Time for Sikh Panth to review functioning of SGPC in context of its utter degeneration amplified by report on missing Birs of Guru Granth Sahib
Deepening crisis
in the SGPC calls for Panthic audit of its functioning
Ground Zero
Jagtar
Singh
The probe
report into the missing Birs of Guru Granth Sahib released by the high priests
yesterday has precipitated the crisis that characterize the Shiromani Gurdwara
Parbandhak Committee, one of the two highest religio-political institutions of
the Sikhs. The other institution that is Akal Takht symbolizes the sovereignty
of the Sikh thought and state power, not a court to which it is being degraded.
Under focus
here is the functioning of the SGPC whose very concept stands undermined over
the years after the passing away of Gurcharan Singh Tohra who commanded this
institution selflessly for more than quarter of a century.
First the
concept on which the SGPC was constituted, not under the Sikh Gurdwara Act 1925
but the original body that was constituted in November 1920 at Akal Takht by
inviting Sikh representatives even from the Sikh regiments. Basic to its
functioning is Seva (selfless service). The
Act provided this body the statutory status, the first in the country.
One must go
back to the functioning of its earlier presidents and two of them can
specifically be mentioned in this context.
Master Tara
Singh, one of the most powerful Sikh leaders, would not use even the ink of the
SGPC in his fountain pen.
Tohra never
used the official vehicle of the SGPC during his long tenure. He never billed
the SGPC for petrol for his private vehicle. He never charged the SGPC for telephone
that was installed at his residence only
in the nineties. There is not a single bill in his name in the record of the
SGPC.
This body
used to have a limited number of vehicles.
Now almost
every manager of a major gurdwara moves around in official vehicle. Some of the
powerful principals too of the colleges run by the SGPC enjoy this facility.
Comparison must
be made of the number of vehicles in 1999 and 2020. The details might be
shocking.
This body
used to have just one secretary. Now the staff is headed by a chief secretary
with a number of secretaries under him. It may be mentioned that the number of
gurdwaras under the SGPC is almost the same. The only addition is the number of
schools, colleges and health institutions.
Tohra had
set norms for opening of the educational institutions so that the burden on the
SGPC would be the minimum.
The body is
now heavily overstaffed.
At one
stage, the political bosses indirectly commanding this body decided to corporatize
its functioning. Computerization is different from corporatization.
The SGPC
had an office in a sprawling six canal kothi in Sector 5 that was purchased
years back. Subsequently, another complex known as Kalgidhar Niwas was
constructed in a big plot on the Madhya Marg where the office complex was
shifted.
The office
in Sector 5 would be used even by Akali workers while in Chandigarh as its
drawing room would remain open.
The corporatization
changed this office. The drawing room was renovated as board room. Other rooms
too have been renovated on the same pattern. Lakhs were spent on its renovation
but to what end?
The office
was shifted back to this Kothi from Kalgidhar Niwas which is now used by the
security people attached to the top leaders.
After all, it is corporate culture.
This was
done under a firm of private auditors given the contract for its internal
audit.
This firm
of auditors was sacked at one time but was re-instated within 24 hours. At whose
orders?
Then there
is the irreparable damage done to Darbar
Sahib (Golden Temple) over time to convert it into TV studio for the live
telecast of Gurbani.
The Sikhs
should logically discuss and debate the issues without being abusive and evolve
a procedure over the next six months to arrive at consensus on a 11-member team
to carry out the Panthic audit and recommend remedial measures.
Indira Gandhi
damaged the building of Akal Takht while attacking this symbol of Sikh
sovereignty.
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