L E T T E R
What is the Authority of Akal Takht
Jagdeesh Singh

May 18, 2003: UK

On the subject of the Akaal Takht Sahib, I believe there needs to be a lot of introspection and self-examination by us all as Sikhs about our exact committment and loyalties to the principles and functions of the Akaal Takht and the furtherance of its fundamental work. Many questions arise:

Do we as Sikhs today, recognise the Akaal Takht as the highest judicial authority in Sikh affairs, including in individual (personal) disputes between Sikhs? Would gurdwara committees defer to the intervention and adjudication of the Akaal Takht on matters of administering and conducting gurdwara affairs? Would we give our serious personal and domestic disputes to the Akaal Takht for adjudication in accordance with principles of Sikh justice?

Is the Akaal Takht Sahib operated and administered with proper will, efficiency and competentcy, as a sovereign independent authority? Is it operated as a bastion of global justice - a champion and voice for global affairs, or is its just confined to Sikh affairs?

Is the Akaal Takht Sahib Jathedar - past and present - of sufficient vision, knowledge and skills to act in a comprehensive and courageous way on all global affairs of relevance to the Akaal Takht Sahib?. For example, is Jathedar Joginder Singh concerned with the war in Iraq? Is he concerned with human rights abuses in Kurdistan? Is he concerned with the environmental rape and murder going on globally? Is he even aware of these issues? Should he, as the custodian of the Akaal Takht, give a call to the world on subjects like these?

Is the Akaal Takht Jathedar concerned with the blasphemous abuses that are committed in Britain against Sikh ideals and the integrity of Sikh ethics and practises, by gurdwara committees and self-styled babas like the Nanaksari's in Coventry. Each January, the Nanaksar establishment (they don't even call themselves a 'gurdwara'), hold a public procession ('nagar keertan') to mark the birth anniversary of the tenth Guru. Simultaneously, they mark the birthday of 'Mahaharaj' Baba Ji as well. Moreover, Baba Ji's picture is displayed on a grandiose mega-sized board, with Guru Gobind Singh's picture in a smaller size rotating (in circular fashion) around Baba Ji's mammoth size picture. This is a flagrant act of blasphemy. It elevates Baba Ji to a higher position than the Guru, and uses the images of the Guru to promote, elevate and ratify the image of 'Baba Ji'. This is a flagrant abuse. No-one in Coventry has spoken up about this annual act of open insult and abuse on Sikhi. No Sikh newspaper, no Panjab Radio, no Sikh organisation, nobody!

Should the Akaal Takht's judicial and moral authority be exercised in this kind of situation, to censor this abusive practise? A message should be sent out to the world, to signal the rejection and repulsion of such squalid self-styled practises as these. Why is Akaal Takht Sahib not acting on this and other such open public abuses like this?

Where exactly does the Akal Takht Sahib fit into the lives of Sikhs as individuals and as a nation today? For example, the Sikh Times has a whole regular section on "glitz" covering the muck and mire of bollywood's intrigues and gossip. Similarly, Panjab Radio has keertan alongside adverts promoting alcohol, meat, etc. Quite a display of double-standards and double-vision!

These are critically important questions, which warrant open discussion and some SELF-REALISATION!

comment: This letter was originally sent to The Sikh Times in reference to Kala Afghana

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