Divorce in the Presence of Guru Granth Sahib

October 20th, 2009 by Kiranjot Kaur Source: news.ukpha.org

One of the major events in the life of a Sikh is Anand Sanskar according to Sikh Rehat Maryada. In the presence of Guru Granth Sahib the couple vow to love and respect each other and follow the spiritual path together so that they are like one soul in two bodies.

In today’s world what happens if the  couple finds itself incompatible? Some believe divorce has no place in Sikh religion while others believe if a mistake has been made there is no harm in rectifying it and take recourse to civil law. However what takes the cake is divorce in presence of Guru Granth Sahib!

A young 24 year old Sikh girl, Simarjit Kaur, of Todarwaal village in district Kapurthala was bestowed a siropa by her father-in-law in the historical Gurdwara Hatt Sahib ( where Guru Nanak Dev ji had worked in modikhana and weighed “ tera, tera’ ) and divorced her from her husband. Interestingly this happened in the absence of her husband who is a jawan of Border Security Force ( BSF) and posted in Jammu and Kashmir. The girl lost her parents a couple of years ago and her Chacha had solemnized her Anand Kaaraj.

Her father-in-law is a granthi and another person supporting him is a kathavachak. Athough this incident has been condemned by Jathedar Akal Takht however no action has been taken against the erring Granthi and kathavachak both of whom are employees of SGPC. I met the Singh Sahiban at Akal Takht accompanied by the girl and her relatives with the basic question is divorce in presence of Guru Granth Sahib acceptable and if not what action has been taken to deter anyone from indulging in such practice in  future? Understanding the gravity of the issue they have formed a committee to study the case in detail and report it’s findings for further action.

To build pressure on the girl a Deputy Superintendent of Police, Sultanpur Lodhi  Gurmeet Singh is also said to be present in the Gurdwara . As member of Punjab State Women Commission I have asked for an explanation from the police officer……… why is police involved in distorting Sikh maryada?

If this issue is not taken to it’s logical end , it will open a new way for greedy, unscrupulous in-laws to send their daughter in law back to her parent’s home by just giving her a siropa in presence of Guru Granth Sahib. As easy as ‘ talak,talak,talak’ ! In this case too the factor precipitating divorce is a piece of land that Simarjit’s father left behind and  eyed by her in laws.

Comments

October 22, 2009 - 2:29am — Harman

Thanx for this article!!

Thanx for this article!! I always had a question in my mind about a religious way of divorce in a Sikh couple..... I support it straightaway.... If there is a religious ceremony for getting into the institution of marriage, there must be one to get out of it.... Keeping the law of land aside, religion should be powerful enough and not LAW-dependent to solve its own problems..... Besides this!! if a community will be stuck in such petty personal issues... how will it be able to solve some BIG social and political issues ???? They envision a separate state for their religion which has never happened before as "Religions are made for the states and states are not made for religions".... But if this can happen, I'll be really happy to see the change :) Maybe this is the beginning of a religious reform movement in the Sikh community which is Badly needed for a smooth transition from modern to cosmopolitan society in the EAST and not the west....
October 21, 2009 - 7:27am — Ujagar Singh

Divorce unacceptable and unlawful as reported

The article by Kiranjot Kaur raises a very serious issue. How dare the Granthi do the dissolution of marriage before the SGGS? And how dare the Dy SP bring pressure on the innocent lady to accept such a sham siropa? This siropa is veil of the height of shamelessness there. All right-thinking Sikhs must realise the dangerous implications of such a stupid act. The Granthi should be arrested along with the Dy SP for violating the law and for brazen attempt to be a party to build-up or aggravate the marital disharmony. It is not wrong to mention here that the law is meant to protect the weak and the oppressed and to prevent infliction of injustice by the stronger parties. If at all, the parties must be persuaded to approach a court of justice and place their respective cases before the Hon'ble Judge. In any case, the unlawful and high-handed act by the Granthi and the Dy SP are highly condemnable as they constitute taking the law in their own hands.
October 21, 2009 - 5:05am — K.J.SINGH

Pollution of Sikhs being influences by Materialists Hindu

Sikhs who have no love for Guru Ji does this sort of thing, this girl is the daughter of Guru Ji. They made a promise before him to be together and serve him. At the time of death the demon who did this will be put in chains and dragged to hell. This is all selfishness. All of this is the effect of 1984. We need to start rebuilding , and we need to start with 5 Pure ones in the world, with 5 pure ones in each and every Gurdwara. And it will all come together. Purity is the force in Sikhism, keep pollution out. We must first start by following the final instructions of our last Guru Gobind Singh Ji. (NO MORE CAST CONSCIOUS NAMES )

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