(c) Copyright of Prabuddha Biswas
By Prabuddha Biswas
[Edited One; Published in BEHAR HERALD (Estd. 1874) NEW SERIES VOL.- II, 48 & 49 ISSUE , SEPT. 30, 2016, PATNA]
On Thursday, September 22, 2016; Patna had witnessed the inauguration of the three-day ‘International Sikh Conclave’, 22nd to 24th September, 2016 as starting point of the Prakash Utsav to be held on the occasion of the 350th year of the birth of Sri Guru Gobind Singh ji during December 30, 2016 to January 5, 2017.
THE FIRST DAY
The inaugural function was held in the sprawling Sri Krishna Memorial Hall auditorium, north of Gandhi Maidan; where prominent Sikh luminaries from various parts of the country and from UK, Canada, USA, New Zealand and other parts of the World had assembled.
Politics was furthest from the minds of the speakers, who also dwelt on the outstanding contribution of Sikhism to the Indian nation and the mark that followers of the religion had made across the World, by excelling in various spheres of life.
In his inaugural speech, the Chief Minister of Bihar, Nitish Kumar was as effusive, saying it was his privilege that these functions in honour of Guru Gobind Singh were being held at a time when he was Chief Minister. “I consider this as Guru Ki Kripa (divine benediction),” he added. He addressed that Guru Gobind Singh’s messages transcends across all Religions. He informed that Bihar is very fortunate to receive three great Sikh Gurus i.e. Guru Nanak Saheb Ji, Guru Tegh Bahadur and Guru Gobind Singh Ji, who visited Patna and Bihar.
In the same sequel, Nitish Kumar recalled that the soil of Bihar has produced great sons and daughters in various fields; Ma Sita, Valmiki, Mahavira, Buddha, Chanakya, Chandragupta Maurya, Ashoka, Sufi Saints, Sher Shah Suri, Guru Gobind Singh Ji among others. While referring Buddha, he informed about Bodh Gaya where Buddha achieved enlightment. Nitish Kumar requested all the luminaries to visit all the great places like Rajgir, Nalanda, Bodh Gaya, and Vaishali among others. CM informed that Mahavira, Buddha and Nanak Saheb had been to Rajgir.
“In Vaishali, in the land of first Republic of Licchavis; Buddha enrolled ‘Women’ for the first time in Buddhist Sangha, which was the first example in the world,” Kumar Said. Mahatma Gandhi ji also came to Bihar and initiated the freedom struggle from Champaran in 1917. “This is unique time that the 350th year of the Prakash Utsav of Guru Gobind Ji and the 100th year of the ‘Champaran Movement’ of Gandhi Ji are being celebrated in this year itself,” said Nitish Kumar. While recalling the Jaiprakash Narayan (JP), Nitish Kumar recalled the 300th year celebration in the midst of great famine in Bihar, when Nitish and others were doing social service for the poor under the call of JP. Nitish Kumar recalled Guru Gobind Singh Ji as the organizer of ‘Khalsa Panth’, Great Monk-Fighter (Sant-Sipahi) and symbol of Love, Sacrifice, Brotherhood and Equality.
The Chief Minister of Punjab, Mr. Parkash Singh Badal congratulated his counterpart in Bihar Mr. Nitish Kumar on behalf of Sikh Community and the People of Punjab for organising the Sikh Conclave and for putting an exceptional effort in preparations for the 350th birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh in January 2017. “Even I couldn’t possibly match it,” admitted Badal, head of an Akali-BJP government.
“Through these functions, Nitish ji has helped propagate the Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s message of peace, compassion and sacrifice, that is the hallmark of the khalsapanth,” the Punjab Chief Minister said.
