Akali Dal must continue to reinvent itself while being voice of the Sikhs that is its basic strength

 

 

Akali Dal must keep on evolving and reinventing itself while maintaining basic character

Ground Zero

Jagtar Singh

 

The Shiromani Akali Dal is not just a political party. It is an institution of the Sikhs.

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee is not just a body elected by the Sikhs to manage their historical shrines in the region that once was Punjab.

Both of these institutions of the Sikhs  have played vital role in the religio-political dynamics of this dynamic community for a century since their creation within about one month of each other in 1920. The SGPC was formed by the representative gathering of the Sikhs, including from Sikh battalions,  at Akal Takht on November 15, 1920 followed by the Akali Dal on December 14. Both these bodies have supplemented each other ever since. The SGPC along with the Akali Dal has played a major role in shaping Sikh dynamics and occupies distinct place in the Sikh religio-political matrix.

The appeal of Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal to the Sikhs at large from the stage of Manji Sahib in the Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple) complex yesterday, that was partly a confession, not to allow weakening of these two institutions must be viewed in this broader context.

Of course, the Akali Dal carries the baggage of Bargari.

The person directly responsible for Bargari narrative is Parkash Singh Badal as the chief minister. He himself was dealing with the spot situation. Moreover, it was he who had summoned the Takht chiefs to his residence to manage exoneration of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmit Ram Rahim from the act of blasphemy. Of course, Sukhbir mocked the Sikh protesters later. He should have later corrected himself later.

It was the act of Badal to summon the Takht chiefs that damaged both the Akal Takht as well as the SGPC and it was the Akali Dal that was hit in the process. This is a complex institutional relationship. Bargari and Behbal Kalan are essentially administrative failures for which moral responsibility must be owned.

The Akali Dal has been and still is the body that articulates the Sikh concerns and no blunder committed by the leadership can deny the party this role. It is for this reason that the Akali Dal must not be allowed to get weakened. Sukhbir rightly said, “I may be replaced as party chief tomorrow. But the institutions will be there and they are the real strength of the Sikhs.” The occasion was the founding anniversary function of the SGPC.

These are the two institutions that have over time come into confrontation with the rulers in Delhi both before and after independence. Both these institutions have been fighting for maintaining exclusive and separate identity of the Sikhs globally.

It is in this backdrop that the Akali Dal and the SGPC must keep on evolving  and reinventing themselves while retaining the basic structure that can’t be compromised.

Competing for power in elections must not be the end but the means for greater cause that is advancement of Punjab and the Sikhs, not of  vested interests of power brokers. The Akali Dal would have to make this assertion very clear.

The Sikhs have emerged as a most visible community at the global level during Covid for the humanitarian service they have rendered backed by the gurdwaras by way of Langar, the basic service to humanity. Langar is not just free community food but is concept of equality of humanity in practice without any distinction.

These are the strengths on which the Sikh institutions should be reinvented and this would go a long way in reinforcing the Akali Dal.

Of course, these institutions must function within democratic ethos of the Sikh religion.

The Akali Dal must be inclusive as the Sikh philosophy itself is inclusive based upon the humanism and brotherhood. However, the basic character of this institution of being voice of the Sikhs must continue to underline its political dynamics. The electoral dynamics should also be shaped  within this broader framework.