Sikhism Is Becoming A Global Religion, Says California Professor

NEW DELHI – Shedding its tagof being a regional religion, Sikhism ison its way to becoming a global religion,making a major shift in the past35 years or so, opined Prof Mark Juergensmeyerwhile delivering the 13thBhai Chanan Singh Memorial lecturehere today.Prof Juergensmeyer, who has studiedSikhism for the past four decades,is Director, Orfalea Centre for Globaland International Studies, Universityof California, US, chose to speak on“Sikhism as a global religion”.He said some 35 years ago, Sikhismwas a “forgotten religion mentionedin footnotes. In these 30 years,things have changed.” He said thechallenges ahead was assimilation withthe global order and participation inglobal society.There were more Sikhs than Jewsin the world, Prof Juergensmeyer said.As of now, 30 per cent of Sikhs residedoutside Punjab. “The religion now facesthree immediate challenges; cultural adaptationin new lands, transformation, andparticipation in society globally”.The time had come when there wouldbe a debate on what were the core valuesof the religion and what were the culturalvalues, the professor said as he cited anexample. “In gurdwaras in the US, langar(community meal) is laid out on the tablefor people seated on chairs instead of sittingon the floor, as in India. It is for thecommunity to decide if this is a culturalissue or a core value of the religion,” hesaid.He said it was essential to wear thefive Ks all the times. “Is it a core value or acultural value,” the US-based Sikh expertasked. He said he wanted to see Sikhs asa larger part of the global cultural tapestryas the religion that assimilated withoutdiluting its own identity or compromisingon the core values.Prof Juergensmeyer spoke at BhaiVir Singh Sahitya Sadan. Among thosepresent were Prof Jai Rup Singh, VC,Central University of Punjab, Dr JS Neki,Professor of Eminence, Punjabi University,Patiala, NS Sarna, Additional Secretary,Ministry of External Affairs, KuldipNayar, former Governor of KarnatakaTN Chaturvedi and Dr Rupinder Kaur.