Rashtriya Sikh Sangat

The Rashtriya Sikh Sangat is a cultural organization affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. It was formed on 24 November 1986 on the Prakash Purab of Guru Nanak Dev.

History

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is an organization that aims "to unite and rejuvenate the Bharat nation on the sound foundation of Hindu Dharma". Its definition of "Hindus" includes anyone born and belonging to India (see Hindutva).

Rashtriya Sikh Sangat was formed on 24 November 1986, on the day of Guru Nanak Gurpurab, the birth of the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak. It describes itself as an independent socio-cultural organization which aims to promote Sikh-Hindu relations. It aims to "spread the knowledge of Gurbani to not only the Sikh masses of India, but also to the rest of Indian society".[1]

Shamsher Singh of Lucknow was the first national and international Coordinator and convener of Rashtriya Sikh Sangat. The next President was S. Chiranjiv Singh of Patiala, a dedicated social worker.

S. Rulda Singh, the president in 2009 was assassinated by Khalistani militants belonging to Babbar Khalsa International.[2][3]

Gurcharan Singh Gill of Bharatpur (Rajasthan) is the Current President of the organisation. He started his career as a labour leader and later become State President of Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh. Presently, being a prominent lawyer, he also occupied the post of Additional Advocate General of Rajasthan. He is reported to fought for the cause of Sikhs and also provided legal aid to Sikhs.[4] The Shiromani Akali Dal assigned him as convener of Operation Blue Star legal aid committee for Rajasthan.

2004 Hukamnama of Akal Takhat

Keshdhari Hindus is a controversial term used by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Vishva Hindu Parishad for followers of Sikh Religion as their agenda of Hindutva.[5][6][7][8] Keshdhari means one who have long hairs.

Among RSS, Sikhs are being propagated as a sword arm of the Hindus and staunch Indian nationalists.[9] K.S Sudarshan, the prominent leader of RSS said Sikhs are not separate (from Hindus) but they are actually their reformed version.[10][10][11] They formed an organization for Sikhs known as Rashtriya Sikh Sangat on 24 November 1986.

Since 1984, relations between Sikhs and Hindus have moved toward a rapprochement aided by economic prosperity. However, a 2002 claim by the Hindu right-wing Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) that "Sikhs are Hindus" disturbed Sikh sensibilities.[12]

Reaction from Sikh mainstream

Sikhs does not regard themselves as denoted by word Hindu, due to difference beliefs, identity, dress, rituals and holy book.[10] The Sikh high priest relates RSS to Aurangzeb for their ideology of forceful conversions and condemned calling a Sikh as Keshadhari Hindu . An official message signed by five Sikh Jathedars, issued from Sri Akal Takhat Sahib on 23 July 2004 declared the Rashtriya Sikh Sangat as anti-Sikh outfit. The Akal Takhat Sahib, supreme Sikh body, cautioned the Sikh panth against activities of Rashiyra Sikh Sangat and directed the Sikhs not to participate or cooperate in any activities of the Rashtriya Sikh Sangat.[13]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.sangatsansar.com/index3.asp?sslid=1232&subsublinkid=972&langid=1| Title = Rastriya Sikh Sangat History
  2. ↑ RSS leader Rulda Singh succumbs to his injuries at PGI.....The Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) had claimed responsibility for the attack on him.
  3. ↑ "Rulda Singh’s killers to stand trial in UK, British police team arrives to collect evidence". tribuneindia.com.
  4. ↑ "Welcome To Sangat Sansar". sangatsansar.com.
  5. ↑ Page 95, Secular common sense, Mukul Kesavan, Penguin Books, 2001 - Religion - 136 pages
  6. ↑ Page 19, Minority: Social and Political Conflict, Volume 2, Ramesh Chandra, Gyan Publishing House, 2004 - India
  7. ↑ Their better selves- Vegetarianism and virtue: Retrieved from Telegraph India: September 14, 2015
  8. ↑ ਸਿੱਖਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਸਿੱਖ ਗੁਰੂ ਸਾਹਿਬਾਨਾਂ ਬਾਰੇ ਇਹ ਕੀ ਕਹਿ ਗਏ ਤੋਗੜੀਆ: Jag Bani: June 1, 2015
  9. ↑ Page - 46, Communal Riots in Post-independence India, Asgharali Engineer, Universities Press, 1991
  10. 1 2 3 'पंजाब के बारे में उनकी यह सोच थी कि प्रत्येक केशधारी हिंदू है और प्रत्येक हिंदू दसों गुरुओं व उनकी पवित्र वाणी के प्रति आस्था रखने के कारण सिख है।': Retrieved from Zee News: Dated-September 15, 2012
  11. ↑ Sai Grace And Recent Predictions, Dr. S. P. Ruhela, Diamond Pocket Books (P) Ltd., 2001 - 304 pages
  12. ↑ Rambachan, Anantanand. "The Co-existence of Violence and Non-Violence in Hinduism" (PDF). The Ecumenical Review 55: 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 26, 2008. Retrieved 4 April 2008.
  13. ↑ Sandesh Number 3/04/3207, Dated: 23-07-2004, Akaal Takhat: "A Copy of Sandesh by Akal Takhat Sahib".

External links

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