Sikh shrine refuses prayers for former Army General

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Sikh shrine refuses prayers for former Army General

Postby Nihal Singh Kanakpuria » Tue Jan 22, 2013 10:30 am

Is this even a tad bit right thing to do ?

Being critical about the role of blue star and acknowledging that Indian govt and administration and the public is possibly not capable enough to have a fair trial of what happened during operation blue star is one thing, but refusing prayers ?


http://www.deccanherald.com/content/306 ... ormer.html

Dayal’s role in Operation Blue Star cited as the reason for refusal

The family of a highly decorated hero of the 1965 war with Pakistan, Lt Gen RS Dayal, a Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) who died last year in January, was refused prayers to mark his first death anniversary by a gurdwara in Haryana citing the general’s participation in the 1984 Operation Blue Star.

Left with no choice after the unceremonious refusal by the management of the gurdwara in Panchkula, a satellite township adjoining Chandigarh, the family of the general performed the prayers as per Sikh rituals at their residence with the help of Army priests on December 30. Later, the family organised a “langar” (community kitchen) within the Western Command cantonment in Chandimandir.

The issue has sparked off a controversy with many ex-servicemen terming it unfortunate. Lt Gen Dayal was the chief of staff at the Western Command when Operation Blue Star was carried out in 1984 to flush out armed militants from inside the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar.

The officer, who died on January 29, last year, had also served as lieutenant-governor of Pondicherry and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Gen Dayal was awarded the MVC, the country’s second highest war gallantry award, for displaying exemplary courage while capturing the Haji Pir Pass in Jammu and Kashmir in the 1965 war with Pakistan.

Surprisingly, the move by the Sikh shrine to decline prayers has in no way offended the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandak Committee (SGPC), the organisation managing a majority of Sikh shrines across India.

SGPC President Avtar Singh Makkar said Lt Gen Dayal was a decorated officer but played a major role in the Operation Blue Star.

He said the Army had attacked Akal Takht—the highest temporal seat of Sikhism—and the officer never regretted his action nor tendered an apology.

Political commentator and Sikh scholar SP Singh said: “The move is reprehensible.

Would the SGPC explain as to how many families of rapists, murderers and those convicted for heinous crimes have been similarly denied an opportunity to perform last rites. Also, it is deeply problematic to start denying the kith and kin of a deceased the opportunity to perform the last rites on the basis of their perceived sins.”

Objectionable

The gurdwara management’s decision is even more objectionable because Gen Dayal was never excommunicated from the Panth by the Akal Takht, the only authority that can do so, Singh asserted.

The general’s wife, Barinder Kaur, said the local gurdwara management flatly refused to perform rituals for her husband citing his participation in the Operation Blue Star.

“It came as a shock. I told them my husband was following the orders and performing his duty,” she said. “They rake up the Operation Blue Star and forget his contribution in the 1965 war.”

Gurdwara secretary Harbans Singh, however, said the gurdwara had only respected the sentiments of the Sikh community.

The community had objected when the shrine had conducted the “bhog” (prayers) ceremony on the death of Lt Gen Dayal a year ago, which is why the shrine this time refused to perform the prayers. The developments came in the backdrop of the Akal Takth honouring the assassins of former prime minister Indira Gandhi.
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Re: Sikh shrine refuses prayers for former Army General

Postby Romesh Kumar » Fri Jan 25, 2013 3:28 am

[quote=]Would the SGPC explain as to how many families of rapists, murderers and those convicted for heinous crimes have been similarly denied an opportunity to perform last rites. Also, it is deeply problematic to start denying the kith and kin of a deceased the opportunity to perform the last rites on the basis of their perceived sins.”[/quote]

In a system where people of the height of SGPC Chief (jagir kaur)can head a Dera and also use her influence or office in honor killing of her own daughter then only divine intervention can bring a deserving religious leadership for Sikhs.
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Re: Sikh shrine refuses prayers for former Army General

Postby Nihal Singh Kanakpuria » Sat Jan 26, 2013 5:31 am

Romesh Kumar wrote:[quote=]Would the SGPC explain as to how many families of rapists, murderers and those convicted for heinous crimes have been similarly denied an opportunity to perform last rites. Also, it is deeply problematic to start denying the kith and kin of a deceased the opportunity to perform the last rites on the basis of their perceived sins.”


In a system where people of the height of SGPC Chief (jagir kaur)can head a Dera and also use her influence or office in honor killing of her own daughter then only divine intervention can bring a deserving religious leadership for Sikhs.[/quote]


Its illogical and pure ignorance to compare rape/murders to operation blue star, its like comparing oranges and fighter aircraft's.

Rape murders etc is a crime on a person affecting a person or a family, attack on golden temple was a attack on collective Sikh psyche, and now the same attackers are asking for prayers from the same set of people and ideals they so readily attacked , abused , harrased and insulted.

