By Zile Singh
Sri Guru Ravidass’s 642nd Birth Anniversary was celebrated with great enthusiasm on Sunday, February 24 at Sri Guru Ravidass Sabha, Burnaby. Mrs. Abhilasha Joshi, Consul-General of India was the Chief Guest. She read out the messages of the President and the Prime Minister of India for the occasion and touched upon the humanitarian aspects of the Guru’s teachings. In addition, scores of political personalities from the Liberal and NDP parties at Federal, Provincial and City levels were special guests. More than to celebrate the occasion, political support was sought for the Burnaby- South MP’s crucial by-election battle the next day. Members of the Executive Committee of the historic Khalsa Diwan Society, Ross Street, Vancouver who were present, announced that they will celebrate the Anniversary of Bhagat Ravidass on Sunday, March 3.
I joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1970. I did not take any leave until August 1975. I had applied to the Union Public Service Commission to compete an examination for my promotion. At least three months of leave was required to prepare. There are IFS (PLCA), Indian Foreign Service (Pay, Leave and Compensatory Allowances) Rules. As per the Rule, I had the entitlement to 5 months leave. Director (Administration) did not sanction the leave. I was forced to fight for my entitlement. After knocking few doors, I found that there was another important self-designed rule by the Director. The rule was “Show Me the Man and I Will Show You the Rule”. Today, after serving for over 41 years in the government and also analyzing various aspects related to life, I have come to the conclusion that in the religious hegemony also there is a Rule. “Show Me the Followers and I Will Show You the Worship Worthiness of a Guru.” The higher the physical, financial and birth status the followers have, the more powerful is the Guru.
There is a proverb, “Dog never barked against the crucifix, but he ran mad”. Also, there is a piece of sage advice that religion, credit and eye are not to be touched because men have greater faith in those things which they do not understand. Man, by nature is controversial. When it is a question of religion and religious personalities, the controversy deepens even more.
There are controversies about the birth and death of Guru Ravidass. According to some, Ravidass was born in 1377, to some it was 1399. Schaller, a researcher estimates his lifespan as 1450-1520 while the Encyclopaedia Britannica mentions sometimes later. His followers, the Ravidassias, worldwide celebrate his birth on Magh Purnima day, which is a full moon day in the month of February. Some other religions also claim that their prophets were born and even died on the Purnima Day. Perhaps, all will approve of the fact that it was difficult to authenticate the factual dates of birth and death in that era, especially of those who were born to ordinary illiterate couples. In the case of Guru Kabir, it is even worse because he was abandoned at birth. Today, the masses estimate Guru Ravidass according to their own false views, their upbringing and above all, their caste- based pride and prejudices. Often, a question is raised, “How and why Ravidass, a low-caste be called a Guru? According to sources in Vancouver, some four decades before, a Publisher of a Punjabi weekly brought out a “Special Guru Ravidass Issue”. The publisher was boycotted tooth and nail by a major section of the Indian populace here. Ravidass, Kabir and Guru Nanak, (age-wise) were contemporaries of the era of Bhagti Movement. The movement was against the-then prevailing religious orthodoxy and a rigid division in the society on the basis of caste. The Movement was an unquestioned surrender to unidentified caste-less (Nirgun) God rather than an Idol God. Sufism played an important role to influence the Bhagti Movement. Unfortunately, with the passage of time, the above mentioned three enlightened souls have been made as ‘ Idol Gods’ Today, instead of following the path shown by them, the groups are competing with each other to grind their own axes. Religion is being used to play a divisive rather than an inclusive role.
The Gurus would not have imagined that over time, they themselves would be the victims of such an orthodoxy like idol worship, superstitions, dogmas, blind faith and division in the society. If Kabir was a weaver, Ravidass a cobbler and Nanak a farmer, their followers, unfortunately, restricted their universal approach. Sources also told that Guru Ravidass Sabha, Burnaby, at one time, limited its membership only to one particular caste. What injustice has been done to the emancipators of humanity! Their universal approach about morality, unity, equality and inclusiveness has been monopolized and made a tool to cause caste and class-conflicts. Ravidass preached that by purifying oneself, God’s love arises spontaneously. Fight dualism, have good company, discard vices, respect the teacher, shun idol worship, fight the caste system and appreciate constructive criticism are his evergreen teachings. Guru Ravidass envisioned a society where all can live peacefully and fearlessly. He talked about hunger, the most dreaded situation in one’s life. To me, Guru’s most important message is: “Be self-confident, recognize yourself, come out of the inferiority complex and the cobwebs of castes and ignorance.” In the 21st century, “If God is the father of all, then the entire human race is one family.”
“ Hari sa heera chhadi ke, kare aan ki aash. Te nar dojekh jayenge, sat bhase Raidas.”
Mr. Zile Singh is much respected Link Columnist, writer, a Vipassana Meditator and has a Post-Graduate Diploma in Human Rights. He can be reached at [email protected]
