Professor Darshan Singh Khalsa
| Professor (Prof.) Darshan Singh Khalsa | |
 | |
| Full Name : | Darshan Singh Khalsa |
| Birth : | 1940 [1] |
| Parents : | - |
| Spouse : | Bibi Manjit Kaur |
| Children : | - |
| Death : | - |
| Other Info: | Presently living Toronto, Ontario, Canada. |
Prof. Darshan Singh Khalsa (also referred to as Singh Sahib - his title when in seva at Shri Akal Takhat) is a well known Sikh keertani (performer of Kirtan), lecturer (katha performer) and a prolific author. An ex-Jathedar of the Shri Akal Takhat Sahib, he is married to Bibi Manjit Kaur and currently resides in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Sangat usually refers to him as professor due to his teaching style of the Guru Granth Sahib ji. He is a strong supporter of the Guru Granth Sahib as the only Guru (spiritual guide) of the Sikhs and does not support the idea of any other Granth being given the same stage or prominence as the Sikh holy Granth.
Besides teaching classes on the interpretation of Gurbani, both in person and over the internet, each Friday night and Saturday morning, Professor Singh performs many discourses on Gurbani from a small hall on the first floor of his residence in Canada. Many CDs and Cassette tapes on Gurbani have been produced by Bhai sahib over the past 25 years or so; his contribution to the dissemination of Sikh principles both through personal performances, appearances on radio, TV and via media like CDs, Cassettes, etc has been enormous. He has been a respected Giani (person with high spiritual knowledge) by the Sikh community worldwide; many hundreds of thousands of Sikhs have listened to his Kirtan and Kathas.
Recently, he was excommunicated from panth for not reciprocating his tankha. In addition, he and all other's who were "excommunicated" from the panth were called back to be given pardon, he denied, saying that going would give the jathedar's the pleasure of assuming that he agrees with their excommunication; namely, him not attending Akal Takhat to reciprocate his tankha. He said that there was evidence of him going there and this was merely a way to dis-character him. [2]
Introduction
Prof. Darshan was born in November of 1940 in the village of Sur Singha, in undivided Punjab. He has been doing keertan and katha sewa for the past 40 years. He remained at seva of Shri Akal Takhat Sahib during one of the most turbulent times from 1987 - 1990.
During the partition of India when West Pakistan was carved out of the Punjab, the threat of religiously driven mob violence forced thousands of Sikh and Hindu families to either die or abandon their ancestral homes. Prof. Darshan was one of those, who was forced to move to India when he was only eight years old. His grandfather, a scholar and ragi , served as Darshan's teacher and guide. As a young child his grandfather taught him to memorize a multitude of topics and writings; such as Gurbani kirtan, sakhi's and katha.
By the time he was he was nine years old, he had done his first kirtan.
Over time, sangat began to enjoy his style of kirtan until the period when he was ex-communicated by Khalsa Panth.
Kirtan Seva & Philosophy
At a very young age he began to memorize gurbani. Eventually, based on his abilities and level of interest in Gurbani, kirtan and katha became his way of life. His goal, at this point in his life was to become a professional Ragi.
Ragi Darshan was installed by the Tohra led Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) in late 1986. Although Baba Gurbachan Singh Manochahal was also declared Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib by a section of the Khalistan freedom fighters, he later resigned for the sake of Panthic unity. Little did he know about the treachery that was unfolding under the leadership of his successor.
On December 31 (1986), Bhai Darshan Singh Raagi joined as jathedar. On January 23, 1987, the three head priests had also been dismissed and in their place, Giani Puran Singh, Giani Savinder Singh, Giani Jaswant Singh and Giani Kashmir Singh were appointed as high priests. The ‘Sarbat khalsa’ held on January 26, 1987, approved the resolution of April 29 for Khalistan and also the recent appointments of the high priests. In a recorded message of Gurbachan Singh Manochahal played to the gathering he resigned from the post of Jathedar, Akal Takht, to accommodate Bhai Darshan Singh in the larger interest of the Panth."
The former Joint Director of India’s Intelligence Bureau, Maloy Krishna Dhar, in his memoirs, states:
“He (Rajiv Gandhi) has already played the peace card through Ragi Darshan Singh and a Jain preacher Sushil Muni…”
(Open Secrets – India’s Intelligence Unveiled, Maloy Krishna Dhar, Manas Publications -200
Working with Indian Government
During a convention held at the Sri Darbar Sahib complex at the Teja Singh Samundri Hall on August 4th, 1987, a statement was read by Baba Manochahal’s representative, Bhai Daya Singh Chohla, that chided the Ragi along with the rest of the ‘Singh Sahibans’ for backtracking on their previous pledge to lead the struggle for the liberation of the Sikh Homeland – Khalistan.