The only reason its wrong is that Gurudwara management should take the higher road and forgive (even if the attackers haven't asked for forgiveness) and show the kindness, tolerance, forgiveness and large heartiness shown by Guru's Sikhs.
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Re: Sikh shrine refuses prayers for former Army General

Postby deepharn » Sun Jan 27, 2013 12:39 am

I sympathesize with the family. Must have been difficult for the family.

Just wondering, could the army gurudwaras be of some help in such circumstances. I am sure management of army gurudwaras understand the situation better and are obliging.

Chandigarh and chandimandir must have some defence establishment and some defence gurudwaras, I am sure to have helped this family.

Thanks
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Re: Sikh shrine refuses prayers for former Army General

Postby Romesh Kumar » Sun Jan 27, 2013 4:37 am

Nihal Singh Kanakpuria wrote:The only reason its wrong is that Gurudwara management should take the higher road and forgive (even if the attackers haven't asked for forgiveness) and show the kindness, tolerance, forgiveness and large heartiness shown by Guru's Sikhs.


That is what and why I quoted the example of jagir kaur. If religious places and institutions are controlled by people with inhumane traits/criminals then what will be next ? Answer could be the disastrous responses like operation blue star.
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Re: Sikh shrine refuses prayers for former Army General

Postby Bundha » Wed Jan 30, 2013 3:53 am

I say a big well done to the management committee of the Gurdwara for refusing this ‘dusht’ any access to paath or bhog.

Those who do wrong against the panth should be dealt with accordingly, did Guru Ji show mercy to the corrupt masands? No they were dealt with severely.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji Guru Gobind Singh Ji Guru Granth Sahib Ji Dasam Granth Sahib Ji.
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Re: Sikh shrine refuses prayers for former Army General

Postby Romesh Kumar » Wed Jan 30, 2013 12:33 pm

Bundha wrote:I say a big well done to the management committee of the Gurdwara for refusing this ‘dusht’ any access to paath or bhog.

Those who do wrong against the panth should be dealt with accordingly, did Guru Ji show mercy to the corrupt masands? No they were dealt with severely.


That is very true but 'wrong' and 'dusht' need to be identified. A person in Sikh attire controlling a Gurdwara on gun point or doing so by using political tactics could necessarily not be a an angel or saint.
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Re: Sikh shrine refuses prayers for former Army General

Postby Bundha » Thu Jan 31, 2013 4:52 am

That is very true but 'wrong' and 'dusht' need to be identified. A person in Sikh attire controlling a Gurdwara on gun point or doing so by using political tactics could necessarily not be a an angel or saint.


Dusht - because attacking a Gurdwara knowing full well it was Guru Arjan Dev Jis gurpurb knowing full well that thousands of inoccent people would get caught up and still went along with it. Dusht - because being so dumb he did not realise that the GOI pushed forward all the Sikh generals to attack thier own place sof worship. Dusht - because not matter what he should not have raised a finger at his own gurdwaras.

As for the person in Sikh attitre (mmm who could that be???) he stood for the ankh of the sikhs, so yes angel and Saint.
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Re: Sikh shrine refuses prayers for former Army General

Postby Romesh Kumar » Fri Feb 01, 2013 3:38 am

Bundha wrote:Dusht - because attacking a Gurdwara knowing full well it was Guru Arjan Dev Jis gurpurb knowing full well that thousands of inoccent people would get caught up and still went along with it. Dusht - because being so dumb he did not realise that the GOI pushed forward all the Sikh generals to attack thier own place sof worship. Dusht - because not matter what he should not have raised a finger at his own gurdwaras.

As for the person in Sikh attitre (mmm who could that be???) he stood for the ankh of the sikhs, so yes angel and Saint.


That is yours opinion. In my opinion;
Dusht: Whose non-religious activities under the garb of religion (modern masand)attract attention of law enforcement agencies.
Dusht: Who fortified a most sacred religious place to military standards with arms, ammunition and skill acquired from enemy state.
Dusht: Who strategised to use innocent civilians/fellow religionists as human shield to protect himself and likeminded ones.
Dusht: Who despite knowing fully well of innocent civilian casualities did not hand over himself and his comrades to state authorities.
Dusht: Whose strategy was ethnic-cleansing, can be called reincarnation of wazir khan and zakariya khan in 20th century.
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Re: Sikh shrine refuses prayers for former Army General

Postby Romesh Kumar » Fri Feb 01, 2013 5:31 am

Bundha wrote:Those who do wrong against the panth should be dealt with accordingly, did Guru Ji show mercy to the corrupt masands? No they were dealt with severely.


Your statement implies that doing wrong against innocent non-panth people is justifiable.
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