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Questions Begging for Answers

T. SHER SINGH

It had taken a long time for the rigid mind-set of our gurdwara committees to get around to accepting the fact that those amongst us who are incapacitated or limited in their movements by age, illness or infirmity, need to be accorded special accommodation in the gurdwaras so that they too remain an active part of the sangat.

It took a few years, but it had reached the point when it had become an accepted practice all-around: those who were wheel-chair bound could now wheel themselves, or be wheeled, into Guru’s presence, pay their obeisance, and then park themselves behind the sangat, at the periphery of the hall, next to benches or low chairs already provided for those who were unable to sit down on the floor cross-legged, because of age, illness or infirmity.

And then, the bomb-shell.

A few days ago, the jathedars of the Akal Takht announced their decree that gurdwaras around the world are not to allow any chairs or benches -- and therefore, wheelchairs -- inside diwan halls. That is, those who cannot sit on the floor, can now only be parked outside the hall. Out of sight.

I have struggled with this news, but not because I’m ambivalent about it; I’m not. I’m quite sure of exactly where I stand on this issue -- and I’m sure most of Sikhdom is with me.

But I’m also deferential to the Akal Takht. It is dear to us, and we have historically turned to it for guidance and leadership since its establishment by Guru Hargobind, the Sixth Master.
 
So am I most respectful of the position and role of the jathedars. The posts have not always been occupied by the best of men, just as those who have been appointed Pope in Rome have, more often than not, disappointed both God and Man.

[This in no way is to suggest that the role of the pope and that of the jathedars are analogous in any manner or to any degree whatsoever. The pope is the highest priest in the Catholic heirarchy. We, on the other hand, have NO priesthood. Our jathedars have NO spiritual authority or role over Sikhs. Period.]

But I’m willing to give them -- alas, once again -- the benefit of the doubt. Not because of who they are, but the positions they hold, and where they sit. As caretakers and custodians of our institutions.

For some reason, I’m reminded of Mark Antony and his address to the grieving crowd gathered around Julius Caesar’s body. I desperately seek inspiration from his words, but particularly invoke his wonderful sense of restraint and self-control.

For the jathedar -- Gyani Gurbachan Singh -- too is an “honourable man; so are they all, all honourable men … ”

Surely, they have thought this one out -- thoroughly. They must know something we do not know, some nugget of wisdom to which we haven’t been privy.

Because we are not gyanis, maybe?

Therefore, I’ll bite my tongue, and hold my torrent of thoughts, and resort to only seeking answers from them.

I have a slew of questions. Answers, any answers, to some or all of them, are urgently needed.

To assuage our concerns.

I address my questions to Gyani Gurbachan Singh, and all the other jathedars who were, or should’ve been, involved in the process. It is their answers that I, nay, the entire Sikh Nation, seek anxiously. And urgently.

To begin with, how did you arrive at this momentous decision?

How long did you study this issue?

What research did you commission prior to making your decision? By whom?

What community submissions did you invite and receive? From whom?

How much do you know about the laws of civilized lands where many of us live, where it is required by the state to give full and easy access to wheelchairs, for example, to all areas and facilities where the public is invited or uses?

Have you obtained exemptions from the respective governments?

If not, who will pay the fines and bear the penalties brought about by the breaking of those laws? Do you have a legal team ready to fly away to far corners to defend your edict? And the funds to reimburse the cost incurred locally, as a result?

Taking the Harmandar Sahib in Amritsar as an example: if wheelchairs are not allowed into the inner sanctuary, then where ARE they allowed? To the threshold of the Harmandar? Can the wheelchairs come all the way down the causeway to the door? Where will they park?

Or do you want them to stay outside, on the parkarma?

Does that mean, once a Sikh loses the use of his knees or legs -- due to age, illness, infirmity, accident, war, or any kind of mishap, he loses the right to pay his/her respects within the Guru’s Darbar?

Does the same hold for every other gurdwara in the world?

Or have you made arrangements for your sevadaars to physically carry those amongst us who have lost personal mobility and/or strength, into the sanctuary? Are they then to be whisked out immediately? Or do you expect the children of those in need of help to do this chore?

Have any of you ever done this with your own loved ones? Will you please give it a try … this week?

Since you have already mandated that all Sikh marriages take place in a gurdwara, does that mean that the elders and the physically-challenged in the family are prohibited from attending the wedding, other than by sitting in the corridor outside … somewhere?

How old are you guys anyway?

Do each of you sit on the floor at home? Sleep on the floor? If you use chairs and sofas and beds, why do you do so?

Is it that you have decreed that Waheguru is only inside a gurdwara, and nowhere else?

Have you read the saakhi of Guru Nanak in Mecca? Do you understand its import?

Don't you have mothers, fathers, grandmothers, grandparents, around? Elderly brothers and sisters? Friends? Are any of them ’birad’ -- that is old or ill or confined to limited mobility? Have you banished them all from the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib? Or do you carry them each, in and out, for a quick darshan? Every day? Once a year? 

Have any of you ever been sick and hospitalized? Have you used a hospital bed or do you bounce down to the floor when doing your nitnem in the hospital? Or do you skip doing nitnem altogether when in hospital?

How about when you’re in an aeroplane, a train, a bus, a car … during a long journey? No nitnem along the way? Or do you stop along the way, pull out a prayer mat, face towards Amritsar, sit down on the floor and do your patth?

*    *   *   *   *

I’ll stop here for now. I and many others may have some more questions later, but first, we eagerly await your answers. Not in weeks, not in months, but in days.

NOT LATER THAN THIS WEEK, PLEASE. Why? Because time is of the essence.

In the meantime, my dear mother will continue to sit on a low chair while doing paatth before the Guru Granth Sahib.

And, more … here’s something you need to know.
 
Last night I was in a gurdwara for a service.

The sangat there was aware of your ‘edict’.

There were over a hundred in the sangat. Over the course of the entire evening, no more than a total of 5 or 6 availed of the benches at the back. Not because they were seeking luxury, but because they could not have stayed in the Guru’s attendance if the furniture had not been specially made available for them. They sat through the whole 3-hour service in deep reverence and contemplation … unlike some of us who are younger and fully ‘able’.

I checked. There are no plans to remove the benches.

*   *   *   *   *

Finally, while you provide us the transparency of your actions, here’s a thought:

Guru Amar Das, the third master, lived to the age of 95 ... having been named Guru at the age of 73. He further entrenched the institutions of langar, pangat and sangat as inspired and initiated by Guru Nanak. Amroo Nithaawaa(n) -- the homeless one -- he was called, before he became Guru.

In proclaiming him the Third Master, Guru Angad, his predecessor, praised his life-work by showering him the following honorifics: “Thou art the Home to the homeless … the Support to those who have no support … the Crutch to those who need a crutch … the source of Respect to those who receive no respect …“

Just wanted to remind you of Him. Lest you forgot … I know your plate is full, and that you have many, many important things to do as jathedars. But …

*   *   *   *   *   *

I will leave it to our readers to ensure that those who need to see and read these questions, indeed get to do so. You have our permission to translate this article into Punjabi, if it is necessary to facilitate the process, and to republish it and/or circulate it wherever and howsoever to pursue our goal for full transparency.

December 2, 2013
 

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