Akal Takht Chief Worries About Lack of Sikhism in Punjab
Akal Takht jathedar Gyani Harpreet Singh expressed alarm over the expansion of Christianity in Punjab on Monday, claiming that churches and mosques are being erected in large numbers in rural areas of the state and urging Sikh preachers to go villages to promote Sikhism.
The jathedar also remarked that the Sikh community should make plans for the youth to be trained in Sikh martial arts and other legacy weaponry, as he delivered his usual address to the Sikh community from the Akal Takht’s platform on the 38th anniversary of ‘Operation Bluestar’ in Amritsar.
Akal Takht chief Gyani Harpreet Singh said,
“Today, we are confronting several challenges that are weakening us on the religious, social and economic fronts. To weaken us on the religious front, strong publicity of Christianity is being carried on in Punjab.”
Churches and mosques are being raised in large numbers in Punjab’s villages, according to the jathedar of the Akal Takht, the highest Sikh spiritual seat, who highlighted that “it’s a subject of concern and worry for us.”
Sikh institutions and jathebandis (organizations) should address this by stepping up to propagate the Sikh religion, like the earlier Sikhs and saints did, he added.
He urged all prominent Sikhs to visit communities, particularly the state’s border areas, to enhance the Sikh religion.
The jathedar stated that it is time for Sikh preachers and intellectuals to leave their air-conditioned chambers and go to the border areas to promote Sikhism and educate the youth about the valuable Sikh teachings and history.
Akal Takht Chief also said,
“We need to understand that if we are weak on the religious front, we will not be strong on economic and social fronts and then politically also, we will be weakened.”
The jathedar stated that the Sikhs have been gifted with raj (sovereignty) determination from the time of the gurus, which Sikhs now repeat in their daily ardas as ‘Raj Karega Khalsa.’
He also stated,
“And to move in this direction, the Sikh youth will have to move forward in the world by getting high quality education. At the same time, it is imperative for the Sikh community to be proficient in the Sikh martial art received as inheritance.”
He suggested that the Sikh community establish plans to teach youth in the Sikh martial art (gatka) and other legacy weaponry, as well as set up shooting ranges for contemporary weapon training if needed.
The jathedar also voiced worry about the drug epidemic that is plaguing many young people and stressed the need of combating the scourge.
