Preamble:
The news
about Ottawa Sikh society which is totally wrong.
Mr. Dhillon
is refuting all the facts by his statements. However, it is a fact that the
resolution was passed in the May 27th meeting
that would allow the Punjabi School to teach/practice Gidha Bhangra in the
new Hall. In addition, the resolution also allows for birthday parties to be
held in this hall. The second resolution to mandate the use only the
Gurdwara Sahib Granthi for any services to be performed was also passed.
1. Ottawa Sikh society always respect shree akal takhat sahib
and rehat maryada.
Why does
the constitution of OSS not identify that it will abide by the instructions
of Akal Takhat. Even with the substantial revamp of the constitution, this
has not been provided. Your senior member highlighted that OSS is not
obligated to follow Akal Takhat. Two Hukumnamas were read to the general
body clearly establishing that the proposed resolution would be directly in
conflict with the Hukumnamas. The executive committee and the general body
refused to follow these Hukumnamas. You can review the
following link for the two Hukamnamas issued by the Akal Takhat Sahib:
http://www.satkaarcampaign.blogspot.ca/
2.
Ottawa sikh society
build a new hall spending 800,000.00 dollars to accommodate Ottawa’other
activities. We started practice of bhangra and gidha in new hall not in
Gurduwara.
Funds were
raised from Sangat without clearly specifying the purpose of the hall. Some
were told that it would not be used for Gidha/Bhangra and others were told
otherwise. Sangat were issued tax receipts from the Gurdwara Sahib. The word
"hadood" means complex, premises, etc. It does not mean the only hall where
Gursahib's prakash is done. This new hall is not only on the same address
but there is no separation of the property. Furthermore, the new hall is
connected to the Gurdwara Sahib. If the prayer hall is the only part of the
premises that is Gurdwara, then why do we prohibit smoking or drinking on
the premises? Also, all of the events that take place in
that particular hall, everyone is required to cover their head and take off
their shoes before entering the premises.
The other
aspect to this issue is that a group of population cannot raise fund for
manmat and carry it out in the Gurdwara Sahib merely because they raised the
fund for this purpose.
3.
Bhangra
Gidha been a part of Sikh culture and Ottawa Sikh
society and Ottawa Sikh society been doing this since Ottawa sikh society
was founded. No new practice is being started.
I doubt if
there are any prominent Singhs/Kaurs who have been doing gidha/bhangra. A
wrong practice does not become right merely because it has been going on for
long time. If that was the case, Guru Nanak would not have started Sikhism
and just lived with Sanatan practices. Ottawa has followed this practice for
years but with some form of resistance but this resolution will give
authority to those who do gidha/bhangra and thus, the OSS has now regulated
this.
Furthermore
there were multiple viable options were offered but none were acceptable to
the persons supporting the use of Gurdwara Sahib premises.
One of the options was a rent-free hall across the street that was
roughly the same size as the OSS hall but the members did not even look at
the hall. Second option was to rent any other hall with
the cost being reimbursed by Singhs from their personal funds.
Another option was to provide a large sum of money from the Singhs
(e.g. one Singh offered $100,000 over 10 years) to help establish a separate
hall outside of Gurdwara premises.
4.
This person called
amritdhari head granthi sahib of gurudwara pundit and Brahmin shame on him.
This
comment was not addressed to the Granthis of OSS but it was to highlight the
impact of this resolution on the rights of Sikhs to practice Sikhism the way
it was meant to be. Sikhism does not require priesthood. We have Grantis’ to
support people who are unable to practice independently. We have encouraged
a type of mentality of Sikhs to a point where they think that the ardas done
by granthi has more value.
5.
This person wrote
about women in such a way shame on him.
What was
written was a mere statement of fact.
4.
Bibi Sanjogta Kaur
Bhandari shouted jakara on completion of general body not for
bhangra ,shame on him.
The jakara
was raised right after the resolution for bhangra/gidha motion and after
that the Pardhan moved one more motion to mandate the use of granthi. After
the second resolution, the Singhs resigned and then the meeting was
concluded. However, it is not justified to raise the jakara on the
conclusion of a meeting that passed such resolutions? The meeting was
adjourned after that.
7.
This person shouted
4 more jakaras after that ask him why.
Kuljit
Singh raised the four jakaras (in fact he was expressing sarcasm) and to
complete OSS tradition of five jakaras on major achievements and days.
8.
109 voted in favor 8
against in democratic way.
Sikhs are
guided by Gurmat and not the majority. By such comparison, Singh Sabha
Movement would not have been started because at the time, majority had
diverted from the Sikh principles.
9.
He is calling all
109 kamale and 8 in siana shame on him.
It was just
a proverb from Punjabi folklore. Gurbani also touches on
this subject and we urge everyone to read Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee to seek
guidance on this subject and every subject.
10.
He is calling whole
Ottawa Sikh society executives in capable and himself …….. shame on him.
This is
outside the scope of the article therefore it is inappropriate for us to
respond.
11.
He gave this false
news under Ottawa Sikh society ,what authority does he hold ask him.
As
addressed above, those are the facts. Information was given under personal
name, but Khalsa news took the OSS information from the OSS website.
Kuljit Singh is a life member of OSS and he gave this information
under his personal name as a concerned Sikh.
12.
Ask him to give his
phone number not Ottawa Sikh society.
Khalsa news
took the OSS information from the OSS website.
