Scholars from North America celebrate
inauguration of Charlotte (NC) Gurdwara
* Harbans Lal, PhD., D.Litt (hons), 6415 Amicable Drive, Arlington, TX 76016, USA.
Email: japji@comcast.net
The Sikh sangat and
scholars came from far and near to the national conference organized to
celebrate the 295th anniversary
of the canonization of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, and to dedicate the new Gurdwara
in Charlotte, North Caroline.
The occasion for the
celebration was called National Guru Gaddi Divas. On this day of October 20, in
1708, the Sikhs’ Holy Scripture Guru Granth was canonized as holy Scripture and
the last Eternal Light for the faith. Holy Guru Granth incorporates the
teachings of 36 holy leaders of all religions of Indian sub-continent. The main
theme of this event was to deliberate and share Sikhism’s universal message. The celebrations
consisted of a symposium, a number of religious ceremonies, exhibits of Sikh
literature, paintings, videos and documentaries on Sikhism.
The kirtan darbar
(singing of hymns in classical Indian raags) opened the celebration on
Friday. Renowned ragees like Bhai Baldeep Singh (New Delhi), Bhai
Sukhwinder Singh Namdhari (England) and Raja Mrigindra Singh (New York) sang
the holy hymns. The function was the first one held in the newly inaugurated
Gurdwara of the Sikh Heritage Society of Greater Charlotte.
Symposium
on Guru Granth
The Symposium on the teachings
of Guru Granth celebrated the 295th Anniversary of
the Canonization of Guru Granth as the Eternal Guru of the Sikhs. It was a
forerunner of the Tercentennial Celebration 2008.
The symposium began with a
welcome address by the President of the Sikh Heritage Society of Greater
Charlotte. Dr. Surinderpal Singh Mac, an orthopedic surgeon, who welcomed the
guests, and read a message of good wishes from the Hon’ble Sr. Tarlochan Singh,
Chairman of the India Minority Commission, New Delhi.
Dr. Harbans Lal (Arlington,
Texas), President of the Academy of Guru Granth Studies, outlined the need and
scope of the proposed Sikh Research Institute in Charlotte. He stressed the
need for collecting data bases of Sikh theology and history. These data will
provide materials for liturgy and meet a crucial educational need for education
of Sikh clerics. It will also prepare the leadership for the community in the
new ‘global village.’
Dr. Narinder Singh Kapany (San
Francisco), CEO of the Sikh Foundation, formally inaugurated the research
institute. The institute will be presently housed in the new Gurdwara facility
until it has its physical facilities. When in operation, it will house a
research library, seminary and facility for visiting scholars.
Dr. Devinder Singh Chahal
(Montreal), President of the Institute of Understanding Sikhism and editor of
the research Journal Understanding Sikhism; chaired the first session.
Rajinderjit Kaur (New York), an activist in many interfaith organizations,
presented criteria that made the Guru Granth as the first interfaith scripture
in religious history. Therein 36 holy men contributed hymns, in 22 languages
and over a hundred dialects, the scripture for first time addressed all
humanity as one family of divine father. Guru Granth philosophy is
all-inclusive and a light for people of diverse faiths.
Raja Mrigindra Singh (New
York), spoke on contributions of Sufi Muslims and Hindus holy men in Sri Guru
Granth Sahib. He proposed that Sikhs should name their religion as the faith of
the Guru as it was based upon the teachings of the Guru Granth which has a
wider universal appeal.
Dr. Amarjit Singh (Buffalo,
NY), an activist in Sikh youth programs, spoke on human sufferings as seen in
the eyes of the Guru Granth teachings. Sickness of mind becomes a cause of body
illness. Treatment of human sufferings will come from healing of the mind and
spirit.
