Sikh Dharam Parchar through Interfaith understanding

In the present world, when there are so many religions, there is a dire necessary that there should be inter religion meets where representatives of different religions can share their views and discuss the issues as to maintain peace and harmony in the world. Sikh religion has always been an advocate of inter faith dialogues. Guru Nanak Dev Ji had set an example of such dialogues with people of different religions when he visited their religious places in the course of his travels. His composition sidh ghost is an evidence of such dialogues. Thus, the Sikhs have always been supporters of such meets. When world’s first such meet was organised in Chicago in 1893, known as parliament of the world religions, only Hindu mystic Swami Viveka Nand was invited, The immortal speech delivered by Swami Ji, starting with “sisters and brothers of America,” not only immortalized him, but also opened doors for Hinduism in the western world.

Parliament of the World Religions

For the next 100 years there was no such gathering. When in 1993 100th year of the original parliament was celebrated at Chicago, the Sikhs were also invited in the 2nd international parliament of world religions. For the celebration, an organization in the name of the parliament of the world religions was formed in 1988, one of its objects was to develop and encourage interfaith groups and programs which will carry the spirit of the parliament into the 21st century. Contact details of this organization are:- address: 70, East Lake Street Suite 205 Chicago, IL, 60601, US, E-Mail: info@parliamentofreligions.org, Contact No.: 312 629 2991. As per the aim of this organization to hold such parliaments periodically, the subsequent parliaments have been held in Capetown, South Africa (1991), Barcelona, Spain (2004), Melbourne, Australia (2009) and Salt Lake City, Utah (2015).

Sikh Participation in Interfaith meets

Sikhs have remained very active in all these inter faith meets, even when religions for peace, USA hosted a meeting with Vatican representatives at church centre for UNO in newyork in 2006, S. Taranjit Singh Butalia of world Sikh organization, America region, met Father Massa to hold first Sikh Catholic dialogue. S. Taranjit Singh also participated in 2009 parliament of world religions. Other prominent Sikhs who participated in this parliament included Dr. Balwant Singh Dhillon, Dr. Ranbir Singh Sandhu, Dr. Harnam Singh Shaan, Majinderpal Kaur and Tejdeep Kaur. All of them frankly expressed themselves on various topics like, interfaith understanding in Sikh history and theology, gender equality, Sikh diaspora and global Sikh community and preservation of sikh heritage, the film divided we fall directed by Valerie Kaur screened at the parliament was a significant event during this international meet.

In 2010 again father Massa was with the Sikhs including Taranjit Singh when they visited white house in 2011. Taranjeet Singh met Pope Benedict in AISISI, Italy for 25th anniversary of the world day of prayer for peace, wherein faith leaders recommitted themselves to peace and justice through dialogue. In view of the increasing interaction between different faith leaders, S. Taranjeet Singh along with Dr. Satpal Singh formed Sikh Council for interfaith relations.

Sikh Council for Interfaith relation

Based in Buffalo, USA this council was formed in 2015. It was aimed at putting Sikh viewpoint in international interfaith meets. Thus, in 2015 when Pope visited USA, Sikh council was asked to send two representatives. Sikh council invited many Sikh organizations like Ensaaf, United Sikhs, Sikh coalition, Saldef and Sikh Research Institute for consultations. Representatives from different Gurdwaras of Newyork, New Jercy and Connecticut also participated in discussions. S. Satpal Singh and his daughter Gursharan Kaur were selected for meeting Pope. This Organization also actively participated in 2015 parliament of world religions.

Parliament of World Religion 2018

The next Parliament of World religions will be held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto, Canada in the first week of November 2018. The number of Sikhs participating in this Parliament will be much more than the earlier Parliaments as the population of Sikhs in Canada is quite substantial. When the announcement of this Parliament was made in Toronto on 2 May, 2017, Sikh representatives, namely Dr. Satpal Singh, Trustee of SCIR, S. Ranjit Singh Sahota of World Sikh Organisation Canada, S. Manjit Singh Parmar of Ontario Sikhs and Gurdwara Council, and Dr. Taranjit Singh Butalia, Trustee of the Parliament of the World Religions and of SCIR were present. SCIR established Sikh Task Force also for the purpose of coordinating and implementing the active participation of the world wide Sikh community in this event. This Task Force is comprised of Sikh representatives from Canada, USA and other countries. Dr. Satpal Singh, Trustee of the SCIR in the convener of this Task Force. The main speakers at this Parliament will also include a Sikh speaker Dr. Simranjeet Singh, who is an award winning educator, writer, activist and a scholar. They will also be very active in the management and the arrangements for langar.

