so, but let’s keep the ball rolling, till we have a better choice!”

The Executive Committee of yes-men includes Raghujit Singh Virk -Senior Vice-President, Harpal Singh Jhalla -Junior Vice President, Gurbachan Singh Karmuwala -General Secretary and Members of the Executive Committee -Sajjan Singh Bajjuman, Advocate Bhagwant Singh Sialka, Lakhbir Singh Arainwala, Gurmeet Kaur Kapurthala, Gurtej Singh Dhaddhe, Hardev Singh Rogla, Ravinder Singh Chakk Mukerian, Gurmeet Singh Booh, Baba Gurmeet Singh Trilokwala, Navtej Singh Kauni and Amrik Singh Shahpur.

The SGPC chief will be presiding over a Rs. 1100 crore budget to maintain Gurdwaras and allied institutions and like all his predecessors has professed to arrest the tide of apostasy and drug abuse. When a journalist wanted to know what steps will he take different from his predecessors. No answer. How?  No answer. When? Anybody’s guess!

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As is my wont, sometimes, I read out what I have written to my family. When I read the above lines to my wife, she responded, “Ki fayda, ki oh sudharange?” What is the use? Do you think they will change?

Well, I don’t think so, but let us raise a voice, till we have a better choice!