The convention was called by the Takht Jathedars under the pretext that this assembly would 'define' the goals and objectives of the Sikh cause. Baba Manochahal and others openly questioned the need to define the Panth’s goals and objectives when the Sarbat Khalsa had already done so. Baba Manochahal argued that the goal for the establishment of an independent Sikh Homeland, Khalistan had already been declared in 1984 and further ratified by the Sarbat Khalsa in 1986.
The contoversial convention, organized by Ragi Darshan Singh, was attended by Takht Jathedars Giani Kashmir Singh, Giani Sawinder Singh, Giani Jaswant Singh, and many prominent Sikh politicians and personalities of that time.
Khalistan no longer a goal
At the gathering it was declared by the Ragi that the Sikh nation’s goal was not an independent and separate homeland of Khalistan. Instead, the Sikhs should strive for a more more autonomy in India as promised by Pandit Nehru during the partition. The Sikhs no longer needed to fight an armed struggle declared the Ragi, self-governance and autonomy could only be gained through dialogue and votes.
Chaos prevailed throughout at the convention, but this did not distract the Ragi from his task. This was perhaps the first direct attempt to derail the Khalistan struggle at the public level, and an insult to the declarations passed by the Sarbat Khalsa in 1986.
"Dasam Granth" Controversy
Prof Darshan Singh Ragi was in the panthic dock for using derogatory remarks on the Jeevan and Banee of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Sahib. The case is simple and straightforward. He narrated a story which is claimed appeared in Sri Dasam Granth. While performing keertan at a gurdwara in Rochester, NY, Prof Darshan Singh claimed that a story appears in Charitropakhyan where Guru Gobind Singh Sahib goes to a prostitute. The prostitute tries to lure him. Guru Sahib contemplates that if establishes relationship with the prostitute then the one who will be born out of that relationship will only be a pimp.
Prof Darshan Singh claimed that this narration was in Sri Dasam Granth. Till today he has not been able to show the page number of the granth where this story appears. Reason? Because he molded another story to fit is taste. No such story with the words used by Darshan Singh appears in Sri Dasam Granth.
A US based TV Channel interviewed Darshan Singh for over an hour and gave him the opportunity to substantiate his claims. But he failed miserably. Moreover he couldn’t even properly read the lines from Charitropakhyan, a subject he loves to talk about on every occasion.
It was expected that all the Sikh organizations will stand together to criticize this Guru Nindya, like they did with Ashutosh, Bhaniara and Gurmeet Ram Raheem. Unfortunately, it’s this eternal weakness of the Sikhs that though they can fight the external enemy with full might, they get easily deceived by an enemy from within – an enemy who wears turban, carries a kirpan and looks like them. And that’s what has happened in the case of Darshan Singh. Over the weeks a simple and straightforward case of Guru Nindya has been colored in many shades.
Some see Darshan Singh issue as pro or anti Dasam Banee issue. Some see it as pro or anti Khalistan issue. And some see it as pro or anti Badal issue. The real issue has been overshadowed by all this mish-mash.
If there was any truth in Darshan Singh’s stand then this issue could have been resolved in a matter of few minutes. The reason that this has taken so long and became so complicated proves that Darshan Singh has no justification for his blasphemous remarks. He could have maintained his larger-than-life status by agreeing that he misread the scripture and what he said was wrong. Instead he went on a counter allegation spree. Sometimes blaming the translations of Dr. Jodh Singh and sometimes taking refuge in those individuals who reject the basic principles of Amrit, Nitnem, Ardas and Rehat Maryada.
But what Darshan Singh said in Rochester is not a random and unrelated assault on Sikhi. Since a couple of years he has been behaving as an outlaw. He has been speaking against the validity of Nitnem and Amrit Sanchaar Banees. At one point even questioning whether the Banees which are recited now during Amrit are the same which Guru Sahib recited on the Vaisakhi of 1699. He even went to the extent of congratulating a heretic gurdwara in Finland who changed the first pauree of Ardas. Even calling Takhat Hazoor Sahib as a shop and proposing to sabotage its golak.
