Books
The Reflective Pen
A Book Review by GURPAL SINGH BHULLER
SIKHS TODAY - IDEAS & OPINIONS, by I.J. Singh, Ethnic Island, USA, 2012.
It takes an astute and daring man to take a caustic view of a faith that he loves.
Dr. I J Singh's latest book, "Sikhs Today - Ideas & Opinions," manages to do that in his trademark forthright fashion, although he does not go far enough.
To put this into context, I.J. Singh has been in the US for about 52 years. He arrived here in 1960, long before the struggles of 1982-88 and the split of the state of Punjab into Haryana and Himachal Pradesh and a diminished Punjab. The Sikhs had prominence in the armed forces, in agriculture and the state was one of the most progressive in India.
Fast forward to 2013, where a truncated Punjab is led by a venal and corrupt government, headed by a Chief Minister who has institutionalized nepotism, a Sikh religious hierarchy of political eunuchs and a debased police force being used as a private militia. With no jobs, low incomes and a suffocating atmosphere, the young are leaving in droves - not only to North America, but also to faraway countries like Georgia, Belize and Argentina.
With such deplorable conditions, there is no intellectual discussion of relevant issues, and "dera" leaders call the shots, impotent "jathedars" are manipulated and corruption leads to despicable obscenities. Sadly, some of these habits are creeping into the West - not as a conscious attempt at changing the landscape, but as a rudderless boat drifts into a vast ocean, while other swift ships cut across its path threatening to swamp it – as the author points out in his essay on Nagar Kirtans.
This book of 30 essays and opinion pieces was published in 2012 year and is the fifth in a series that dates to 1994. The author does an excellent job in pointing out these whirlpools where we are in danger of sinking. He tackles issues of different types, some that I would be wary of addressing. These range from some wry points of view ('the world of words') to forceful opinions (on the Delhi pogroms of 1984).
He is fond of pointing out that gurbani does not sanction or condone hypocrisy, malfeasance and living the "easy life". One rather pointed essay deals with the current practice of taking the hukamnama (the 'vaaq') at the end of a Sikh service. He ridicules the practice of confining that to only bout 200 or so shabads in the central pages of the Guru Granth when there are 8000 other verses that can be explored.
He also excoriates the idea of someone else doing paatth as a proxy for another person or entity - akin to the indulgences of the Catholic Church, and calls it the “outsourcing” of our faith. He is knowledgeable about gurbani with frequent thoughtful references to support many of his opinions, trying to see how the teachings of the Gurus can stay relevant to the present time.
Religion and faith do not live in a vacuum. What we know of the traditions of our (and other) faiths is largely by witnessing the acts of those who live the faith. Few of us indulge in scholarly research to learn about other religions – but when we do see a Buddhist monk or a Christian missionary or a Hindu sadhu, we learn a little about their lifestyle and occasionally their thinking.
So what many of us know about Sikhism is from watching and learning from those who practice the faith, or what we see in our gurdwaras. I J Singh is an acute observer of this. He notes the lack of progressive ideas among the religious hierarchy today.
The “Politics of Shunning” looks at the current (and decrepit) institution of the Akal Takht – the author is however rather gentle in his observations, when the politics that pollute it should have been vigorously flayed. He points out the absence of books and published material at sites of prominent gurdwaras in Delhi - where the interest seems to be on collecting money rather than
improving the lot of the congregations.
It is a telling observation. If religion is to survive as a meaningful entity in a dysfunctional world, it will have to show, by deed and not by word, that it cares for the common person and not only for the aesthete, the well-connected or the religious bureaucrat.
His observations on the positive aspects of Sikhi bear repeating, even when he ventures into the realms of "nitnem", of the turban, of conversions and weddings when there are couples of different faiths. The work of young Sikh activists and new thinkers in USA and Canada is acknowledged with appreciation but with oblique references to those entrenched in power. I found the essay on 'Kings and Masters' to be very insightful, as also the one on the cultivation of public intellectuals.
How will we handle the questions that he raises?
The last chapter is on the Zafarnamah. With the current situation in Punjab today, what does one do in the face of unremitting avarice?
This is the importance of such incisive introspection. We can only fill the pot holes in the grand highway of Sikhi if we know where they are. I J Singh, in his studious and erudite way, shows where those potholes are. It will be up to us to fill them and then stand guard to make sure no one digs up the road again. Each one of us (to quote Mohandas Gandhi) will have to be the change that we want to be.
There are some oversights and deficiencies. The book tends to be "America-centric”. The Tenth Amendment of the American Constitution is a stretch to be included here and issues in the UK and Canada are not mentioned. This is a personal collection of writings, after all.
Also, it would have been very illuminating if the original gurbani quotes had been included (perhaps as footnotes). And in my advancing age, a larger font size would have been better.
But that should not take away from the merits of this superb little book. It is a deep and passionate commentary on our faith. It reflects on our current situation and asks “How do we do justice to what the Gurus preached?” It is only by sorting through such issues will we know where and how we will reach our goals.
Perhaps someone in Punjab may read it and feel a pang of conscience. But for all those who live out in the West, this little volume is one I strongly urge to read, re-read, and to reflect on where we are, and how we need to change.
January 19, 2013
Conversation about this article
1: Bhai Harbans Lal (Dallas, Texas, USA), January 19, 2013, 11:28 AM.
I agree with every word you wrote, Gurpal ji, to recommend IJ Singh's new book. It is recommended for every Sikh, young and old, commoner or manager of any Sikh institution.
2: Manjit Dhillon (Chester, Virginia, USA), January 20, 2013, 7:56 AM.
Great review. Will try to read the book this year. The review definitely raises enough questions to encourage me to read the whole commentary.
3: Sangat Singh (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), January 20, 2013, 8:50 AM.
I am certainly looking forward to reading Dr. I.J. Singh's latest offering. Looking at the review, there are indeed a number of uncomfortable truths to be addressed. None of the other religions are exempt from this malady either. I remember when someone lamented to Dr. Bhai Jodh Singh ji that Sikhi was in danger - the usual political slogan. Bhai Jodh Singh Ji asked him to meet him at 4 am in old Delhi, and then took him to nearby Jama Masjid. The latter's doors were still locked. Then he took him to the Hindu Temple in Chandni Chowk. There too the doors were closed and not yet open for 'business'. Then they went to Gurdwara Sis Ganj where the seva was in full swing. The Gurdwara Hall was full with the sangat. Sikhi in danger? Bhai Sahib asked.
4: Harinderjit Singh (Augusta, Georgia, USA), January 20, 2013, 11:37 PM.
This is an excellent review of Dr IJ Singh's latest book. He is always very precise and to the point, especially for those born and raised in the US and Canada. This book should be read by all, kids and adults, and encouraged within our gurdwara sangats as well. Will definitely read this book.
5: Gurjender Singh (Maryland, USA), January 22, 2013, 11:41 AM.
Exeellent review of I J Singh's new book. But most of it does not go into the SGPC, which is controlling all our maryada, etc. Every one agrees with the Dr. I J Singh's thoughts, but they are not getting to the crux of the problem, the main source of our ills.