World Sikh News editor writes an open letter to Sardar Gobind Singh Longowal, President of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) seeking answers to a range of disturbing questions relating to the Sikh Reference Library.

Dear Sardar Gobind Singh Longowal
Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa
Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!
I hope the SGPC lives up to its word that it will not relocate the Sikh Reference Library -a proud centre of heritage within the Darbar Sahib -Golden Temple Complex. I hope you are not playing politics with the Sikh people.

Weeks ago, when the SGPC executive passed a resolution to relocate it, there was uproar and protests, though on a very small scale. I understand that this move was set in motion by your predecessors, but whether you have shelved the plan or whether you want to build another library outside the complex, because you need more space for pilgrims pouring in the thousands into Darbar Sahib is something only you and your executive can answer. Let it be understood that no space constraint can be reason enough to shift the historic Sikh Reference Library.

I find it disturbing that there is hardly ever any public debate on such substantive issues because as a community we are more interested in other issues. Matters of study, art, literature, architecture, archaeology, preservation of heritage are rocket science, not deserving attention.

Nevertheless, this move by the SGPC has brought forth pertinent questions. Will you please answer them? You owe it to the Sikh Sangat.

Why is there no mention of the Sikh Reference Library on the SGPC website? Why do we do not have a website dedicated to the Library? When was the last time that the painted board at the entrance of the library was changed? Do you know that there was lady called Princess Bamba, daughter of Maharaja Duleep Singh of the Sikh Historical Society, who was instrumental in setting-up of the Sikh Reference Library in 1945!

“Has the SGPC followed up on the disclosures of CBI Inspector Ranjit Nanda who turned whistleblower in 2003 and who made startling revelations of how material from the Sikh Reference Library was then packed into 165 gunny bags and taken away?”

Has the Sikh Reference Library retained the artefacts, books and documents looted and pilfered by the Indian Army after it stormed and plundered the army at the end of the assault in June 1984? According to the Justice Tarkunde report, the army burnt a section of the library and looted it between 6 June and 14 June long after the assault was over. Can the SGPC come out with a document about the real status of the documents in view of its correspondence with the government of India at various levels?

In the year 2000, the then Defence Minister George Fernandes -a friend of the Sikhs, had pointed out that the material taken by the army was handed over the CBI. Where is the material today?

Some material considered seditious by the looters was destroyed. Do we have a log of that? SGPC as a custodian of the Sikh heritage is primarily responsible and accountable to the Sangat for this. If yes, what was destroyed? If not, why not?

Has the SGPC followed up on the disclosures of CBI Inspector Ranjit Singh Nanda who turned whistleblower in 2003 and who made startling revelations of how material from the Sikh Reference Library was then packed into 165 gunny bags and taken away?

The assurance of President Abdul Kalam in 2003 and the direction of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 2004 have not borne fruit. Has the SGPC given up?

The SGPC’s accountability is not limited to a few bags of grain that may be pilfered by a greedy official or the maintenance and upkeep of inns and increments in allowances to SGPC members and salaries of employees.

“How many visits of history, art, culture, sociology, anthropology, religious studies students from various universities and departments of colleges are organized by the SGPC every year from Punjab and out of Punjab?”

By the way, who is the librarian of the Sikh Reference Library? After the illustrious literary giant and political writer Devinder Singh Duggal, who curated the Sikh Reference Library for years like a mother taking care of her children and who died, unable to bear the loss done by the army, how many renowned academicians were made librarians? Currently, who is the curator and librarian of the Sikh Reference Library?

What efforts has the SGPC done to popularise the history and utility of the Sikh Reference Library? Since it was set up in 1945, what steps have been taken to enhance the library, digitise all its content and make the material easily accessible?

The Sikh Sangat may not be curious but I am keen to know how many pilgrims visit the Sikh Reference Library? How many books/documents/newspapers are referenced every month from the library?  

What is the budget allocation over the years for the Sikh Reference Library? What efforts are made by the SGPC to persuade pilgrims to visit the library?

How many SGPC members visit the library and know the details of the place? Can you make it compulsory for SGPC members to study at least one document from the Sikh Reference Library every month?

I am really curious to know how many research scholars have used the Sikh Reference Library since June 1984. Has any of their works based on the referencing that they may have done there, been published?

How many visits of history, art, culture, sociology, anthropology, religious studies students from various universities and departments of colleges are organized by the SGPC every year from Punjab and out of Punjab?

Are there direction boards anywhere in the complex directing pilgrims and visitors to the Sikh Reference Library?

What steps have been taken to ensure that all the rare manuscripts and documents are fully digitised before they are lost again to the vagaries of time or dumped somewhere by some nincompoop employee of the SGPC?

I know that answers are not easy but answer we must. We have destroyed a lot of physical heritage. The pathway leading to Darbar Sahib has made the spiritual centre into a tourist attraction. Without books and Granths at the Sikh Reference Library, the cultural destruction would begin. I hope you do not want to go down in history has someone who has presided over this. Answer the questions and there will be solutions, before it is too late.

Jagmohan Singh
Editor, World Sikh News

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Post Scriptum: I do not expect answers from the SGPC President. Will the SGPC “chief” secretary Roop Singh answer it for us? Will anyone else answer?