It’s not only Darshan Singh’s fault. Had the panth taken notice of his outlaw nature and taken cognizance of his blasphemy, maybe he wouldn’t have gone to the extent of denigrating the life of Guru Sahib. The silence of the panth towards his blasphemy is equally to be blamed.
The Takhats of the Khalsa Panth can issue Hukamnamas. It’s up to the Sikh panth to follow and implement those diktats. Numerous Hukamnamas were issued from Patna Sahib and Akal Takhat Sahib ordering the panth to be aware of Darshan Singh’s nefarious designs. But the panth didn’t take notice of that. Moreover because of Darshan Singh’s anti-Badal rhetoric, those leaders and those parties who oppose Badal and the SGPC saw an ally in Darshan Singh. Ignoring the Hukamnamas and ignoring the outlaw nature of Darshan these leaders gave unconditional support to Darshan and gave him an open forum through their stages to spew his venom.
It was ever expected that the members of the Kala Afghana cult who openly defy any panthic authority will come to his support. And they didn’t disappoint. Wholeheartedly they supported Darshan Singh’s Guru Nindya. Unfortunately even those from whom sincerity was expected also towed the line of Darshan Singh. A scribe, who claims to dissipate the news of the Sikhs to the World, in a clear defiance to the panthic mood, has written in defense of ‘Singh Sahib’ Darshan Singh. It was expected of that scribe to get into the core of the truth and then address the issue with honesty. However, a former member of SAD (Amritsar) who doesn’t cease any opportunity to criticize the government for atrocities against Sikhs has sided with a man who used the most derogatory remarks for Guru Sahib.
The issue is simple and straightforward. We are either with the Guru or with the Guru-Nindak. There is no middle path. We have to decide. Do we want to cross the line of Baba Deep Singh and be ready to sacrifice ourselves for the Guru; or we want to stand on the other side and continue to support a Guru Nindak and still call ourselves as Sikhs.
(Author: Bakshi Atamjot Singh)
External links
- Darshan Singh Excommunicated
- Prof Darshan Singh engages in Guru Nindya – A TV Discussion
- Darshan Singh supporters silenced by Sikh Sangat in NY
- Controversial Sikh preacher Darshan singh is summoned to Akal Takh Sahib
- The Line is Drawn – The Choice is Ours
Media
Audio & Video
- [1] – Prof Darshan Singh engages in Guru Nindya – A TV Discussion
- sikhnet.com – Sikhnet has some recordings by Prof. Darshan Singh Khalsa
Pictures
- Professor Darshan Singh Khalsa Picture Gallery
References
- ^ http://www.ggsacademy.com/volunteerteam "Prof Darshan Singh Khalsa" in Volunteer Team
- ^ http://ggswebacademy.blip.tv/file/3795648/ "Prof Darshan Singh Khalsa" interview by Sikh News Network
If you are unable to view references, please login to Sikhiwiki.
More Topics
Readers are invited to add any info on the following:
- Parents
- Education
- Marriage
- Lifestyle
- Style of Narration and its Impact
- His Foreign Trips
- His books
- Achievements
- Other comments
Ragis who play Gurbani Kirtan | Kirtan: | Raga · Taal · Ragmala · Classical Music · Sangeet · Dhuni · Divan · Asa di Var · Jatha · Simran · Shabad · Tuk · Rababi · Dhadhi |
| Ragas: | Asa · Bairari · Basant · Bhairon · Bihagara · Bilaval · Devagandhari · Dhanasari · Gauri · Gond · Gujari · Jaijavanti · Jaitsri · Kalian · Kanara · Kedara · Maajh · Malaar · Mali Gaura · Maru · Nat Narain · Prabhati · Ramkali · Sarang · Sri · Sorath · Suhi · Tilang · Todi · Tukhari · Vadahans |
| Ragis: | Harjinder Singh · Maninder Singh · Amolak Singh · Darshan Singh · Balwinder Singh · Harbans Singh · Anoop Singh · Niranjan Singh · Amrik Singh · Avtar Singh · Snatam Kaur ·Kamaljit Kaur · Dileep Kaur · Joginder Singh · SS Maskeen |
| Saaj: | Harmonium · Tabla · · Tanpura · Taus · Rabab · Sarangi · Dilruba · · Saranda · Sarode · Sitar · Santoor · Pakhawaj · Dhadh · Dholak · Dool |
- See Wikipedia article on Professor Darshan Singh Khalsa for more information
