Institutional decay

The sentencing of Dr Santokh Singh in a land fraud case has ramifications beyond the convict. A noted surgeon, Dr Santokh Singh’s election as president of the Chief Khalsa Diwan (CKD) last year was welcomed by many. He was expected to clean the Aegean stables following the ignominious exit of his predecessor, Charanjit Singh Chadha, who was then under a cloud in a case of sexual harassment.

The Amritsar-based 116-year-old Sikh charitable society has a storied past with presidents like Bhai Vir Singh, and indeed the Sikh Education Conferences under its aegis performed a key role in revitalising the community and spreading education in the region. It runs a large number of educational institutions, including 46 schools and some institutions of higher learning. However, there has been a steady decline in the leadership of the institution, a perception of the weakening of the moral fibre of its leaders, coupled with many reports of bickering among members. 

The role of the institution in providing leadership to the community has been laudatory. Its focus on education has kept it out of political rows that have often been seen in other such organisations. In times of need, Sikh history throws up instances of persons selected to perform sewa and head organisations. What is needed is a non-partisan person of excellent leadership and the ability to take together the team. Only such a person would have the moral authority to make the changes necessary to revitalise the institution and to secure the future of over 60,000 children who depend on it for their education. Sometimes it takes a loss to build towards gain. The best candidate may not be the one keen to be in the mess that all elections generate. He or she may have to be found and persuaded to accept the responsibility. It remains to be seen if the members of the Chief Khalsa Diwan can rise above their factionalism and get such a leader.