Indian Supreme Court involves Sikhs in Hindu-Muslim Ayudhia Babri Masjad dispute – Sikhi described as CULT

By Gurmukh Singh | OPINION |

* A mischievous Hindutva move to cause Sikh-Muslim friction to counter the Kartarpur Corridor friendship link between the two communities.

* If Guru Nanak Sahib went to Ayudhia, He also went to Mecca to condemn ritualism and to preach ONE Creator of all & everywhere.

* In the 550th Parkash year of Guru Nanak Sahib, the judges of the Supreme Court of India have attempted to reduce a major revolutionary world religion of Guru Nanak Sahib to an idol and fire worshipping cult of Hinduism!

* The Cambridge English dictionary describes a cult as &ldquoa religious group, often living together, whose beliefs are considered extreme or strange by many people&rdquo.

Compare that definition with the global Sikh community. According to one news report, Neena Singh, a Delhi lawyer, has given notice to the Supreme Court registrar that she and a group of Sikh lawyers will be submitting a representation to the Chief Justice of India soon, asking for a correction of the portion of the judgment that refers to Sikhism as a cult. It is derogatory and goes against all that Sikhism stands for. The judges should have rebuked the witness for using such language against a peaceful and independent religion like ours. The community is shocked and hurt by the false submissions of the witness and the judgment of the Supreme Court.

The Indian Supreme Court judgement on 10th November 2019 has diminished the standing of this great institution as the guardian of the Indian Constitution. Yet, no disrespect is intended by the Sikhs towards the institute itself. As a parallel example, the Sikhs have the highest respect for their own great Institutions like Sri Akal Takht Sahib and other Takhts, but they have not hesitated to question the actions of those who run them, sometimes, under political influence. In the Ayudhia Babri Masjad judgment, the question of the political impartiality of the judges, who must have known something about the basics of Sikhi, does arise.

This is a short-sighted move by Hindutva extremists because it has united the Sikh intelligentsia in India and abroad in their condemnation of the 1042 page judgment. By involving Sikhs in this dispute between Hindus and the Muslims, the learned judges have knowingly or unwittingly done the bidding of Hindutva agencies including BJP Indian politicians in power.

Sikhi condemns the caste system, men-women inequality, worship of idols, gods/goddesses, elements like fire, pilgrimage as a ritual, fasts etc – in fact much of what the basics of Hinduism stand for. Therefore, the continual Sikh assertion from the times Guru Nanak Sahib and repeated by great Sikh scholars like Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha’s HUM HINDU NAHI.

Reputable Sikh historiographers have questioned the antiquity, authenticity and anti-Sikhi agenda of Janam Sakhis written by Udasi/Nirmala writers.

Until recently, few Sikhs, if any, had heard of someone called Rajinder Singh Nirala. He was used by the Hindutva elements as an expert Sikh witness. The judges did not bother to question his credentials nor consult Sikh religious authorities like Sri Akal Takht Sahib. Any of the dozens of Sikh scholars of international repute could have been consulted by the Supreme Court.

This case amply illustrates the Hindutva challenges faced by the Sikhi of Guru Nanak-Guru Gobind Singh today.

Gurmukh Singh OBE, a retired UK senior civil servant, chairs the Advisory Board of The Sikh Missionary Society UK. Email: sewauk2005@yahoo.co.uk. The article appeared here.

* This is the opinion of the writer, organisation or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Asia Samachar.

RELATED STORY:

Guru Nanak’s Revolution (Asia Samachar, 6 Nov 2019)

Annexation of Jammu & Kashmir and the unfolding Hindutva Imperial Project (Asia Samachar, 21 Aug 2019)