PUNJAB CM BADAL GIVES RS 10 CRORE TO BIHAR CM - Badal handed over cheque of Rs 10 Crore to CM of Bihar, Nitish Ji for the construction of SARAI (inn) for the Pilgrims for visitors of Harmandir Sahib at Patna. Badal briefed about the sacrifice of Guru Tegh Bahadur and of Guru Gobind Singh ji. He announced, “Whenever needed, Khalsapanth will give sacrifice for the cause and for the nation.
Inviting people to attend Guru Parv function in January 2017 in large numbers, Kumar said even though Bihar was a poor state, he would spare no effort to make the attending devotees from across the world worth their while.
Deputy Chief Minister too, brought the house down by stating how in difficult times people trusted Sikhs to take care of them. “Late in the night, girls prefer to be driven home in safety offered by Sikh taxi drivers,” he said, only to be greeted by a resounding Sikh war cry by the appreciative crowd.
The former MP from the Canada’s House of Commons, Rubi Dhala, the first Sikh woman to hold the position in 2004, recalled the episode of ‘Koma Gata Maru’ Tragedy of 1913; when the Sikhs were not allowed to land at Canada port and they were returned but today there are four Ministers in Canda and 15 MPs in the Canadian parliament. This year, Canadian CM Justin Trudeau has apologized for the ‘Koma Gata Maru’ Tragedy. She issued a call to the gathering to oppose alleged atrocities on Sikhs, which she said, was still happening in many parts of the world.
Many other Sikh leaders rivalled each other in heaping praise on the Bihar Chief Minister for going so much out of the way for the Sikh community. Former Chairman of the National Commission of the Minorities, Sri Tarlochan Singh applauded Kumar for making Bihar the first state to organize a Sikh conclave. He urged CM, Bihar to develop Takht Sri Harmandirji at Patna Saheb, the birth place of Guru Gobind Singh so that it became an epicentre of world tourism.
Union Minister of State of Agriculture Mr. S. S. Ahluwalia said what Nitish had done make him eligible to be called ‘Sardar Nitish Kumar’. G.S. Barnala, son of Tamilnadu ex-Governor SS Barnala (a leading Akali Leader of his time), described Nitish Kumar as a ‘Shining Star’ on the Sikh firmament who was on his way to make history.
UP Minister B.S. Ramoowalia of Samajwadi party said Kmar had won the eternal gratitude of Sikhs. Ex-MP SS Dhindsa, praised Kumar for his high integrity and said the conclave was a big favour to the Sikh community.
Sri Resham Singh Sandhu, Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Leicestshire from England recalled Guru Gobind Singh ji as ‘Universal Guru’.
Dr. Mahinder Singh read a message from the ex-PM of India, Sri Manmohan Singh expressing regret for not being able to attend the conclave owing to illness. Through his letter, Singh appealed to promote the loving message of Guru Gobind Singh.
The President of Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee Manjit Singh presented ‘Nanakshahi coin’ and the emblem to the CM of Bihar. This coin was minted on the eve of the 300th year Celebration of Banda Bahadur at Delhi. Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav was also honoured similarly.
Previously, the CM Nitish Kumar also informed the audience about the topics of two-day discussions. The Topics for the panel discussions on Friday (September 25, 2016) were as follows; - (i) ‘Sri Guru Gobind Singhji – A Spiritual Saviour and Crusader of Rights’; (ii) ‘Sri Guru Gobind Singhji – A Poet Par Excellence’ and (iii) ‘Sikhism – A Faith of Love and Humanity’ respectively. The Topics for Saturday (September 24, 2016) panel discussion was (iv) Contributions of Sikhs to the Nation.
At the outset, Tourism Minister Anita Devi welcomed the guests. The impressive show was coordinated by Principal Secretary of Tourism Smt. Harjot Kaur. The inaugural function was also attended by the other Ministers and State Officials of the Government of Bihar.
The inaugural function was addressed by others also and they include Gurucharan Singh Chandan of the leading UK Sikh charity, Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha, Takht Harmandir Ji Jathedar Giani Iqbal Singh among others.
