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Sikh Women's Rights: Comments from Sikhs and Orgs

Date: Thu, 22 Apr 2003
From: Patwant Singh, Author (New Delhi)
Comments:

Gender equality is one of the Articles Of The Sikh Faith and the rights of women are ingrained in the teachings of our Gurus. Only if we treat each other
with equality would we be able to uphold the Faith. The Sikh faith is based on rational thinking. The Gurus saw the upliftment of women as a way of dealing with the challenges of the time. Who are these self-appointed buffoons (people) to deny women their rights? I refuse to condone these upstarts hijacking the noble cause. The meeting on the 25th April ( called by the SGPC's Dharam Parchar Committee) has nothing to achieve. No one is asking SGPC to take a decision. They just have to implement a principle which has been well laid down. It is clear in Gurbani what the Sikh position
is on equality. To take us back to the pre-Guru period is offensive to every Sikh.
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Date: Thu, 22 Apr 2003
From: Penguin Viking India, Khushwant Singh, Author (New Delhi)
Comment:

There is no room for gender discrimination in the Sikh faith. We need to restore open-mindedness in the Sikh Faith.
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Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2003
From: Kaur Foundation (Washington D.C.)
Comment:

Dear Mr. President and Committee Members:
Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh.

We, the Kaur Foundation, are a Sikh Women's Foundation based in the Washington area with supporters nationwide. Our main functions are to ensure that proper status is accorded our fellow Sikh women and children in the western society, by raising awareness through education and providing understanding on social and cultural issues.With reference to the ongoing deliberations on the rights of Sikh women, the stand of our exalted Gurus on gender equality was exemplary. Our Gurus lived their lives following this
principal and immortalized these covenants by including them in the Guru Granth Sahib Ji. In fact, Guru Amar Das Ji, blessed women with so much respect that he appointed them to 'Manjis'.

The issue today, is one of keeping, half of our fine and brave Sikh community - the women, from performing the Guru's Sewa.

Our Gurus, in their immense grace and wisdom, differentiating us from the ill social practices of other faiths, blessed us with the right to serve and live our lives as equals - men and women. To have this decree of our Gurus questioned and debated rather than followed entirely is indicative of the biggest malady, one of 'homai-rog'.

The Sikh Rehat Maryada, published by the Dharam Prachar Committee
of SGPC Amritsar 1994, Section six, Chapter 13, Article XXIV-b states that the 5 Singh's that give Amrit to would-be Amrit-dhari's can include Singhni's.

Guru sewa is the right of every Sikh, in every sphere - be it as participating in giving Amrit, performing the early morning 'ishanaan' sewa, giving 'moda' to Guru Sahib's Swari or being an equal partner in parenting or being a life partner.

Let us unite and preserve the fabric of our small and fragile Sikh community, and proudly uphold the practice of equality for Sikh women in keeping with the teachings of our revered Gurus. Needless to say, the community would be exhilarated at a decision that would continue to protect the Sikh Women's right as instructed by our Gurus. Let us not change the path of gender equality our Gurus so wisely instituted for us.
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A letter from Siri Sardarni Bibiji Inderjit Kaur, Chief Religious Minister
for Sikh Dharma of the Western Hemisphere
(http://www.sikhnet.com/s/BhaiSahiba)
In her letter, Bibiji calls on Sikh women to stand up for their rights to worship and live equally as Khalsa of Guru Gobind Singh.

Resolution and Recommendations by Khalsa Council of Sikh Dharma of the
Western Hemisphere
(http://www.sikhnet.com/s/KhalsaCouncil)
Khalsa Council is an international body of ordained Sikh Dharma Ministers. In a resolution unanimously passed by the Khalsa Council during its Spring 2003 meetings, the Council calls for the implementation of the 1996 Hukamnama issued by the Akal Takhat giving women the right to perform seva at the Harimandir Sahib. Khalsa Council also offered practical suggestions for how the 1996 Hukamnama can be implemented.

Pure Longing: SikhNet's Position Paper
(http://www.sikhnet.com/s/SikhNet%20Position).
Recognizing that Khalsa has no gender, SikhNet stands on the position that this issue is not a women's rights issue at all, but a right to worship issue. The Gurus never divided the Panth by gender. We claim the right to wash the floors and perform Gurbani kirtan at the Harimadnir Sahib and all Sikh places of worship not as women, but as Khalsa.
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Voices For Freedom Position
http://www.voicesforfreedom.org/index.asp?c2=LatestNews/sevaPR.asp
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See more comments:
http://www.voicesforfreedom.org/womens_rights/DetSponsering_4-22-03.txt

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