The Sikh community is a rare group in the world where individuals like Sarbjit Singh Dhunda and others can attend a 3 year certificate course after grade 10 and become a “professor.” Not only do such individuals claim to be professors of Sikhism, but they also do katha on stages and project the image of a practicing Sikh, all the while rejecting central scriptures of the Sikh faith. Ironically, their katha centers on the practices of dera leaders, who have big titles but poor lifestyles. Meanwhile, bona fide gursikhs like Sant Jarnail Singh ji Khalsa Bhindranwale, Sant Harnaam Singh Ji Rampurkhera wale, Sant Attar Singh Ji Mastuanawale, etc. had a day-to-day life of naam abhyaas and gurbani vichar. They practiced for years, from birth, and still never claimed to be professors, nor sants. Nonetheless, they stood as steadfast defenders of the traditions of gurmat.
People like Dhunda, Kala Afghana, Harjinder Dilgeer, Jeonwala, etc. do not come out of thin air. The people of the past allowed a space for them. Like weeds, they grew in small spaces that were missed by past Gursikhs. They have a space, a time on stage, and they will now have a page in our history books. They have an influence within our community and now, you are in the same position as past gursikhs – looking at the garden of Sikhi. It’s your choice what kind of panth you want and whether you will pull out the weeds before they ruin your garden. As young people, you will inherit the panth that is being developed right now. Either you can shut your eyes, or you can invest your valuable time in researching Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Sri Dasam Granth Sahib ji, Sri Sarbloh Granth Sahib ji, Bhai Gurdas Ji’s bani, Bhai Nand Laal Ji’s bani, and spreading those teachings to others while implementing them also in your own life.
“Aapay beej aapay hee khaao” applies to our individual lives but also to the whole panth. Whatever we sow in the soil of the panth now will grow in the future. Don’t be complacent and don’t ignore your role and responsibility. Make a decision, thinking of the line that Baba Deep Singh Ji drew in the sand before the battle. Where do you stand, and what will be your legacy of seva to the panth at this crucial time when people are preaching from gurdwara stages against gurbani itself?
