Probe Caste-Based Segregation In Gurdwaras, Panel Tells Punjab DGP

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AMRITSAR – The NationalCommission for ScheduledCastes (NCSC) has issued anotice to the Punjab DirectorGeneral of Police (DGP) toinvestigate and reply to chargesabout caste-based segregation inhistoric gurdwaras of the State.The NCSC notice that comeson a representation by Abroo, asocio-political initiative workingfor empowerment of the marginalisedin Punjab, was alsostudied by its own Atrocities andProtection of Civil Rights Wing.Abroo had commenced a project,titled ‘Punjab’s Map ofShame’, last year, after it stumbledupon what it calls several“shocking and blatant cases ofapartheid happening in wellknowngurdwaras” in the State.Sikhism does not recognisecaste and to strive for a castelesssociety is one of the basic tenetsof the faith.In its letter to the NCSC, Abroofounder Pukhraj Singh saidthough the Shiromani GurdwaraPrabandhak Committee (SGPC)acknowledged existence ofcaste-based gurdwaras in theState, his investigation revealedcases of institutionalised andsystemic segregation perpetratedby well-entrenched elementsof the Sikh establishment.Calling for an investigation intothese transgressions, Mr. Singhdemanded that the control ofsuch gurdwaras be handed overto provisional and progressivebodies.This would reinforce the pointthat gurdwaras were not merelyreligious bodies but centres ofsocial upheaval; places wherethe common public can takecharge to implement the sharedethos.Citing the Gurdwara ReformMovement of early 20th century,he said, “Spiritually-sanctionedprejudices, in a religionthat abhors ritualism, is evidenceof deep-rooted subversionof the Sikh philosophy andits spiritual tenets.”Commenting on these findings,SGPC president Avtar SinghMakkar said, “There is no placefor caste-based discrimination inSikhism, and if such a mattercomes to our notice, we persuadethem to stop it. We alsoissue appeals from time to timeto follow the Sikh tenets.”Kiranjot Kaur, SGPC memberand its former general secretary,said: “Though caste issues havealways plagued Sikhism andfrom time to time, the SGPChas been passing resolutionsthat caste-based discriminationis not compatible with the basictenets of the faith, many ofthese gurdwaras are not recognisedby the SGPC as authenticsources for the interpretation ofSikh philosophy. Even an apexseminary like the DamdamiTaksal discriminates on casteand gender.”Ms. Kaur, however, admittedthat though the influence ofcaste had been ejected from gurdwarasafter the Singh Sabhamovement of the early 20thcentury, it has once again rearedits head in the religion due tocaste-based politics in recentyears. Some notable examplesdocumented in the representationto the NCSC include SurSingh, a 350-year-old Sikh seminaryin Taran Taran, whereMazhabi Sikhs (Scheduled Castes) are not only given‘amrit’ (as part of the Khalsa baptism ceremony)from a separate utensil but arealso referred to by the clergy as ChautheyPaurey Wale (people from the fourth step)to justify the discriminatory treatment.Mr. Pukhraj Singh says, “The Sikh seminaryis being managed by Baba DayalSingh, commander of Bidhi Chand Dal,one of the four battalions of the Khalsaarmy.”The representation further notes that inGurdwara Raja Ram in Dhotian, MazhabiSikhs are barred from performing ‘langarsewa’ because “they look dirty.”The gurudwara is being run by a powerfulbaba, who is well-connected with theSGPC and who has been instrumental inrenovating several crumbling historicalSikh shrines in recent years. It goes on toprovide several other examples of castebasedinjustices from gurdwaras in Sarhali,Lehra Khana and Joge Wala.