A Window To Perceptive Journalism

Kala Afghana's Upcoming
 Anti-Vedanti Book Pre-Empted By Ban

S P Singh

"If the ‘katha' of this Granth can be re-introduced in the Gurdwaras, we will think that our labour has been well rewarded." -Akal Takht jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti in his preface of controversial Gurbilas Patshahi VI.

Far from it, the work has led to a bitter row in several Sikh quarters.

With the Sikh clergy led by Vedanti banning reading, publication and sale of all works of Canada-based author Gurbaksh Singh Kala Afghana, the timing of the ban has raised uneasy questions since it comes almost within hours of claims by Kala Afghana’s supporters that his critique of Vedanti-edited Gurbilas Patshahi VI is now ready for publication.  

"By April 2, Kala Afghana's comments on Gurbilas were complete... Suddenly, on April 4, the Clergy imposed the ban and set May 10 for final decision," claimed his staunch supporter Gurtej Singh. A section of Sikhism scholars believes Vedanti's action was impacted by Kala Afghana's comments on his work.

Kala Afghana's forthcoming book slams the Vedanti-edited Granth and extensively quotes from it, stanza by stanza, to prove that the Akal Takht jathedar has tried to give credence to many concepts, stories and practices which are an anthema to Sikhism and the teachings of Sikh scriptures Guru Granth Sahib.

Excerpts gleaned by The Indian Express show exceptionally hard-hitting language, and Kala Afghana accuses Vedanti of propagating "utter falsehoods."

Examples quoting Vedanti-edited work abound. "Once when Guru Arjun Dev Sahib was getting the land dug for the pool, Vishnu said to his wife Luxmi (that) Guru Ram Dass was my own image and now his son too is cast in my image. (Quatrain 29-32)." This and scores of such references are termed by Kala Afghana as nothing but a conspiracy to inject brahmanical practices into Sikhism.

After a furore earlier, the Vedanti-edited Granth's sale was stopped for some time. But now it is back at SGPC book stalls.

"(According to Gurbilas), Guru Arjan Dev would not go inside Harmandir Sahib out of reverence for Vishnu who was presumed to be sitting inside. Finally, Vishnu announced that he would put his ‘light’ in the body of Guru Arjan," Kala Afghana quotes in his book from Gurbilas and then adds: "Our jathedar wants to re-introduce explication of such baseless concoctions in all our gurdwaras."

At another place, Kala Afghana writes: "In the Patiala edition of Gurbilas, it is written that there should be discussion also on the hymns at Sri Harmandir Sahib. But while editing the book, Mr Vedanti has deleted this instruction. Why? Does he want that Khalsa should remain lost in ecstatic joy by listening to the strains of music only and no explication of hymns should fall on his ears?"

Kala Afghana also tries to establish that the Gurbilas Granth "is the primal source of the Harmandir Sahib maryada" and questions many traditions being followed at the Sikhism's holiest shrine, including the exclusion of women from performing certain kinds of sewa.   

Kala Afghana's criticism of Vedanti and the clergy's action of not giving any date for a videoconference it itself ordered to examine the Canada-based author have raised several questions about the sudden decision of ban on his books which, however, are freely available and being serialised in some journals.■  

April 7, 2004

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