Dr. Harbans Lal spoke on “one
spirit one word” as a Guru Granth theology common with many other faith groups
and all world religions. The message is global in scope and not in
confrontation with either science or logic. The future world will be in need of
such a theology. He cited specific theological examples from the Guru Granth
that may be the basis for a future faith and a future belief. He urged the Sikh
scholars to be proactive in preserving and disseminating the treasures that
their faith offers.
Second session was chaired by
Rajinderjit Kaur. Dr. S. Rao, of the University of South Carolina and the
editor of the sixteen volume Encyclopedia of Hinduism, spoke on ecumenical
teaching of the Guru Granth. He said that the Guru Granth laid foundation of a
society free of narrow prejudice and fanaticism. It urges to conquer five inner
evils for tranquility of the human race. Sighting several examples of
ecumenical nature, he said that the Golden Temple was built on land donated by
the Mughal king, Akbar, and its foundation stone laid by a sufi saint, Mian
Mir, demonstrating the Guru’s intent of founding an interfaith congregation.
Dr. Rao ended his presentation by saying that without the teaching of the Guru
Granth, the religions of India would have eclipsed.
Nirmal Singh Nilvi (Guru
Granth Academy, Dallas, TX) said that Guru Gobind Singh took a major and
crucial step in installing the Granth as the Guru. This historical decision
protected Sikhism from any dilution or extinction. However, we should not
forget that the Granth is still our Guru and it is in the form of its teachings
and not as a physical object. Therefore, it is available to us anywhere any
time for seeking guidance in every aspect of our living. We worship it not as
an idol or a book but a spiritual light. To practice what the Guru says is the
true worship.
Dr. Sukhraj Singh Dhillon
(State University of North Caroline), Past President of Atlantic Coast Sikh
Association, spoke on the universal philosophy of Sikhism as enshrined in Guru
Granth Sahib. He posed a question as to why Sikhism has not become a universal
religion in spite of its universal teachings. The reason may be that our
practices are more a ritual than a real belief in its scientific spirituality.
The need is to promote the universal practices which are more spiritual and
more logical than mere rituals.
Kirpal Singh Nijhar (New York)
spoke on the relevance of Guru Granth Sahib in our Western style living. The
Guru Granth measures success differently than what is defined as a success in
the Western society. He said that, irrespective of our national origin, we
should all endeavor to be recognizable Sikhs who follow the Rehat Maryada, or
rules of conduct’ detailed by the Shromani Gurdwara Committee.
Session 3 was chaired by
Kirpal Singh Nijhar. Professor Devinder Singh Chahal cited acceptability of
Guru Granth philosophy by the scientists of the modern age. Science requires
precision, deliberation, freedom of expression and efforts to resolve doubts.
Guru supported all these approaches. Chahal quoted Albert Einstein and other
scientists to prove that their writings accepted what Guru Nanak said five
centuries ago. Some examples were quoted by Prof. Chahal to show how scientific
and logical is Nanakian philosophy. He emphasized that although some Sikh
theologians keep science and Nanakian philosophy apart, it actually has
qualifications of its acceptability by the humanity of the Science Age. There
is a need to present scientifically and logically.
Dr. Baljit Singh Sidhu
(Richmond, VA), President of the Sikh Association of Central Virginia, Inc, described
himself as “born-again” Sikh and the contributions that the Guru Granth could
make in all those who are attracted to a life of greater values. Only love
emanate from the life of a Sikh unless we drift away from the Guru’s teachings.
Dr. Kulwant Singh Khokhar
(Richmond, VA), Trustee of the Academy of Guru Granth Studies, spoke on the
life of meditation and selflessness with services to humanity as the tenet for
a Sikh as prescribed in the Guru Granth.
Professor Surjit Singh of
State University of New York at Buffalo emphasized the Guru Granth teachings
against ancestral worship, belief in sacred formulas, etc. He compared many
aspects of Sikh theology with those being proven by contemporary sciences.