A book published by the Bihar government on forthcoming Guru Parv was released on the occasion. The government of Bihar also launched a ‘Mobile App’ which will provide ready information to visitors on routes, accommodation etc. In the end; the Department of Tourism presented ‘a Shawl and Mementos’ to all the dignitaries present on the dais.
PUNJAB CM VISITED TAKHT HARMANDIR SAHEB – Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, who was at Patna on Thursday (September 24, 2016) to take part in the First International Sikh Conclave 2016 paid obeisance to the Guru Gobind Singh Ji at Takht Sri HariMandir Ji. Earlier he was presented a ‘siropa’ by Takht head priest Gyani Iqbal Singh. The Punjab CM also gave Rs 2 Crore to the Takht fund for the ongoing Sikh convention.
THE SECOND DAY
The second day of the International Sikh Conclave was initiated with three panel discussions. The Pre-lunch session dwelt on the subjects: - (i) Sri Guru Gobind Singh – A Spiritual Savior and Crusader of Rights; (ii) Sri Guru Gobind Singh – A Poet Par Excellence. The Post-lunch session was on, ‘Sikhism, A Faith of Love and Humanity.
The values preached by Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th and the last Sikh Guru were as relevant today as they were when he founded the Khalsa panth, scholars said on the second day. Scholars further said that Guru Gobind Singh Ji was ahead of his time. He changed the social norms on the basis of moral values and ideology of a collective life. The essence of the discussion of experts on the second day was rallied round the magnetic personality of ‘Guru Govind Singh: Sipahi, Poet and Reformer’.
By founding the Khalsa Panth, Guru Gobind Singh evolved an alternative community on the basis of social equality, economic justice, respect and dignity of labour, according to participants in the discussion. “All of you forget religious differences, shun caste-based rituals, worship alike, join common brotherhood, do not consider anyone inferior to you, eat from the same dish, and shun mutual animosity,” was the Gur’s injunction, stated a scholar.
The tone of the morning session was set by the inaugural Speaker, Dr. Nanak Singh Nishtar when he said, “There was steady continuity in the ideological and spiritual thoughts between the first Sikh Guru Nanak Dev Ji and Guru Gobind Singh Ji, which spans 239 long years.” Dr Nishtar is the President of the International Sikh Centre for Interfaith Relations, Hyderabad. He added, “It is only Sikh Religion which has incorporated verses and thoughts of Religious preachers of other religion in their Religious book and also advocated that no religion is high or low. The audience also came to know that Guru Nanak Dev had visited both Mecca and Jagannath Puri Dham, an abode of both Islam and Hinduism respectively.
Sardar Surinder S. Raheja from Virginia elaborated about the the great Fighter-Scholar Guru Gobind Singh, who became the 10th Guru after the martyrdom of his father and 9th Guru Tegh Bahadur. He also briefed about his dynamic life and journey from Patna to Ananpur Sahib to hill tracts of Punjab and fights with Mughals; but his message was never against any Religion. After death of Aurangzeb, Guru Gobind Singh was no longer adversary of Mughals. Madam Harvans Kaur, Saggu talked about the “Guru Gobind Singh as Revolutionery Saint – A Combination Power and Humility.”
Professor Mohd. Habibi of the Department of Religious Studies of Punjabi University viewed, “Guru Gobind Singh Ji belongs to Humanity, transcending all religious and national borders.” Habibi expressed that the Mughal dynastic Rule in India was part of the medieval feudal order and Mughals pursued autocratic rule through Military juggernaut. He viewed that Guru Gobind Singh ji fought against Mughal hegemony and he had no hatred against Islam or Muslims of Punjab.
The retired Professor of Sikh Studies, USA had acquainted audience with “Life and Legacy of a Badshah Darvesh, Sri Guru Gobind Singh. The religious scholar, Sardar Gurjeet Singh Bains from Australia talked about significance of the thorough learning about Sri Guru Gobind Singh and about the ‘Nanak Jap’. Professor Bhupindar Singh said that Guru Gobind Singh was a symbol of Spiritual Revivalism.
