Kashmiri Muslim Performing Kirtan: Tasleema Langoo (Blog of Navdeep Singh Dhillon)

spnadmin · #10 (**permalink**) 30-Nov-2010, 00:24 AM

I did find it.

Bibi Kiranjot Kaur was Secretary to SGPC

"Bibi Kiranjot Kaur. Kiranjot Kaur is a senior SGPC member and has previously held the position of General Secretary of the SGPC. Kiranjot Kaur has deep personal interest in Sikh material heritage and has championed high profile conservation causes. Kiranjot’s rich family heritage include her mother Bibi (Dr) Rajinder Kaur a member of the Rajya Sabha and editor of Sant Sipahi and her grandfather Master Tara Singh. Kiranjot will blog about heritage issues in addition to wide variety of Sikh political issues."

http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/histor...-news-3-a.html

When she was secretary of SGPC she "locked horns" with Bibi Jagir Kaur

"Amritsar, April 7
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/controversies/33385-kashmiri-muslim-performing-kirtan-tasleema-langoo.html
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=33385
Even as Bibi Jagir Kaur and Bibi Kiranjot Kaur, president and executive member of the SGPC, respectively, have locked horns over the issue of dossier on Harmander Sahib, the Director of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has clarified that there won’t be any interference in the management of the religious site after the World Heritage Status (WHS) is granted to the holiest place of the Sikhs. "

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050408/punjab1.htm

kds1980 · #11 (**permalink**) 30-Nov-2010, 03:41 AM

Quote:

I am curious to know how specific the 2005 "rule" was if you know it. I couldn't find any information on it through newspapers or the internet, so if anyone knows, it would be very helpful. Also, despite this ruling, I have never heard of any Sikh woman performing Kirtan at the Golden Temple, either as an isolated incident or on a continual basis.

Here is thread on women allowed kirtan in 2005

http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/sikh-n...harmandir.html

Quote:

The fact that only ONE WOMAN have ever been elected to the SGPC over the last 100 years speaks volumes as to the rules and enforcement of those rules. The only woman to be elected was Kiranjit Kaur to the position of general secretary where she served for two terms. Bibi Jagir Kaur was never really elected; she was backed by two members of the SGPC and there was strangely no competition for the opening. Even if you want to have that count as an "election," that still only brings the election count to TWO WOMEN. Then there was Bhajan Kaur Dograwala who never held an actual position and has spent the last three years as an "executive member."

The SGPC had agreed to hold 33% of the positions for women largely due to pressure put on by the Nanhi Chhaan Foundation (link). And what happened this year? Absolutely nothing, that's what. Every SINGLE seat went to men. Not even 1% went to women.

Well we all know that theory and practical things are different.The fact is there is no bar
on Amritdhari bibi to be elected in SGPC election if she can.So one cannot say there is restriction on women.BTW if I apply same logic then people can also say that in India there is restriction on Dalit or Muslim to be a PM as we have not seen a single Dalit PM or Muslim PM of India in last 63 years.

Quote:

But I don't think the SGPC is representing the Sikh nation as it claims by allowing any Sikh to vote, but only allowing them to vote for an Amritdhari Sikh. It would make sense that only Amritdhari Sikhs should vote then.

If I am not wrong officially SGPC do not allow mona sikhs to vote,though one can say that many monay sikhs do vote but official position is only Keshdhari and Amritdhari are allowed to vote

spnadmin · #12 (**permalink**) 30-Nov-2010, 04:42 AM

There are "rules" and then there are "rules." So going back to an earlier comment by Navdeep ji

Quote:

Many of the "rules" that are in effect today are so clearly in violation of the basic tenets of Sikhi that it is absurd they exist. I see no reason they should even be called a "controversy." I was recently made aware that the rule I mentioned in my blog about Amritdharis being the only ones allowed to perform kirtan at Darbar Sahib (the Golden Temple) also applies to women, regardless of whether or not they are Amritdhari or not.

Navdeep ji in my opinion is quite astute when noting that a rule has been violated. Is it not interesting that although baptized Sikh women are on paper permitted to perform in Darshan Sahib, they do not. So what facts is the irony based on?

a. Since 1940 baptized Sikh women are permitted to perform in Darshan Sahib.
b. A dispensation is granted to a Muslim woman who by definition cannot be a baptized Sikh woman.
c. The kirtan seva is by invitation only.

This adds up to some even more ironic reflections on "rules." Several rules are at work here.

a. An official rule - - the one on paper permitting amritdhari women to perform -- is a rule that is never applied.
b. The rule that permits exceptions to be granted was applied, and Tasleema, a Muslim and a woman, was able to perform.
c. The rule that allows that kirtan seva by invitation only is always applied; baptized sikh women are never invited.
d. Amritdhari men, however, according to the rules are consistently invited.

All this, and no one has even bent any rules! Basic tenets of Sikhi, as given us by Gurus Nanak 1 through 10, are often championed in word only. So the story of Tasleema should serve as an example of how rules can be followed, and even be exemplars of Guru Nanak's teachings. But there is an imbalance in this 50 year history of kirtan seva. If you map it out, rule a is definitely not working.

findingmyway · #13 (**permalink**) 30-Nov-2010, 04:52 AM

Navdeep Singh Ji,

Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=33385
It is good to have your input here at SPN. I have glanced at your blog which raises some thought provoking issues so I hope to interact with you more here too

On the whole, I agree with much of what you say. However, there are some thoughts that have crossed my mind as I read your posts.

- You place much emphasis on the the fact that Bhai Laal Ji is a descendant of Bhai Mardana. Surely this encourages an elitist attitude that you are accusing amritdharis of? My sister and I are very very different people. The fact we are descendants of the same person means nothing when you judge our abilities and personalities. Sikhi places importance on the person and their deeds rather than their descent (hence rejection of the caste system).
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=33385

- Bhai Mardana was born into a Muslim family but after becoming Guru Nanak Dev Ji's companion can you really say he was still a Muslim as he was practicing a Sikh way of life? In the same way we don't call Guru Nanak Dev Ji a Hindu even though he was born into a Hindu family.

- Tasleema Langoo has proved herself to be devoted to Sikh kirtan and I commend her for that. However, can that really be said of other non-Sikh kirtanees? How can you be sure that they aren't there just for the money or to purposefully distort the messages of gurbani?

- How can you be sure that monay Sikhs aren't Hindus looking to bring Sikhi into the fold (as many Hindus wont accept that Sikhism is a separate belief system)?

I am not defending the status quo as there are many things I am unhappy about but these are thoughts that I have been mulling over and would be interested on your take.
Regards,
Jasleen