Publications

Turn of the century – Sikh concerns and responses

Editor’s Note
BIRENDRA KAUR
I took upon myself to compile, in this volume, the articles written by Dr Kharak Singh ji that address various contemporary issues concerning the Sikh Panth in particular and the State of Punjab in general, under the author’s supervision. But before this publication was ready for the press, Dr Kharak Singh ji departed for his Divine Abode on 6th August, 2008. As such, I have been deprived of the guidance and support of my patron saint that I had so much counted on for completing this task in a perfect manner. I hope the readers will keep this in mind while going through the text.
These articles comprise mainly the editorials of the journal, Abstracts of Sikh Studies (AOSS) of the Institute of Sikh Studies (IOSS) along with some other write-ups contributed towards various seminars and publications of the same. Appearing over a span of almost the last two decades, these highlight the tumultuous times that the Panth has passed through, courtesy the numerous burning issues that confronted and adversely affected the same during this period. The conflicting views and variant approaches of the globally dispersed Sikh sangats and their organizations towards these issues have been resulting in chaos-like situations. Most of the times, these have led to clear-cut divisions amongst the Sikhs as acommunity. Dr Kharak Singh was the person who always tried to bring about rapprochement amongst the Sikh sections holding divergent views by proposing the most appropriate and righteous course of action, in line with gurmat, after sincere, thorough contemplation and deliberation.
Dr Kharak Singh’s sole desire, closest to his heart, was unity and charhdi kala of the Panth. His honesty of purpose, as a Sikh intellectual, is undisputed the world over, and so is his forthrightness to call a spade a spade. Thus, his analytical viewpoints expressed in these articles regarding various issues that have a bearing on the Panth, be these political, religious, educational, legal and/or social, are extremely valuable. These not only offer suggestions for sorting out the controversies amicably, but also offer guidelines for progress of the Sikh community on the world stage.
While Dr Kharak Singh had been consistently expressing his views through speeches and writings, he had also been working diligently and round the clock to achieve his targets. His convictions, based on logic and enduring Sikh ideology, were clear, and he had the strength to execute these. He was one of the founder members of the Institute of Sikh Studies, and was often referred to as its ‘heart and soul.’ This Institute has made a mark at the international level by rebutting the disinformation being spread by certain vested interests regarding the Sikh History and Sikh Faith.
Dr Kharak Singh had the will and determination to put into operation his beliefs and vision. He was lately whole-heartedly engaged in giving a practical shape to the Guru’s doctrine of Guru Granth – Guru Panth, as it may become applicable in this day and age. He, along with his dedicated team-members of national and international repute, have founded the International Sikh Confederation — A Body that strives to bring all the Panthic organizations under one roof. As such, it provides a platform for resolving the contemporary controversial Panthic issues as well as those that may arise in the future. It will also go a long way in securing for the Panth its rightful identity – as a people, who believe that ‘mankind is one race’ and who are ‘dedicated to the welfare of all.’
Born on the 12th November 1922, Dr Kharak Singh possessed a rare amalgam of pristine qualities of head and heart. A topper and a scholarship holder throughout, Dr Kharak Singh’s name stands on the Board of Honour of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Khalsa High School, Baba Bakala, Distt Amritsar, Punjab, India. After obtaining his Masters in Agronomy from Solan University, Punjab (now in HP), in 1952, he obtained another Masters and a Doctorate Degree in Agriculture Economics, in a record time, from Ohio State University, USA. On account of his qualifications and expertise, his services were sought not only by Punjab and other states of India, but also by many other countries of the world: He served as Lecturer, Punjab Agriculture College, Ludhiana; Jt Director, Directorate of Agriculture, Punjab and Haryana, Chandigarh; Crop Development Officer, Desert Development Board, Rajasthan; Managing Director, State Farms Corporation of India, New Delhi; and also as Agriculture Production Economist, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), United Nations, in various countries of Africa and the Middle East, as well as at its Headquarters in Rome. After seeking premature retirement from the FAO, he dedicated himself completely to the cause of the Guru, as he had nurtured a desire all along to contribute his daswandh for this objective, not only in terms of money but also time. International exposure in service as well as academics coupled with the intense intent to serve the cause of the Guru formed the perfect foundation for his lofty mission. Many other panthdardis, inspired by his qualities of wisdom and vision, clarity and brevity, nobility and humility, genius and genuineness, joined hands with him. His advice was sought by various organisations, as it was common belief that it emanates from a pure, unadulterated, unbiased mind, absolutely committed to the Panth.
Dr Kharak Singh has written the latest three articles from the hospital bed. Even as he became increasingly weak on account of a recent terminal ailment, the only issues that exercised his mind were the contemporary Panthic issues. Following a surgery in the recent past, the first words he uttered in the Recovery Room before gaining full consciousness, in a state of semi-consciousness were, “If, by the Grace of Waheguru, I have survived then I am destined to do more sewa.” To him, his very existence was synonymous with sewa.
The merit of the views of such a devout Sikh of this intellectual stature is obvious. Dr Kharak Singh has voiced his crystallized views very powerfully in these well-researched articles, without mincing words. The importance of these cannot be over-emphasised; these are, in fact, pearls of wisdom. In order that these views may reach the masses to enable them to form informed opinions on matters that concern their own future as a community, I experienced a sense of duty to compile these in the form of a book.
I have, therefore, sincerely reproduced these articles in the present volume; a few have been grouped together to aviod repetition.
Blessed are those on whom Waheguru entrusts noble responsibilities, and also gives them the competence to carry these out. Blessed, thus, was Dr Kharak Singh, who had been chosen by the Almighty for participating so significantly in the service of the Panth in particular and humanity at large.

Fortunate am I to be the daughter of such a gurmukh.

10th October, 2008