Harjot Kaur, the principal secretary of tourism department, the main organiser of the conclave, said Guru Gobind Singh was a great spiritual leader. “There is an inherent bonding between a devotee and the God. There’s no need to adopt the path of pomp and show to get thegrace of the God,” she said. She informed scholars from UK, USA, Canada, Australia and India participated in the discussions.
At the end of the first session, the former Bihar Chief Secretary and Chairman of the Advisory Committee for the ‘Prakas Parv’ G.S. Kang felicitated Dr. N. Singh, GS Mann, Sardar and Surinder Singh, by presenting each of them a memento and a scarf. There were 11 speakers in the first panel discussion and others include Sukhbir Singh Ji, Lt. General K.S. Gill and Yashpal Singh, V.C. Punjabi University.
Deliberating on the second session, ‘Sri Guru Gobind Singh – A Poet Par Excellence,’ scholars said the Guru Gobind Singh was a great poet and his creations were unparalleled. His thought provoking poetry helped people to chose the right path and lead a moral, vale-based life. “His command on Hindi and Persian languages was clearly reflected in his poetry,” they felt. He also contributed a lot to the development of Hindi and Persian langages through his poems,” they stated.
The discussion on the second panel was initiated by the Director of Punjabi University, Dehradun; Dr. Harbhajan Singh when he said, “Guru Gobind Singh was not only A Great Warrior but he was a Great Writer with great Punch-line and a Great Crusader of Women Emancipation and Messiah of Down trodden as he believed in equality of human beings. Harbhajan Singh took quotes from Gobind Singh’s book, ‘Vichitra Natak’.
The Professor Manjit Singh of Punjabi University from New Delhi said that, “We cannot specify or confine Guru Gobind Singh in particular space and time but his stature is eternal and his views are always relevant. “There was no political unity in the Indian Subcontinent and the ‘Khalsa Panth’ was a step towards political unity,” he added and identified Guru Gobind Singh Ji with a ‘Man of Positivity’.
The other speakers who contributed in second panel discussion include Lal Manohar Upadyay, Harmahindar Singh Bedi (Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar), Gurjeet Singh Bains (Australia); Acharya Kishore Kunal; Jaswal Avinash, Sarabjeet singh Jathedar of Sasaram Sangat; Dr. Sukhdayal Singh (punjab University, Patiala). There were 10 speakers in the second panel discussion.
During the third and final panel discussion of the day, scholars spoke at length on “Sikhism – A Faith of Love and Humanity”. The speakers of the third panel discussion include Dr. Gurmeet Singh, Dr. Jasbir Singh Sabbar, Prof. Kulwant Singh (Retd Professor, PG College, Chandigarh), Giani Santokh Singh (Australia) and Gulbaarg Singh Bains (Australia) respectively.
The moderators of three panel discussions were (i) Sukhdayal Singh; (ii) Dr. Balbir Singh Bhasin and (iii) Dr. Gurmeet Singh respectively.
THE THIRD DAY
The third day of the three-day International Sikh Conclave 2016 on Saturday; was started in the morning, with the panel discussion on the topic; “Contribution of Sikhs to the Nation.” It was followed by the closing ceremony by the Honourable Governor of Bihar.
The primary message of the 200 odd delegates from across the nation and abroad took back with them was the universality of what Guru Gobind Singh stood for – values of peace, brotherhood, sacrifice and love for all human beings, which took his appeal to way beyond the Sikh community.
A commendable gesture by the Bihar Government, particularly the state tourism department was to use the closing ceremony on Saturday to send out a message of national unity. A minute’s silence was observed in the memory of 18 soldiers who died in the Uri (Kashmir) terror attack.
