Dhunda’s visit to California results in a week of protests and seminars

FRESNO, California, USA—Kathakar Sarbjeet Singh Dhunda’s visit to several Northern California Gurdwaras sparked a series of protests and seminars.  Dhunda’s programs were disrupted by protesters at two Gurdwaras in Roseville and Fairfield on Wednesday and Thursday.  Consequently, Yuba City’s Tierra Buena Gurdwara Sahib cancelled his program on Friday, fearing protests from the local sangat.  Dhunda was allowed to speak at Gurdwara Singh Sabha in Fresno where he addressed the sangat twice yesterday, April 10.

Dhunda has had a controversial past and has been in the limelight for several reasons due to his questioning of nitnem banis, naam simran, ardas and other Sikh beliefs.  Dhunda had to appear at Sri Akal Takht Sahib in February 2012 where he apologized for his blasphemous remarks against kirtan at Sri Harmandir Sahib during a diwan in Canada.  He had stated that some of the shabads read inside Sri Harmandir Sahib would be found objectionable even by prostitutes.

Along with protests, two seminars were held to inform the Sikh Sangat of critiques of Dhunda’s views, and also to shed light on Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s bani, which has been the center of the controversy regarding Dhunda for the past several years.  The seminars were held in Union City and Fresno on April 9 and 10, and were attended by scholars such as Dr. Harbhajan Singh, Dr. Anurag Singh, Dr. Kamalroop Singh, Dr. Gurinder Singh Mann and Giani Gurpreet Singh.

“It is important to note why we protested against Dhunda.  Bhai Panthpreet Singh came to California recently, and so did Bhai Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale.  Sangat had some objections with both of them, however, both were very willing to sit down with the sangat and discuss,” said Dr. Gurtej Singh, an organizer speaking at the conference in Fresno. “We told Bhai Panthpreet Singh that you have 1430 angs of Guru Granth Sahib for katha, why do you have to touch topics which cause controversies?  However, Sarbjeet Singh Dhunda has refused to sit down with us to discuss the issues.”

Dr. Harbhajan Singh from Punjab University Patiala questioned Sarbjeet Singh Dhunda’s credentials.  “To use the title professor, you have to have completed your doctorate with high honors, written several books and have some credentials to teach at a university.  Sarbjeet Singh Dhunda has done nothing of this.  I fail to understand how he self-bestowed the title of professor to himself?” he said.  Dr. Harbhajan Singh spoke about the importance of naam simran and explained several concepts from Bachittar Natak, Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s autobiography which is part of the Sri Dasam Granth.

The conference in Fresno attracted over 150 attendees, while the one in Union City had a slightly larger count.  However, Sarbjeet Singh Dhunda’s programs at the Gurdwara Singh Sabha in Fresno were packed.   As per Gurdwara committee’s own estimates, close to 2,000 attended his morning program.  The Gurdwara had made adequate security arrangements.  It was announced from the stage throughout the morning and evening programs that anyone trying to disrupt the sangat would be forced out by security.  Several people had trouble getting in and out of the Gurdwara due to parking. 

“I just came here to bring my kids to the Sunday school.  It took an hour just to find parking,” said one of the sangat members at the Singh Sabha Gurdwara Sahib.  “I have several religious family members, although I don’t really practice the religion myself to the same extent. I felt like the Gurdwara Sahib was targeting a particular section of the community – obviously the amritdharis who wear bana.  If my siblings were to come to this Gurdwara today, they likely would not have been allowed inside,” she said.

Gurpreet Singh Mann, the stage secretary of Gurdwara Singh Sabha said, “We invite those who don’t like Sarbjeet Singh Dhunda to come speak with us.  If you don’t agree with his views, you can go out and protest there.  This is the right of everyone living in the United States.  But if you want to sit inside, you should be willing to listen to views of others and then later present your argument.  We are here to celebrate the formation day of Khalsa, I hope we can all sit down and listen today to what Prof. Sarbjeet Singh Dhunda has to say.”

Sarbjeet Singh Dhunda, during his diwan said, “Those who are protesting against me are not questioning their own people and their leaders who are questioning Guru Granth Sahib Ji and the rehit maryada.  There are deras that are questioning current saroop of Guru Granth Sahib, no one is targeting them.  I tell these people, please let us continue doing our work and don’t interfere.”  Dhunda made several references to condemn Sri Dasam Granth throughout his diwan.  While Dhunda was asked to speak about “Khalsa Sajna Divas” he spent most of his time condemning other groups.

Gurdwara Singh Sabha faced a major protest in November 2013, during the city’s “Sikh Awareness Month” when they invited the ex-communicated Ragi, Professor Darshan Singh to speak there.  The invitation led protesters from Fresno and nearby towns to protest outside the Gurdwara for several hours because they were refused entry by the committee.  Similar protests also took place in 2013 outside the Pacific Coast Khalsa Diwan Society of Selma and Caruthers for the same reason.  Since then, the Sikh community has remained somewhat split in the Fresno area.

Prabhdev Singh, a local Sikh activist who is involved with several youth initiatives in Fresno and the Bay Area said, “There is no question over 90% of the things Dhunda says.  In fact, he does a good job at standing up to anti-Gurmat activities.  However, it’s like a double edged sword, when you allow him to address the social evils which he is really good at, he’s also questioning the authenticity of not just Sri Dasam Granth,  but also the rehit maryada, naam simran and amrit sanchaar maryada.  We have already seen how the Gurdwara Sahib in Hayward wanted to change the ardas and hold an amrit sanchaar with just 2 banis.  How can anyone claim to follow Sri Akal Takht Sahib’s rehit maryada, yet question the amrit sanchaar maryada or simran?”

“Protesting doesn’t really set a good example to the people who don’t understand the issues at hand.  Our people are naive, how are they going to understand the complexities of Gurbani?  But when they see other Sikhs protesting, they immediately get turned off.  They stop sending their kids to camps.  There’s no way we can fill the divide in the community if such issues do not stop,” he added.

Giani Pinderpal Singh, a well renowned kathakar who is also currently visiting California, condemned incidents of violence in the presence of Guru Granth Sahib Ji.  “If Guru Nanak Dev Ji or Guru Gobind Singh Ji were seated here, would anyone dare to speak loudly?  [If we do so in the presence of Guru Granth Sahib], it shows that our mind is not willing to accept that Guru Granth Sahib has the same light as other Guru Sahibs.”

Dhunda is scheduled to speak at Gurdwaras in California later this week, while seminars of Sri Dasam Granth will also continue.  After having spent the weekend in California, the seminar speakers will be heading to New York to speak there.  A seminar will also take place over the summer in Vancouver, Canada.  The Khalsa Heritage organization, which organized both seminars this past week, has invited Sarbjeet Singh Dhunda for open debate on April 11 or 12.  “The discussion can take place anytime on April 11 or 12 in Fresno or Selma at any mutually agreed upon place.  We are looking to make this possible at any cost,” posted Khalsa Heritage organization.