The Hindu : New Delhi News : Sikh processions spark a debate

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 12, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

Sikh processions spark a debate

NEW DELHI, JAN. 11. Traffic-clogging Sikh processions have sparked a debate among top community leaders, with some ready to discuss the concerns and others simply trying to deflect media criticism to the administration.

But Sikh scholars are rather plain-spoken.

"Processions are just extravagance. What do you get out of alienating others," according to columnist and author Patwant Singh.

Congregations at gurdwaras, he said, were an appropriate way to mark holy days, he said.

Actions that hurt others and become a source of difficulty for them contradict the very doctrine of the Sikh faith, according to noted scholar and former Ambassador Jaspal Singh.

"Baba Farid has been quoted in the Guru Granth Sahib as saying that if you want to meet the Lord, don't hurt the heart of anyone. If a procession leading the Sikh Holy Book causes problems for office-goers, patients, students and job-seekers rushing for their interview, then I think we should discuss seriously how to make such events compliant with Sikh doctrine," Dr. Jaspal Singh remarked.

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the Amritsar-based supreme Sikh administration, is open to finding a solution to the problems created by all kinds of processions and demonstrations -- religious, political or social.

"Let the government invite all types of leaders -- religious, social and political -- to work out common rules for public events. It's something for general good. Don't single out any particular group or community, but tell everybody to ensure their demonstrations or processions do not cause any disruption," SGPC general secretary Sukhdev Singh Bhaur said.

On last Tuesday, a Guru Gobind Singh birthday procession jogged traffic in the heart of Delhi, prompting sharp media reaction over holding such large-scale events during rush hours in already crowded locations.

Some Sikh leaders have, however, identified what caused a barely three- or four-km-long procession to fill the roads with piles of vehicles.

"It's the Gatka (Sikh martial art) display and food stalls mainly," renowned scholar and senior SGPC member Manjit Singh Calcutta said.

Gatka teams often halt a procession every ten minutes or so for at least half-an-hour for every single display, Mr. Calcutta said.

"Restrict their displays to gurdwara compounds so that there is no disruption in the flow of the procession. Processions have become part of Sikh traditions. They cannot be stopped, but certainly can be regulated," he said. Mr Calcutta also suggested that no food stalls and podiums be allowed along procession routes.

However, the community leadership in Delhi rejected the idea of regulating the processions.

Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) president Paramjit Singh Sarna, the organiser of last week's much criticised procession, blamed traffic chaos from such events on what he called administrative failures.

"There are traffic jams everywhere in Delhi -- because of Metro, road repairs, flyover constructions and bad signals. It's up to the administration and the Traffic Police to ensure smooth flow of traffic every time. Processions are not something new or unique to Sikhs only. There are several political processions and demonstrations that also cause traffic jams because of bad traffic management. Even VIP movements snarl traffic, but nobody blames them," Mr. Sarna said.

But some of his own colleagues differed with their leader's arguments.

"It's not just bad traffic management. As a religion which is founded on principles of values, Sikhism has a greater role to play in every society. Do not part with your traditional processions, but shift their venue to stadia. Citing others as example means we as a religion are no different in terms of practice," senior DSGMC member Manjit Singh said.

Delhi Akali chief Avtar Singh Hit, a close lieutenant of former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, also supported the SGPC proposal that the government should hold meetings with different religious and political groups over their public events.

"Processions marking Sikh holy days symbolise great historical events. They cannot be stopped. But yes, leaders of varying backgrounds and affiliations should meet and pledge a common code to prevent public inconvenience from their processions." Mr Hit, a former DSGMC president, observed.

-- UNI

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

New Delhi

News Update

Stories in this Section