No unanimity on reconversion, scholars differ

Sarbjit Dhaliwal

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Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 1

There is no unanimity on the procedure to be followed to bring a convert back to the Sikh fold. Scholars say there is no laid down procedure in this regard in Sikhism. However, if one wants to become a Sikh, one can get himself baptised. Or one can simply adopt a Sikh way of life without being baptised.

There is a reference in the “Rehat Maryada”(code of conduct), published by the SGPC, on what is to be done if a Sikh violates or transgresses the “maryada. But there is no reference regarding the converts or the procedure to be adopted to accept him back into the Sikh fold.

The issue is in the limelight following the reconversion of Christian and Muslim families at Agra and in Amritsar by organisations owing allegiance with the RSS. Can a non-Sikh organisation persuade converts to return to Sikhism?

Sikh scholar and former Head of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Studies, Punjabi University, Patiala, Dr Balkar Singh said the issue was purely political and had nothing to do with religion. “The Sikh religion has evolved at the cultural level over centuries and not in a manner associated with some other minorities,” he said. He said the reconversions were not in accordance with the spirit of Sikhism. “There is a need to lay down a procedure to accept back converts into the Sikh fold,” he opined. He said the Jathedar of Akal Takht should set up a committee of Sikh scholars for this task. The proposed committee should update the “Rehat Maryada” by evolving a consensus on the issue, Dr Balkar Singh said.

Former head of the Department of Religious Studies, Punjabi University, Prof Harpal Singh Pannu, said one could re-adopt the Sikh faith by accepting before the “sangat” that he or she had erred in converting to another religion. The “sangat” could then ask the Panj Piaras to accept the convert’s plea and take him back into the Sikh fold after the latter underwent tankhah (religious punishment). Pannu said the issue of conversion and reconversion could not be dealt by law. “These issues are dealt by religious leaders of the community”.

Dr Kashmir Singh, a legal luminary on Sikh issues, said there were no legal restrictions on conversion and reconversion. “Such issues are usually taken care of by religious leaders,” he said.

VHP cancels ‘ghar wapsi’

Bathinda: The local unit of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) today postponed the ‘ghar wapsi’ programme that was to be held here tomorrow.

The VHP state secretary, Sukhpal Sran, said at least 80 Sikh and 20 Hindu families who had embraced Christianity had during a special programme in villages agreed to return to their original faith. But Reverend George, president of the United Church Welfare Association, rubbished the VHP claim. He said: “It is a mere drama. The claim that pastors in Bathinda have agreed to return to Sikhism is baseless. There is no Father by the name of Ashok as claimed by the RSS”. The VHP programme, that was to be held at Satya Narayan Mandir will now be held atthe residence of Bajrang Dal activist at Janta Nagar tomorrow.

— Sanjeev Singh Bariana