Sikh Clergy Feeling Chained, Muffled (So Says Patna Sahib Iqbal Singh)

Narayanjot Kaur · #1 (**permalink**) 08-Feb-2010, 06:36 AM

`Sikh clergy feeling chained, muffled'

`Sikh clergy feeling chained, muffled'

PATNA, NOV 19: In perhaps the strongest-ever indictment of the Akali Dal government by the Sikh religious leadership, the Jathedar of Takht Sri Patna Sahib, Iqbal Singh, has criticised the polity -- especially Akali Dal president and Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal -- for its insistence on keeping tight controls over religious matters.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/hard-talk/29162-sikh-clergy-feeling-chained-muffled-so.html

This, he says, has left the clergy feeling ``chained and muffled''. Takht Sri Patna Sahib, the birthplace of tenth Sikh Guru Gobind Singh, is one of the five top temporal seats of the community whose jathedars wield undefined wide-ranging powers within the community. ``I feel gagged and bound. I cannot say just about anything on my own. At times, I find it so hard to speak the truth. As far as I know, all the jathedars are in the same position. One has to ask Badal for everything,'' Iqbal Singh told The Indian Express in an exclusive interview at his residence here recently.

When asked specifically whether this was true of the Akal Takht jathedar too, Iqbal Singh said: ``The Akal Takht jathedar cannot issue any hukumnama without talking to Badal. Such is the situation in politics today.''

He said the Sikh gurus had made sacrifices to protect Hindus from a tyranical Mughal regime but today, the RSS and some other radical organisations wanted to destroy the Sikh identity by assimilating the community with Hinduism.

Unfortunately, Badal is too afraid to take on the RSS for fear of losing the power which he enjoys thanks to the BJP's support,'' the Jathedar, who recently took over the top cleric's office, said.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=29162

He spoke about corruption, saying: ``Everyone knows gurdwara funds are often misused but what is being done about it? Practically nothing.''

The corrective measure, he said, would be for all members of the SGPC to declare their assets and income when they file their nominations to get elected to the premier Sikh gurdwara management body.

Asked about the controversy over the Dasam Granth whose authorship is a matter of contention between different groups of Sikh intellectuals, the jathedar said the real reason was that the RSS wanted to misinterpret the Dasam Granth. ``Some Sikh scholars thought that the RSS' attempt can best be tackled by invalidating the Dasam Granth itself, but it is not right,'' he said. Regualr recitations from Dasam Granth are a daily feature at Takht Sri Patna Sahib and Takht Sri Huzoor Sahib in Nanded (Maharashtra).

kee_jaana_mein_kaun · #2 (**permalink**) 08-Feb-2010, 07:52 AM

But I just checked this is a very old statement though significant even today.
It is dated November 20,2000 but dont know whether the Jathedar has the same stance even today or has succumbed to badal by now after 9 years ?

kee_jaana_mein_kaun · #3 (**permalink**) 08-Feb-2010, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Narayanjot Kaur

`Sikh clergy feeling chained, muffled'

`Sikh clergy feeling chained, muffled'

PATNA, NOV 19: In perhaps the strongest-ever indictment of the Akali Dal government by the Sikh religious leadership, the Jathedar of Takht Sri Patna Sahib, Iqbal Singh, has criticised the polity -- especially Akali Dal president and Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal -- for its insistence on keeping tight controls over religious matters.

This, he says, has left the clergy feeling ``chained and muffled''. Takht Sri Patna Sahib, the birthplace of tenth Sikh Guru Gobind Singh, is one of the five top temporal seats of the community whose jathedars wield undefined wide-ranging powers within the community. ``I feel gagged and bound. I cannot say just about anything on my own. At times, I find it so hard to speak the truth. As far as I know, all the jathedars are in the same position. One has to ask Badal for everything,'' Iqbal Singh told The Indian Express in an exclusive interview at his residence here recently.

When asked specifically whether this was true of the Akal Takht jathedar too, Iqbal Singh said: ``The Akal Takht jathedar cannot issue any hukumnama without talking to Badal. Such is the situation in politics today.''

He said the Sikh gurus had made sacrifices to protect Hindus from a tyranical Mughal regime but today, the RSS and some other radical organisations wanted to destroy the Sikh identity by assimilating the community with Hinduism.

Unfortunately, Badal is too afraid to take on the RSS for fear of losing the power which he enjoys thanks to the BJP's support,'' the Jathedar, who recently took over the top cleric's office, said.

He spoke about corruption, saying: ``Everyone knows gurdwara funds are often misused but what is being done about it? Practically nothing.''

The corrective measure, he said, would be for all members of the SGPC to declare their assets and income when they file their nominations to get elected to the premier Sikh gurdwara management body.

Asked about the controversy over the Dasam Granth whose authorship is a matter of contention between different groups of Sikh intellectuals, the jathedar said the real reason was that the RSS wanted to misinterpret the Dasam Granth. ``Some Sikh scholars thought that the RSS' attempt can best be tackled by invalidating the Dasam Granth itself, but it is not right,'' he said. Regualr recitations from Dasam Granth are a daily feature at Takht Sri Patna Sahib and Takht Sri Huzoor Sahib in Nanded (Maharashtra).

The above in red is a very significant statement and that too from a Takht Jathedar confirms the Sikh commuinity's apprehensions.The use of words like "destroy","assimilating" show the grave and serious danger these RSS forces pose for Sikhism.

Narayanjot Kaur · #4 (**permalink**) 08-Feb-2010, 08:35 AM

kee_jaana_mein__kaun ji

The statement is significant. The man is a known bigamist, who was instrumental in the excommunication of Professor Darshan Singh, last year, 2008, from Patna Sahib sangat. He is a buffoon. What derawale sentiments has he himself acted on?

I almost burst out laughing when I read this article. No one takes him seriously. Of course RSS is trying to absorb Sikhism, actually not absorb, but destroy it.

Did you ever think that Iqbal Singh would admit it? Ask yourself why he has all of a sudden come to this conclusion! Does Sikhism need him as its spokesman?

Hardip Singh · #5 (**permalink**) 08-Feb-2010, 13:12 PM

Yes,an old news. But this man today is fully hand & gloves with RSS and badal's jethadars. You can check with his recent comments on DG issue and Proff. sahibs excommunication. He did exxactly the reverse what he has said in this news.

Narayanjot Kaur · #6 (**permalink**) 08-Feb-2010, 13:18 PM

Hardip ji

I think that that is what makes the article significant. Jathedar Iqbal Singh is on the record for more flip-flops than a fish.