Ek On(m)kar Sat Naam
(There is One God ; His Name is Truth)
Sindhi Panchayat and Sindhu Samaj, Rajendra Nagar celebrated Gurpurab from 21st November-23rd
November, 2018 to mark the birth of first Sikh guru, Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
The program consisted of “Prabhat Pheri” in the morning followed by Kirtan in morning as well as evening. Langar Prasad of “Sindhi Kadhi Chawal and Boondi” was served
on 23rd afternoon (on Baba Ji’s birthday). The event is
celebrated with great fervor amongst Sindhi Community as most Sindhis are
“Nanakpanthis” (followers of Guru Nanak). Regular Readers will recall my
previous posts regarding how closely most Sindhis identify themselves with Baba
Nanak’s teachings.
While growing up, one often heard about “Sindhi
Sardars” – a subgroup of Sindhis who follow Sikhism which evidences the close
relationship between Hindu Sindhis and Sikhs. Estimates indicate that there are
about 18,000-20,000 Sindhi Sardars in India ; however in the current
“either/or” political/religious environment a lot of these families have
shifted towards the stricter “Khalsa” version and no longer identify themselves
as Sindhis. In fact such is the closeness that a lot of families (Hindu
Sindhis) still perform “Anand Karaj” to solemnize weddings. (The wedding of Bollywood star Ranveer Singh (Bhavnani) and Deepika Padukone is the latest one that comes to mind!). I am reminded of an article titled “Sindhi Sikhs in India: The Missing People”
by Rita Kothari and Jasbirkaur Thadani published in Journal of South Asian
Studies in 2016 which explores and provides useful insights regarding history of Sindhi Sardars and the
cultural/religious negotiations that they have undertaken pre and post
partition.I strongly recommend this article to anyone who is interested to know more about Sindhi Sikhs.
I am lucky to have grown up in a (relatively) Sindhi
neighbourhood, with both Jhulelal Mandir and Tikano in the vicinity. Whilst Sindhu
Samaj has a Jhulelal Mandir which acts as the focal point for the forty day “Jhulelal
Chaliha” festival (held in July/August every year), Gurmandir/Tikano is the
centre of attraction during Gurpurab. In a recent visit, I was
disappointed to see that Tikano now does not have idols of various dieties
along with Guru Granth Sahib which I am told (unconfirmed) is due to the new
gurudwara regulations that prohibit idols being kept along with Granth Sahib.
Equally disappointing, if true, is that nobody from the community has protested (to the best of my knowledge) and as
meek spectators, we adhered. I do not think it is correct as communities should
not be forced to fit into well-defined religious boxes, Sindhi practices are
hybrid in nature and we will lose our uniqueness should we be forced to fit
into boxes.
Talking about Sindhis and Sikhism, the post will be incomplete if I do not mention about Dada Lachman Chellaram and Nij Thanw Mandir at Pusa
Road. Dada Lachman has been at the forefront of Hindu-Sikh unity. (Late) Khushwant Singh writes about him (in 2004):
“…….
Lachman Chellaram, now in his
mid-sixties, is a graduate in Divinity and undoubtedly the most erudite of
preachers of Sikhism. Every year he travels all over the world preaching the
gospel of the gurus. He has translated and published translations of the Granth
Sahib in Gurmukhi, Sindhi (in Arabic script), Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi and
English. He is currently working on a translation of Guru Gobind Singh’s, Dasam
Granth in Hindi.
Lachman Das Chellaram, now with same honorific
as his father “Dada”, has been honoured by the Apex Sikh body like the
Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee as well as the chief Khalsa Diwan.
However, the ultra orthodox religious fundamentalists in the community prevent
the Sehjdhari Sikhs from having a voice in the management of their gurdwaras. Lachman
Chellaram is the living embodiment of Seeikh Farid whose hymns are incorporated
in the Granth Sahib. “I am like the needle which sews people, I am not the
scissor which cuts them apart.” Lachman Das Chellaram has done more to bring
the Sikhs and the Hindus closer than any other person living today.”
Dada Lachman Chellaram, Didi Radhika and the larger
Chellaram family are living examples of the true karmayogis and the all "inclusive" Sindhi spirit ! I pray to
Baba Nanak to grant him a long and healthy life ahead.
I end with the link to the interview of Dada Lachman Chellaram with Dada Ram Jawahrani as a
part of “Sindhi Sarvech” program.
I also attach few photographs of the Gurpurab celebrations at Gurmandir.
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