Dr. Sukhmander Singh

Professor and Head, Department of Civil Engineering, Santa Clara University, California

The drift away from a religion always worries its followers. Among the economic, social, and political causes for the drift - neglect of important traditions - which keep the faith alive, can be the most serious. This article deals with one of such forgotten traditions. This tradition used to be practiced for Sikh Youths. It was not too long ago, perhaps 40 years or so that the tradition was still alive and one could witness it as an inspiring scene in a typical village Gurdwara. A well-dressed Sikh youth, aged 12 or teenaged, sitting in thabaya (reading posture) behind Guru Granth Sahib was the focus of attention. The youth would read the first five paurhees of Jap Ji from Guru Granth Sahib. The tradition was popularly known as charni lagna and used to be celebrated with great pomp and show. All important relatives and friends of the youth’s family would be invited to join in the celebration. Typically the youth was made to practice the recitation of five paurhees from the Gutka before the occasion. And after the youth would finish the recitation from Guru Granth Sahib, Ardaas would be said, Karah Prasad distributed and Langar held. Friends and relatives would then give congratulations to the parents of the youth. The youth would also be honored with greetings of love and at times with presents as well. The occasion used to rival marriage ceremonies in pomp and show, but it is now gone.

This was not only a glorious tradition, but it conveyed a profoundly meaningful message both to the Sikhs and the rest of the world. Because in no other religion of the world may you witness such a scene in their temple where a youth of young age or a non-priest is allowed to read scriptures to the followers. Most of the major religions of the world are at least 2000 years old. For centuries they were practiced in a language that was reserved for the educated or rich classes perhaps deliberately mystifying and keeping the ordinary man at a distance and in awe. For example, Hinduism uses Sanskrit and the Roman Catholic Church uses the Latin language that the ordinary person was never able or even allowed to learn over the centuries. Only certain classes of people were allowed to listen or interpret the word of God. It is a well-known fact that in India that molten lead was poured into the ears of a low caste person who happened to read or even listen to the word of God from Scriptures or Vedas. Thus, instead of enlightening ordinary folks, religion was used quite deliberately and purposefully by those in power to serve their own motives and to perpetuate their hold on the religion. But thanks to Guru Nanak and Guru Gobind Singh who demolished the stranglehold of the priestly classes by first composing their scripture (Guru Granth Sahib) in the language that the ordinary person of the times could understand, in Punjabi, and then giving everyone of their followers the right to read the scriptures. Five hundred years ago they proclaimed the Oneness of God, the concept of service to humanity, the equality of all races and the equality of men and women.

If such is the distinction which we Sikhs enjoy, then why do we often put the entire blame for lack of preaching on others like Sikh organizations and Sikh leaders here or at home in Punjab? This is not to defend the organizations or leaders for their neglect, which is there, and that is not the reason for which this article is written, but to humbly state that this is not a one-way process. Each one of us as an individual Sikh has a crucial role to play in educating oneself in the continuity, and in the preservation of our religion and culture, and setting an example for our children. We must sit in the presence of Guru Granth Sahib, make a concerted effort to read - even it is one single line in one week, and understand it (there are translations available to help understand). We must not wait for someone to come and read it for us. Be persistent even if it takes two years to finish a Sadharan Path. So please wake up and take hold of yourself and start it right away. If you are a truly concerned Sikh and want Sikhism to flourish, your greatest contribution to the cause would be to start reading from Guru Granth Sahib yourself. Otherwise, our discussions at dinners or other gatherings, about in-fightings and lack of leadership in Sikhs, will continue forever. Because as the good old saying goes, “people get the leadership they deserve.” Our ignorance makes us easy prey to vested interests and internal squabbles. However, when the most common denominator among the Sikhs will be the teachings of Guru Granth Sahib, which they read and understood, then the true leadership and true unity is bound to emerge.