Sikh academics resent, politicians tough on text issue by Harmeet Shah Singh

NEW DELHI, Dec 7 (UNI) Resentment is brewing among Sikh academics over what they call "Politicisation" of a textual topic even as leaders of the religious community toughen their stand on the issue.

Eminent Sikh scholar Jaspal Singh criticised political debates on television and newspapers over the controversial texts, saying "They did more harm to the personality of spiritual leaders than a few lines in school textbooks." Though a member of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) that on Wednesday called for action against author Satish Chandra of controversial medieval India, Dr Singh today appealed for a stop to "Rewriting history" and to the "Politicisation of an academic issue".

"Sikh leaders should stay cautious against becoming a handle that can be used for political advantages." Dr Amrik Singh, former vice-chancellor of Patiala University, resented what he called a "Missing link between administrative decisions and an academic topic.

"An academic issue does not remain academic in the literal sense of the word when it becomes political." he told UNI here.

A renowned scholar, Dr Amrik Singh said the decisions regarding text changes lacked transparency.

"The decisions are administrative and not academic." Dr S S Noor, professor in Punjabi at the Delhi University, also expressed dissatisfaction with the handling of the textbook controversy.

"This is indeed a literary issue.

It should have been dealt with by scholars and there was no need for such a mass publicity," he said.

The issue, Dr Noor added, could have been resolved with the involvement of scholars belonging to the communities in question.

"Circumstances should not be created that hurt religious sentiments," Dr Noor said.

But on the other side, Sikh politicians have toughen their stand against textual contents which allegedly insult their faith.

Mr Avtar Singh Hit, chief of the DSGMC, which represents delhis large sikh community, warned of an "Unprecedented protest" in the streets of the capital if the government failed to take action against Prof.

Chandra within a fortnight.

"Sikhs will not tolerate sacrilege at any cost," Mr Hit, a close lieutenant of punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, said.

He also flayed the congress party for what he called its double standards over the issue.

"On the one hand the Congress government in Delhi passes an Assembly resolution against the textbook, but on the other the party supports the left opposing text changes." Namdharis, a considerable Sikh sect, also supported removal of the alleged religious insults from textbooks, but questioned the communitys leadership why the controversial texts stayed in school syllabus for three decades.

"Why did the sikh leadership did not raise the issue before.

How has it become a hot political subject so suddenly," Namdhari darbar president H S Sanspal, a former MP, said.

"But one thing is clear, religiously insulting matter should find no place in textbooks," Mr Hanspal, a staunch congress loyalist, added.

Steering a middle course, Mr Harinderpal Singh, member of the prestigious Shiromani Gurdwara Management Committee (SGPC), criticised the Akalis for following what he called the sangh agenda.

However, the SGPC member suggested involvement of the top sikh institution in textual writings involving religiously sensitive topics.