Singh Sabha Movement: Are the Singh Sabha Gurudwaras becoming a thing of the past?

Well, I want to first start with a confession:  The last time I went to my local Singh Sabha Gurudwara was not very recently and I may be preaching something I may not have myself practiced.

Nevertheless, the issue needs to be spoken about. 

The issue is of Singh Sabha Movement and how it led to many very good changes in the Sikh social and religious structure. Gurudwaras around the world, after the Singh Sabha Movement became the extension counters of the message of moneotheistic Sikhism and brought the local area Sikh Sangat close. 

The movement also standardised the Sikh symbolism, architecture and practices of Sikh worship. Today, every Gurudwara has the Guru Granth Sahib at the highest pedestal, with easy access to all. There is also a stage for Sikh leaders for bringing Sikh issues and another stage for Kirtan and Katha. 

But there is a sad story about Singh Sabha Gurudwaras that are in low Sikh population areas or are sometimes in large cities too, (which need a management to run) don't have a management system at present. 

My latest trip to a small city in Himachal brought to light some of the above mentioned issues and these must shape the thought for reinvigorating the Singh Sabha Movement. 

The above picture shows the un-named gate leading to the Singh Sabha Gurudwara in Hamirpur which has 5-10 Sikh families only. As i entered the Gurudwara at 5 am, which is the regular time when nitnem or the morning gurbani is recited, the door was shut, the lights of the darbar was off. There was surely human presence and i knocked the door leading to a house attached to the Gurudwara. A person yelled at me in a voice full of annoyance, as I asked him whether the Gurudwara was "open". He told me to go inside and sit and switch the lights on myself. He was very annoyed at my presence. As I went inside and took a corner to sit, I could hear him getting ready (from the bathroom noise). He then entered the hall, with a defensive tone. I asked him about the time of starting of the Gurudwara and he told me it is 6 am and there is no one to attend to the services in the morning. He told me, as if doing me a favour, that it is a big deal that the Gurudwara is running with almost no Sangat or Sikh population. I exited the debate which we could have entered, but while doing my nitnem and attending to him subsequently reciting Gurbani, I was thinking about the larger question of what was happening to the Singh Sabha Gurudwaras? Are these closing in all towns and villages away from the main Sikh population centres? Is this the death bell for Sikhism in India beyond parts of North India with Sikh presence? Are we not doing enough to retain people and reinvigorate the message of the Gurus and the path to Sikh spirituality and a life is egalitariasm, honour, inclusiveness and service? 

In the empty Gurudwara, I could recollect stories of places like Lucknow, where there were instances of Gurudwara getting locked due to absence of Sikh population which would sustain a caretaker,

 Another is the Gurudwara at Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu, which by the way is a Historical Gurudwara, but was faced with issues of encroachment, attack by neighbouring hotels and a general sence of resentment. Even in New Delhi, which has considerable Sikh population, the Singh Sabha Gurudwara in some part of Nizamuddin had to be closed and later shifted outside due to no visitors. There are also instances in Delhi where the Singh Sabha local leaders have de facto abolished the democratic elections into Gurudwara committees closing any chance of youth inclusion and/or innovation. 

For Historical Sikhs Gurudwaras, the recent challenge was the Gurudwara near Jagannath Puri which was maintained by Udasi saints and was later demolished due to the redevelepment project around the Puri Temple. It was good to see some Sikhs making a new gurudwara somewhere in Puri.

The other Singh Sabhas, in some places, have somewhat adopted a 'dera' culture with some saint whose photo is also put in the Gurudwara, and sometimes even worshipped. This was the case of Bhavnagar, where ignoring the photo of the dera saint, there was some good prachar being done by a Amritdhari lady, but the attendees were low. But the work done by this lady must be repeated in other places across India. 

There is an urgent need to revive Singh Sabha Movement structure. 

Some ways the Sikh Singh Sabha Movement can be revived is as follows: 

1. Gurudwara committees of Delhi, Punjab and Haryana should take up mentorship programs for Singh Sabha Gurudwaras in their state and adopt some other states, away from Sikh population for providing barebone support to Sikh Gurudwaras in cities, towns and villages. 

There should be mapping of Gurudwaras in India and each Gurudwara or groups of Gurudwaras must have a mentor in the committees. 

2. Gurudwara committees must have Sikh religion pracahraks at village level block. level and district level in every state of India. In places with no Sikh population, atleast a district level presence is required to assist any floating Sikh population or even do Sewa and prachar to non Sikhs. 

3. Singh Sabha fellowships must be stated where Sikhs from cities in India and abroad are given an opportunity to assist any Singh Sabha Gurudwara and do Sewa and prachar among local sangats. 

4. Creation of an online based call centre for Sikh youth to discuss problems related to Sikh identity, bullying , adolescent and gender issues and other religious and social matters. 

5. Creation of an online Social Media cell to permeate Sikh teachings so that Indian Sikhs can get India related Sikh information (which currently is done by foreign Sikh websites) and also misinformation spread by some elements is countered with right information. 

Another another important point to be taken into consideration is the boosting of visits to Gurudwaras by Sikhs across the world. Sikhs from Indian cities and abroad must visit all the Gurudwaras, especially the ones that are off beat and not within the common circuit. A great example is the beautiful Gurudwara at Nadaun on the banks of river Beas in Himachal Pradesh where Guru Gobind Singh fought a battle against Mughal forces. 

As Sikhs, we should support our Gurudwaras, and the best way of doing so is by visiting these. 

Picture above: Gurudwara at Nadaun