A trend that I’ve noticed recently in the last few years is that
the Jatha has begun propagating the Sikh Rehat Maryada published by the SGPC.
Its surprising to see that the Jatha supports a Maryada that fundamentally
differs from the teachings of Bhai Sahib Bhai Randhir Singh which form the
basis of the Jatha Maryada. Akhand Keertani Jatha is not only a Jatha of
Keertanis, it is so much more. It is-or perhaps I should say that it should be
and at one point was- a Jatha of Bhagats, warriors, scholars and of those
totally drenched in love for Akaal Purakh. Bhagats and warriors such as Bhai
Sahib did not back down from what they believed to be Gurmat and support
Manmat. How then, can our Jatha who uses Bhai Sahib’s name support such a
document?
The SRM states
that the morning Nitnem consists of Three Banis. In Article IV of the SRM it
states that the morning Nitnem is: “1. The Japji, the Jaapu and the Ten
Sawayyas (Quartets) - beginning “Sarawag sudh”. While the entire Panth accepts
that there are in fact two others, Chaupai Sahib and Anand Sahib. The Jatha too
believes these five Nitnem Banis to be the minimum, then how can we support a
document that states only three are required?
The SRM states
that Kes is a Kakkar under Article XXIV, however the Jatha is well known to
believe that Keski is the Kakkar in place of Kes. Believing Keski to be Kakkar
is a belief that sets Jatha apart from most of the Panth, how then can we
support a document that rejects such a belief.
The SRM clearly
states under Article XXIV that it is a cardinal sin to eat Kuttha Meat, or
Halal Meat. Although it doesn't explicitly state that Jhatka meat is
permissible it is implied. The Jatha rejects the eating of all meat and Bhai
Sahib Bhai Randhir Singh has written a book against Jhatka.
How then can the
Jatha accept such a document? Those that support the SRM do so under the
guise of Panthic Ekta or unity, however, the SRM itself is not accepted by the
Panth, it was never ratified by the entire Panth and remains to this day a
draft. Great Gursikhs like Bhai Sahib Bhai Randhir Singh and Sant Gurbachan
Singh left the meetings while the SRM was being drafted and did not give their
support for the document. The Panth does not need a unified Maryada to have
Ekta, what there needs to be is love and respect for Gursikhs regardless of
differences in Maryada. It is hypocritical of the Jatha to support such a
document and it is an outright lie to claim that we follow the “Panthic” SGPC
Maryada. The Jatha’s beliefs and traditions fundamentally go against what is
written in the SRM so why then such a staunch support of it? I understand
the need to have unity in the Panth, however forcing one Maryada on the entire
Panth is not the way to do this. The Panth needs to accept that there are and
always have been differences in Maryada. Having accepted these differences
there needs to be pyaar for fellow Gursikhs and rather than forcing uniformity
there needs to be unity in the 99% that unites us.
Many of the Jatha
leaders want to present Jatha as the "Panthic" Jathebandi, one that
fully accepts the authority of Sri Akaal Takhat. They argue that they alone are
the only Jathebandi that does this. That the Taksal, Nihang Singh Dals,
Nanaksar etc all have their own Maryadas and do not accept the "Panthic
Maryada". They claim that Jatha is the only one that does so. Such
shameless lies!
The Jatha and its leaders should stop with the facade of supporting the SRM for their own nefarious reasons and accept that it is a deeply flawed document and should stop hiding behind it. The Jatha should be proud of it's Rehat and traditions.