It may be mentioned here that the Sikhs had served Langar even in the earlier Parliaments of world religions. This service was the main attraction at the 2009 Parliament in Barcelona, Spain. The Nishkam Centre from Birmingham U.K. was the main organisation to arrange the langar not only one time, but three times a day. This made the event most memorable experience for all the attendees of the Parliament. Similar was the position at the time of 2015 Parliament in Salt lake city, Utah. This time langar was prepared to serve thousands of attendees. The United Sikh volunteers at that Parliament also apprised the people about the Sikh concept of sewa. They also spoke that the sewa was a pathway to alleviate human suffering; that society will have to address fear in order to address hate crime and prejudice; how technology may help alleviate poverty in Punjab where a farmer is committing suicide every few hours; and how there can be peace until truth is revealed for justice and reconciliation to take place. Sikhs also made their presence felt, when volunteers of the American Sikh Council tied turbans for non-Sikh Parliament attendees. Hundreds of non-Sikhs were seen sporting colourful turbans at the Parliament and on the streets and shopping malls near the Parliament venue.

International Sikh Centre for Interfaith Relations

It is not only in the Western world that International Interfaith events are organised. The same are organised in other parts of the world also. These events are of different types where representatives from different religions get an opportunity to communicate with each other. The Sikhs have also been taking interest in such like activities. For example, S. Harbans Singh of Singapore remained President of interreligious organisation for a long time and have been contributing considerably in all interfaith meets.

He was invited to Vatican after the representatives from the Vatican had heard him in at interfaith event in Taiwan. Impressed and in agreement with the values and ideas that Harbans expressed while conducting his seminar, a personal invitation was sent to him to be part of the Day of Prayer for Peace in the World held in Assisi in 2002. Such is the extent of the recognition he has received in his field of work. However, it is notable that Indian Sikhs have not shown much interest in such International meets, particularly as compared to the Sikhs living in adoptive countries. The reasons are obvious. Our clergy dominating the Indian scene is unable to communicate in English and other foreign languages. Further, in India there are fewer religions to deal with and communication with them can be made in Punjabi, Hindi or Urdu, but, in foreign countries, the sikhs diaspora have to live along with the people of diverse faiths, speaking different languages of the world. Thus, it is the need of sikhs to maintain best of relations with all of them. Interfaith programs provide them an opportunity to interact, know their views and apprise them of Sikh concepts. So an effective communication is very helpful for maintaining peace and harmony in mutual relations. In view of these facts only a few Sikh scholars from India have attended international events. Some of the Sikh scholars in India too try to promote interfaith dialogues in different ways. For example, S. Nanak Singh who is director of International Sikh Centre for interfaith relations. S. Nanak Singh Nishter writes on such relations, for example, his writings, teachings for muslims and muslims affectionate opinions about Sikhs and the Gurus (available in urdu also) are meant to make the relationship between Sikhs and Muslims warm and cordial. His books are also available in local language, Telugu, which help the local people to understand Sikh religion. He also represents Sikh religion on behalf of his organisation at many important conferences in India and abroad on interfaith matters. When Ramakrishana Mission Chennai organised a parliament of religions for commemorating the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, he had presented a very valuable paper on unity of mankind through harmony of religions. He had rightly concluded that Sikh religion strongly supports this concept of unity of mankind through understanding and respect of all the religions. When we understand others, only then we can explain our concepts. Thus, to conclude, it can be said that there may be different ways for propagating our religion, but the best way is through self example, meaning thereby, by adopting Guru’s teachings in our life and respecting others for following their own. The ultimate aim of all religions is to make our life peaceful and useful. Whatever is to our religion, our prayer must be universal in appeal such as our Guru says.

(SGGS page 853)

This means ‘the world is burning on fire. O god be merciful and save all. Whatever may be their path means, through different religions and faiths.

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