Both, the entry and exit of Jathedar Joginder Singh to the post of Akal Takhat Jathedar was very dramatic. Sardar Sukhdev Singh Bhaur and Rajinder Singh Mehta carried out the duty to collect the resignation of the Singh Sahib and removing him from the esteemed post.
Contrary to the Sikh philosophy that ensures equality of Religion and Politics, this decision was a "hat-trick" where Politics was again used to suppress the status of Religion. Even before this, the position of Jathedar Ranjit Singh and Giani Puran Singh was sacrificed to the panthic politics. None of them had a respectable exit from his post and no moral norms were used for their removal.
During his tenure as Jathedar, Giani Joginder Singh saw many ups and downs. Many times after his decisions as Jathedar of Akal Takhat Sahib, it felt as if he would now be shown the door from the esteemed position. But before any harsh decision was taken, every time a new panthic controversy germinated and his "exit" seemed to be deferred indefinitely.
Though he had his Gurmat education from The Damdami Taksal, he never let Taksal Maryada influence Akal Takhat Sahib or the Panthic Maryada.
When Giani Joginder Singh Ji was appointed the Jathedar it was decided that guidelines addressing the functioning and rules & regulations of Akal Takhat and its Jathedar be formulated. But it never happened. If this would have happened then perhaps this current situation could have been avoided.
Though Jathedar Ji has been forced to submit his resignation, but in the nation of "Satyamev Jayete", now the SGPC will try to deny any involvement in this and will declare that his resignation was voluntary. And the Shiromani Akali Dal will give its regular statement that it does not interfere in the functioning of either the SGPC or the Jathedar Akal Takhat.
When Master Tara Singh Ji was in the Almorah Jail every inmate had to sing "Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram.." in the morning prayers. Master Tara Singh told the Jailer that there are Muslim inmates too, so why are they forced to sing this. The Jailer replied that everyone sings by his choice. To this Master Ji said, "Then announce that those who want to sing this should sing and those who don't should not". The Jailer replied, "If we give such an order everyone will leave".
Looking back at what had happened during the previous Centenary celebrations too, it seems as if on the Panthic level someone is determined to taint the environment during every centenary celebration by behaving with the Jathedar of Akal Takhat in the same way as a local Gurdwara Committee does to its Granthi.
During his tenure as the Jathedar, Giani Joginder Singh had taken some historic decisions and issued important hukamnamas. Some of the historic hukamnamas are as follows:
4. Hukamnama declaring the detractors of Sri Dasam Granth as mischievous miscreants.
5. Hukamnamas excommunicating, Joginder Singh (Spokesman), Kala Afghana, and his supporters.
Persian scholar Sheikh Sahdi once said, "You have got a short life. Say what you want to say, before the God says 'Shut-up". Every Jathedar should also realize that his life as a Jathedar is short. And before the "political masters" say 'Shut-up', he while addressing a panthic issue should use his powers considering what Guru Hargobind Sahib would have done or said. Removal of Jathedar is not distressful, but the way he has been removed is indeed sad. Before his removal he should have at least been given a chance to express himself in the court of the sangat, and should have taken the permission of the sangat before his respectful exit. -By Gurcharanjit Singh Lamba
Courtesy of Sant Siphai Magazine