Dr. Sangat Singh Syalee said
that Sikhism was not just a faith but is foundation of a new spiritual nation
built on spiritual and ethical truths. Theology of the Guru Granth has many
aspects common with many other world religions, making it the most universal
faith. He urged people to live a life of meditation, work ethics, and altruism.
Dr. Narinder Singh Kapany
spoke on the history of Sikh art and the progress Sikh philanthropy is making
in creating Sikh chairs and courses on Sikhism in the American universities as
well as Sikh Art sections in the leading American museums. He presented
excellent examples of ancient and modern Sikh art.
Professor Harmohinder Singh
(Greensboro, NC) spoke on the rehat namas suggesting that the new age
requires many modifications so that guidance provided conforms to the changing
world. Certain groups emphasize more on the ritualistic aspects of the
injunction ignoring the life of truthfulness, war against evils of mind, and
service to humanity. Gurus rebelled against many illogical rituals of the time
and asked us to do the same. The speaker expressed great concern over the gulf
between the Sikh ideals and the practices.
Jasbir Singh (Summerfield,
NC), President, Maboli Corp and Founder of Khalsa-net, urged use of technology
in obtaining knowledge of the Guru Granth. He was pleased to see that the
scripture was readily available in electronic media so that it can be accessed
anywhere any time.
The Seminar speakers and
participants took a tea break and networked with each other. The final evening
session was devoted to religious program of chanting and singing of the Guru
Granth hymns.
Inauguration
of New Place of Worship and Institute
The Sunday Morning was devoted
to the opening ceremony of the new Gurdwara building beginning with another
kirtan Darbar by the local and invited cantors. For the opening ceremony, a bhog
ceremony (complete recital of Guru Granth by volunteer members over a
week’s period) was performed. During the opening ceremony, the congregation
unfurled the Sikh flag, a permanent fixture of the new building. .
Bhai Baldeep Singh of New
Delhi and his companion sang the Guru Granth hymns. He also spoke of the Guru
Granth in the forms of Guru-kirtan (singing of holy hymns according to the
instructions provided in the Guru Granth). Call it Guru Granth or call it Guru-Kirtan,
it is the essence of 36 Masters, he emphasized. One unique and common aspect in
all of them is that they all sang the praises of the beloved Almighty. Kirtan,
the singing of the bani (the sacred-word), is done in a unique style,
which was first practiced by the Sikh Gurus and then endowed upon us. Being the
highest form of meditation and contemplation (simran & dhyan), we
need to first learn to appreciate it and then learn it to play. The tradition
(the style and mode of Kirtan) shall live not by mere documentation and
preservation, however important, it cannot be a mere museum-artefact.
All invited speakers were
honored with a plaque and s robe of honor (siropa) by Dr. Mac and Dr.
Preetinder Paul Singh Brar, the President and the Secretary, respectively, of
the Charlotte congregation.
This opportunity was taken
also to recognize Kuldip Kaur Dhaliwal who donated seventeen acres of prime
land, worth over $600K, for the new place of worship and the Research
Institute. Her husband, Sajjan Singh Dhaliwal, a successful building
contractor, along with all other Founding Board Members volunteered time and
resources for the construction. The congregation had to come up only with the
cost of materials and other incidentals for which a fund collection campaign is
underway.
The trustees of the society
received Honorable Pat McCrory, Mayor of Greater Charlotte, along with leaders
of other religious communities, such as Ravi Patel, a local business magnate
who represents the Hindu community. These guests paid homage to the new house
of worship. Mr. McCrory welcomed the Sikh community and praised them for adding
color to the “orchard of faiths” in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The dignitaries were
accompanied by a large number of media reporters. Dr. Roshan Singh Attrey, a
founding member, provided material for the press coverage.
The occasion, overall, was not
only a great success but an emotional moment for every one to meet people who
had traveled from places as far as Victoria Island, BC, Montreal and Toronto in
Canada, all of the North Eastern USA, California and Southern Sates, to pay
their homage to Guru Granth Sahib.
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