The Closing ceremony of the ‘Three-day International Sikh Conclave, 2016,’ ended with the parting remarks by ‘His Excellency, the Governor of Bihar, Sri Ram Nath Kovind’, - “The Prakash Utsav of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, has brought new opportunity and big challenges for Bihar. The challenge was to organise the Prakash Parv in a grand and organised manner. The opportunity was the event would put Bihar on the world map, marking a new chapter in its development. He further said that it was the privilege for Bihar that previously they had also organised Islamic, Buddhists, Jain enclaves among others.
Honourable Governor elaborated the multifaceted personality of the 10th Guru Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji by describing him as the spiritual master, a warrior, a poet and a philosopher – all in one.
The Tourism Minister of Bihar Madam Anita Devi greeted all the delegates of the three-day conclave with the gesture of ‘Atithi Devo Bhavah’ and urged them to bring their family members also to receive the Bihari hospitality during Prakash Utsav of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
Rajasthan minority commission chairman Jasbir Singh gave out an emphatic message of national unity, saying Guru Govind Singh was committed to the glory of India and time had come for his true followers to take the country further on the path to greatness.
Bihar ex-Chief Secretary G.S. Kang said it was duty of every Sikh to live up to and propagate the fine values that the Guru stood for, including emphasis on family.
Senior IAS officer Amita Paul, and a great scholar; greeted delegates for coming to PATNA - THE SPIRITUAL CAPITAL of the country. She said that this three-day conclave and the Prakash Utsav should not be confined to Sikhism only, because the stature and wisdom of 10th Guru Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji is much larger as his views transcend caste, ethnicity, religious and geographical borders and he belongs to humanity. She expressed that Guru Gobind Singh Ji can be addressed as “THE PROPHET OF HUMANITY”.
The panel discussion on the topic, ‘Contribution of Sikhs to the Nation’ was participated by seven speakers and they include Professor K. L. Tuteja, Professor of History, Shimla; Professor Harpal Singh, Retd. Professor of English, Chandigarh; Inderjit Singh Bal, Former President, World Sikh Organization, Canada; Jasbir Singh, Chairman of Minority Commission, Rajasthan, Jaipur; Gurubeg Singh, Gurea; Bhai Sahib Satpal Singh Khalsa, Ambassador of Sikh Dharma, USA, California; Dr. Ruby Dhalla, Canadian Politician.
Professor Tuteja spoke about the positive contribution of the Sikhs and their great contribution in the freedom movement. The Congress Party never equated Akali Politics of Sikh community with other communal parties like Muslim League and Hindu Maha Sabha because the basic tenets of Akalis were anti-colonial. He also clarified that in 1940s, Akalis demanded about the ‘Separate State’ but that was the tactical move in the backdrop of the counterpoise to stall ‘The Demand of Pakistan, in which the whole Punjab (i.e. the present day Pakistan’s part of Punjab, present day the states of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh) was demanded by the Muslim League. “We Sikhs are part of Hindustan,” Professor Tuteja claimed.
Sardar Jasbir Singh recalled the contribution of Sikhs of Punjab for the initiation of the green revolution in 1960s and 1970s and for making the Punjab – the food Basket of India. He also recalled the Punjab’s role in the defence services and education also.
Satpal Singh Ji said that Sikhs have not only contributed in the nation-building but they have contributed greatly to the World community also. Presently, there are over 130 Sikh centres all over the world, according to Satpal Singh Khalsa. The Canadian Politician and former MP Madam Rubi Dhalla and Inderjit Singh Bal briefed about the contributions of several trendsetters from Sikh community who contributed immensely at the global level.
At the outset, in her welcome address to the closing ceremony, Harjot Kaur recalled the valour and sacrifices of the Sikhs and said that the national anthem which would be played at the closing ceremony would be a befitting tribute to their sacrifices.
The Chief Secretary of Bihar, Sri Anjani Kumar Singh was also present on the dais. The Director, Tourism Umashankar Prasad gave the vote of thanks.
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