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.

Shiromani Akali Dal has damaged the Sikh institutions.