Dr Kharak Singh, who passed away last year this day (6th August 2008), was an agricultural scientist par excellence; a brilliant scholar of Sikhism, a Sikh thinker, visionary, an ideologue and a Sikh savant; a founder of institutions and organizations; a dedicated and generous Sikh philanthropist; and an ideal, selfless Sikh leader and a trailblazer, all rolled into one.  After having excelled in his chosen professional field of agriculture at the state, national and international level, and after serving the Food and Agriculture organization (FAO) of the United Nations as an expert in several countries of the world for about fourteen years, he took a voluntary retirement from his lucrative international assignment to work for laying down the contours/parameters of a paradigm for the resurgence of Sikh society and its institutions.  Being a devout Sikh, well versed and well grounded in the fundamentals of Sikh philosophy and Sikh ethos, he set upon the task of providing a proper perspective to the emerging field of Sikh studies.  In his editorial writings of his brainchild Sikh journal Abstracts of Sikh Studies under the aegis of Institute of Sikh Studies, he dwelt upon many crucial issues and aspects of Sikh polity; seminal Sikh institutions, such as the Akal Takht, the SGPC; All India Sikh Gurdwaras Act; the Sikh calendar; Dasam Granth; Guru Granth and Guru Panth; education of the Sikhs specially its rural segment; the disadvantaged Sikh groups such as the nomadic groups Sikligars and Vanjaras; the problems and challenges confronting the Sikh diaspora; apostasy among the Sikhs; content and quality of religious instruction and preaching; and Standard English translation of Guru Granth Sahib, to mention a few.  In each editorial, he would discuss and analyze the taken-up issue threadbare, suggest a well-considered, crystallized, feasible solution and leave it open for the readers to debate and respond.  He adopted a similar approach of discussion, debate and consensus during the countless seminars, which he organized on vital Sikh issues all over the globe.

Understanding a problem in the proper Sikh perspective, accommodating the divergent views and bringing about a consensus based on majority and objectivity was Dr Kharak Singh’s forte.  That is why he always carried the house with him.  As for his integrity and selfless service to the Sikh cause, he was made a member of Dharma Parchar Committee by the SGPC, where he was instrumental in bringing about many projects of far reaching consequence.

Among his latest achievements was the undertaking of a five-volume Sikh history The Sikhs and Their Religion with Dr Kirpal Singh as co-editor, the SGPC-sponsored project, to present the Sikh history from a proper Sikh perspective, rebutting and removing the many distortions and aberrations in the Sikh history written earlier by Persian, Muslim, British and even other Indian historians.  Unfortunately, only the first volume could be completed during his lifetime, the second and the third volume being under print.  He, as an editor, was always at pains that each historical event in Sikh history was factually correct, dispassionately appraised/evaluated, objectively presented, and drew proper inferences and conclusions.

Another project that occupied his utmost attention was for the publication of a standard translation in English of Guru Granth Sahib, something of the order of the authorized version of the holy Bible, under the seal and approval of SGPC and the Akal Takht.  He was painfully aware of the several variations and different interpretations of the original text in the available translated versions so far.  Further distortions and aberrations in translation and interpretations were creeping in as more and more scholars were translating this sacred scripture of the Sikhs in several other regional Indian and foreign languages from the previous, differing from each other, translations in English.  According the topmost priority to this task, he proposed the constitution of a taskforce of eminent Sikh scholars well versed both in Gurbani as well as English to prepare an authentic and objective version of English translation based on a critical evaluation of earlier versions and making amendments wherever necessary.  He impressed upon both the SGPC and DSGMC to undertake such a project and bring out at least the first volume comprising the first three hundred pages by the tercentenary of the guruship, Gurta Gaddi Divas of Guru Granth Sahib.  SGPC had accepted this proposal, constituted a committee to undertake this project, but the work could not be started during Dr Kharak Singh’s lifetime.  It is expected to be launched soon to fulfill this very fundamental and vital need of the times.

Another most compelling issue that engaged Dr Kharak Singh’s attention was the constitution of a world Sikh organization which could deal with the several religious, social, political, cultural and legal issues confronting the Sikhs, now settled all over the globe.  In the absence of an All India Gurdwaras Body, and role and jurisdiction of SGPC being limited to a very small area, there is an urgent need for a world-level organization, which could deal effectively with the emerging challenges and problems confronting the Sikhs the world over.  After holding discussions and deliberations with enlightened members of the Sikh community in private as well as during several seminars, he was successful in finally drawing up its constitution and launching this world-level organization, International Sikh Confederation (ISC), with its temporary headquarters at the Kendri Singh Sabha premises on Madhya Marg, Chandigarh.  Among its important functions and duties is the constitution of five advisory councils, one each related to education, and economic, legal, religious and media coverage affairs, with each council consisting of professional experts from respective fields and working for resolving of conflicts and challenges in each area.  All the prominent Sikh organizations, institutions, gurdwaras and individuals are to be represented on this body on the basis of their strength and area of their operation, and its chapters are to be opened in all the major towns of Punjab, India and the world.

This unique organization has already been constituted and is inching its way towards progress with an eminent educationist and economist, Dr Sardara Singh Johl as Convener, after the demise of Dr Kharak Singh.  Among its tallest aims is the building up of a one billion dollar education fund on the lines of a Jewish education fund, so that no Sikh child should remain deprived of education for want of means.  He was the first to make a personal donation to this fund and subsequently his family donated again, in his memory.  As a result of this, a fund, Guru Nanak Education Fund (GNEF), has come into being and many deserving students have already benefited from it.  Two coaching centers for the rural students have also been funded from this Fund.  Thus, a trickle has the potential of becoming a torrent, given the zeal of his camp followers and the Sikh propensity to donate to religious causes.

Such was the vision, foresight, and dedication of Dr Kharak Singh.  He was a visionary and an ideologue as well as a relentless practitioner of what he visualized and planned.  Being suave, persuasive leader of men, he had the charisma of leading others on his chosen path.  As for his integrity and selfless dedication to the Sikh cause, very few could excel him in generosity and philanthropy.  Such was the strength of his character and commitment to the welfare of the Sikhs that one of his close associates, a distinguished dairy scientist and founder of Verka Dairy products, Dr Gurbhagwant Singh donated his lifetime savings of more than half a crore to the Institute of Sikh Studies, an institution that Dr Kharak Singh had nurtured with zeal and commitment.  It is men like Dr Kharak Singh who inspire others in building institutions devoted to the cause of public welfare.  They are trendsetters and trailblazers.  One is reminded of H. W. Longfellow’s immortal lines when such a colossus among men passes away:

“Lives of great men remind us
            We can make our lives sublime

            And departing, leave behind us

            Footsteps on the sands of time.”

To present his works and views, and promote the projects undertaken and envisaged by Dr Kharak Singh, a website www.drkharaksingh.com has been launched.  His views have also been compiled in Turn of the Century – Sikh Concerns and Responses, published by Singh Brothers, Amritsar.

Kulwant Singh
PES1(retd)
# 732, Ph 3B1, Mohali
Mob:  9815047866