Panthic Unity 2017

With the Sarbat Khalsa process increasingly lacking credibility and controlled by political actors with narrow agendas, the likelihood of it yielding positive results for the Panth is diminishing.

So maybe progress can come from within the existing power centre (the SGPC)?

Given the Badal party's likely impending defeat in the upcoming Punjab Assembly elections though, there is still hope that progress can come from within the SGPC, given the new President's stated desire for a reconciliation with Panthic groups. This would happen if Badal's defeat was followed by SGPC members showing independence from his control.

Just a few days ago, the new President of the SGPC expressed his hope for achieving greater Panthic Unity, claiming that it is a top priority. He's also seeming to make efforts to do some good things.

Now, even a well-intentioned President of the SGPC is restricted from fully acting on his or her well intentions due to external factors but there are a number of things he or she could do to improve Panthic Chardi Kala if their intentions were sincere.

Below are some steps that can be taken by the SGPC President, if he was willing to make them for the greater Panthic good:

1) Reconcile with the Akal Takht Punj Pyareh who were "fired" last year from their posts. Reinstate them and seek their input and consensus on major Panthic decision-making. There have already been rumours that this might be in the works.

2) Appoint an entirely new set of Takht Jathedaars in consultation with the "fired" Akal Takht Punj Pyareh (even though Patna Sahib and Hazur Sahib are out of the "jurisdiction" of the SGPC, a full new slate of Jathedaars should be announced anyway). The Jathedaar of Akal Takht can potentially be Bhai Pinderpal Singh given his wide respect within different Panthic groups. The rest of the Takht Jathedaars should also be respected figures across the Khalsa Panth. 

3) In coordination and consultation with the new Takht Jathedaars, set up procedures to create a "firewall" between politicians of the Indian state and the SGPC/Takht Jathedaars. This should mean no political parties can be involved in SGPC elections and that the Chief Minister or other "Akali Leaders" cannot meddle in Panthic affairs due to the perception that they are interfering to boost their political hopes. Attempting to meddle in Panthic affairs should result in their automatic excommunication from the Panth. Our biggest Panthic crisis right now is the crisis of confidence in the integrity and impartiality of our Panthic institutions. This needs to be restored by keeping Punjabi and Indian politicians away from co-opting Panthic institutions for their own good. 

4) The practice of giving Siropas at Darbar Sahib or Akal Takht Sahib to visiting politicians including the Prime Minister of India and others should be immediately ended. Siropas should be given exclusively for Sevaa to the Panth. Politicians, even if they are hypothetically Sevaadaars of the Panth as well, should be excluded from consideration from Siropas to avoid the perception that the Panth is beneath them or trying to curry favour with them.

5) Formalize a way to seek the input and involvement of Sikhs living outside Punjab in Panthic Affairs.