Nihang Niddar Singh - What is the Controversy?

Randip Singh · #1 (**permalink**) 25-Jan-2009, 17:33 PM

So what is the controversy surrounding this fellow?
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Narayanjot Kaur · #2 (**permalink**) 25-Jan-2009, 21:04 PM

Randip ji

As I said in another thread, this is all emerging in crumbs here and there. I though that you would know more since you are in the UK. The controversies are not about Niddar ji. I have only a theory at this point: Niddar ji got caught up in a wave of controversies and when the book was published he was swamped by a climate of controversy, because he said some things that are not strictly according to rehat. People with "purist" agendas seized the moment to take issue with him publicly. That is my thinking at this time

dalsingh · #3 (**permalink**) 26-Jan-2009, 17:51 PM

I would say the controversy lies in his sanatanist viewing of Sikhism which portrays it as a string off the main Hindu ball. It is no big secret that many people calling themselves Sikh have no problem with this assertion but it is also plainly evident that many people who call themselves Sikh vehemently object to this interpretation, and have been doing so for over a century at least.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/hard-talk/23915-nihang-niddar-singh-what-is-controversy.html

My own personal view is that he may represent a minority view from the panth of old. This view is very different to what mainline Sikhs believe today. There lies the controversy.

Narayanjot Kaur · #4 (**permalink**) 26-Jan-2009, 17:57 PM

dalsingh ji

If the people demanding the apology were themselves mainstream then I would agree with you. Correct my errors of thinking -- but I believe that they are as Randip ji stated in another thread members of sects with themselves distinctive points of view.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=23915
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=23915

Also why is the correction of Niddar associated with his book if it is his practice of Sikhism that is faulty? The book should stand on its scholarly merits not the orientation of the author.

As I said ji-- I am open to correction. This is mystifying.

Narayanjot Kaur · #5 (**permalink**) 26-Jan-2009, 17:59 PM

There is a related discussion at this link Dalsingh ji

Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=23915
http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/questions-and-...-question.html

dalsingh · #6 (**permalink**) 26-Jan-2009, 18:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aad0002

dalsingh ji

If the people demanding the apology were themselves mainstream then I would agree with you. Correct my errors of thinking -- but I believe that they are as Randip ji stated in another thread members of sects with themselves distinctive points of view.

....................................

As I said ji-- I am open to correction. This is mystifying.

One thing that I believe often gets overlooked by Sikhs is the evolution factor. For instance we know that Dasmesh Pita gave out one set of rehat in 1699, but subsequently different jathas, separated from each other under seriously hostile conditions, expanded these. This may well explain why we get variations in rehat marayadas that claim to be from old (such as DDT and nihungs). The other point is that the nihungs from Hazuur Sahib have had a very patchy relationship with their Panjabi brothers and sisters and therefore my have developed their own strain of maryada. Another alternative view is that they actually represent older practices which have since died out in the Panjab.

What we can probably guess is that some Singhs stayed their (Hazuur Sahib) after Guru ji's passing and I think many Singhs went there immediately after the Anglo-Sikh wars as they were being hunted down by the British and their Sikh supporters in the Panjab.

Quote:

Also why is the correction of Niddar associated with his book if it is his practice of Sikhism that is faulty? The book should stand on its scholarly merits not the orientation of the author

Some people are uncomfortable with any scholarly actvity that challenges established wisdom, this could be a justified objection or otherwise.

kds1980 · #7 (**permalink**) 26-Jan-2009, 19:07 PM

What I know about him is That He is not a good guy and He is 7 feet tall

Narayanjot Kaur · #8 (**permalink**) 26-Jan-2009, 19:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kds1980

What I know about him is That He is not a good guy and He is 7 feet tall

kds ji

It is too early for me in the morning to be laughing as hard as I am.

Archived_member7 · #9 (**permalink**) 26-Jan-2009, 23:41 PM

The people to oppose him are from Akhand Kirtani Jatha ...we all know this 'sect' in itself is a mess..playing with the rehit is their favorite past time ...i like their founder Bhai Randhirsinghji ..but not the way things are going at their end ...
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=23915
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=23915

The Nihangs follow Puratan Sikhi...and the AKJ has hijacked their baana..trying to be the modern 'nihangs' ...

The main prob is the islam like mentality of such sects who just find fault with other sects..