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Conversation about this article
1: Baldev Singh (Bradford, United Kingdom), June 29, 2012, 10:24 AM.
In Sikhi, the unity we need to strive for at all times is our personal and spiritual unity with the Guru's teachings ... the rest follows naturally.
2: Hardeep Kaur (Canada), June 30, 2012, 2:21 AM.
I think you're right ... I'm one of those people who use the lack of unity as an excuse. This article has made me think a lot deeper. Thank you for sharing this :)
3: Sukhvinder Singh (Walsall, United Kingdom), July 04, 2012, 8:49 AM.
I totally agree. We are obsessed with 'Unity,' but yet cannot explain what we mean. The strength of Sikhi is in its diversity, but with all owing allegiance to Guru Granth Sahib. In the UK and working with organisations throughout the world we have achieved unity by working together on common issues and each respective organisation using their resources to lobby on that issue with a common purpose and goal, yet keeping their organisational identity. For example, the Professor Devinderpal Singh Bhullar case, the case of the Sikh 'hijackers' in Switzerland, Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana case,the Dastaar and airport issue, wearing of the 5Ks, etc.
4: Sangat Singh (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), June 07, 2014, 5:03 AM.
Before we fix these minor problems, let's have some practice and start with an average home. The usual refrain when you have company of dear friends and relatives visiting you: "Can you please help and tell my dear husband that he eats and drinks too much? I keep telling him this is bad for his health." Or, "Please tell my wife she is too historical. She remembers all my past mistakes including date, time and place, and, god forbid when she is angry it starts global warming." We will come to kids later on. When you have sorted these minor problems, please train your guns to recent happenings. Two factions went to war in Patna Sahib a while ago, and then, a few days ago, a similar scene in Amritsar when kirpans were freely used. Yes, what's that about the 'unity' thing?
5: Harpal Singh (Sydney, Australia), June 07, 2014, 11:04 PM.
What a wonderful and inspiring read. In addition and as an extension to what Sher Singh has written above about supporting: We need to respect, adequately remunerate our Granthi Singhs and encourage them to instill Guru's message in our gurdwaras, rather than relegating them to mere 'hired help' for the incumbent gurdwara management commitee. We should contribute so that scholars of our faith are well looked after. We should divert most (if not all) of the money that we put in gurdwara golaks towards what Sher Singh is pointing to above. Given the spreading cancer of gurdwara mis-managment, given them our total daswandh is no less than adding fuel to fire.
6: Jasbir Singh (Chandigarh, Punjab), June 08, 2014, 2:57 AM.
Thanks for a gentle reminder and by republishing. If only we can understand the gift of 'kirpan' and not flash it against each other. I guess it will involve civility. Can we all be civil?
7: H. Kaur (Canada), June 08, 2014, 11:22 PM.
This is very true. Thanks.
8: Loveleen Singh Saggi (India), June 09, 2014, 2:35 AM.
"Sab Sikhan ko hukam hai Guru manyo Granth" -- When the calling is from the One Guru, it conveys clearly that we are one and we will obey Him.
9: Brig Nawab Singh Heer - Retd (Canada), July 02, 2018, 12:44 PM.
An excellent write up, Sher Singh ji. I have two points to add: One, if we all totally and truly align to Guru Garath Sahib's teachings we will always be united. Two, I will cite one example - recently one group came to a friend of mine who is into media in the Greater Toronto Area ('GTA'). They requested him to use his media forum to give a call to community to boycott Bhai Dhadrianwala who was to visit the GTA. My friend advised them not to do it. They were adamant and had some grievance against the visiting Bhaiji. My friend humbly suggested that they should go back and think about it, then take a Hukamnamah from Guru Granth Sahib. Then come and convey whatever Guru dictates ... he would then entertain their request. Next day when a jatha of 25 came to my friend's house I happened to be visiting him as well. Those humble Sikhs informed my friend very honestly that the Hukamnamah advised them not to oppose anyone visiting the town. They were wise people who with the guidance of the Hukamnamah avoided unwarranted opposition. I am no real fan of any Bhaiji, but I am against any unwanted controversy. I find that if we follow Guru truly, He always shows the way. So let us truly UNITE under HIS guidance.
10: Avtar Singh (India), July 02, 2018, 12:51 PM.
I agree with S. Harpal ji when he says: "Given the spreading cancer of gurdwara mismanagement, giving them our total daswandh is no less than adding fuel to fire." Sardar T Sher Singh ji, I would request you that with various resources at your command, please highlight different areas of unity: Advocacy groups, Sevak jathas helping humanity, war victims, other helping units working across the countries so that the Sikhs and others are able to donate daswands to these groups rather than them donating blindly by putting all of their daswandhs into golaks. Many will come forward if they are ensured that their daswandh is going to the right place and can see the result of their work. Today, for example, I can see the good work being done by a Sikh agency helping the Sikhs of Shillong in north east India. They arranged a group of good advocates from Delhi, and are producing solid results.
11: Ari Singh (Burgas, Bulgaria), July 03, 2018, 11:37 AM.
Unity is a very elusive thing for most communities. Gurdwaras are nuclei of the Sikh community yet we cannot manage them to their full potential as community centres. We have no 'unity' in the popular sense of the word. Neither does anyone else. We fought and died for the British Empire. We could have been the rulers if we had unity.
12: Antarang Kumar (India), July 16, 2018, 7:07 AM.
What a wonderful article this was. Each word in it had absolute truth in it. Today's world is faking unity. Really fascinated by the idea: "Are you united within your family, at home? Do each one of you see eye to eye? Do all of your friends and loved ones even vote for the same political party? Do you know of any group that does?" .... Indeed, these are the parameters of validating unity. Amazing write-up! An eye-opener.