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A Critical Appraisal of Bhai Harbans Lal’s
Writings on Sikhism
- Baldev Singh
A
brief biographic sketch on the SikhSpectrum.com under “Authors” depicts:
Dr. Harbans Lal is Emeritus Professor and Chairman,
Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, the University of North Texas
Health Science Center, and Emeritus Professor, Guru Nanak Studies, Guru Nanak
Dev University, Amritsar. In 1954, Bhai Harbans Lal was elected as the
President of the All India Sikh Students Federation. For his services, he was
recognized by robes of honor by the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandhak Committee,
the Chief Khalsa Diwan, and the Sikh Educational Conference.
In 1995, Guru Nanak Dev University awarded him the
Degree of Doctor of Literature (honoris causa) in recognition of his
contributions in Sikh Studies. On April 14, 1999, the Anandpur Sahib Foundation
awarded him the Order of “Nishan-e-Khalsa for his superb accomplishments in
promoting the glory and pride of the Khalsa Panth.” His writings on Sikh
subjects have appeared in many books and Sikh journals and he serves on the
Editorial Boards of the Sikh Review and Understanding Sikhism: The Research
Journal.
He is a member of the Interfaith Council of the
Center for World Thanksgiving and Advisor to the American Project on Religion
and the News Media, and to the Sikh Foundation. He is a trustee of Bhai Nanad
Lal Sikh Academy and Founder Vice-President of the Sri Nanakana Sahib
Foundation. Presently, Dr. Lal serves as the Founder President of the Academy
of Guru Granth Studies established for the promotion of scholarly works on the
Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
Introduction
Misinterpretation
of Nanakian philosophy (Gurmat, the teachings of Sikh Gurus) started right during the time of Guru
Nanak, and it is still going on uninterruptedly. Not only the non-Sikh scholars
but many Sikh scholars, exegetes, casual writers and preachers are involved
either ignorantly or purposely. Such misinterpretations are also found in
books, professional and non-professional journals and
magazines, and in all the translations of the Aad Guru Granth Sahib (AGGS) in
Punjabi and English and other languages. Most of the literature on
Sikhism in Punjabi, English and other languages is superficial, superfluous,
contradictory and outright repudiation of Nanakian philosophy. Denunciation of
Guru Nanak started at the moment he refused to wear the sacred thread (janaeu) and proclaimed his solidarity with
downtrodden masses.
Since the defenders of Varna Ashrama Dharama
(caste system) couldn’t do any physical harm to Nanak, as they were powerless
and reeling under the Muslims, they resorted to the policy of Kautilya
(Chanakya) -- Kutil Niti, perverse
morality based on Lord Krishna’s sermons in the Mahabharata -- deception,
manipulation and lies in the pursuit of victory. They started a campaign of
misinformation and defamation against Nanakian philosophy through
interpolation, misinterpretation and distortion.
I
am not aware of any Sikh institution/organization or Sikh academics with the exception
of few non-academic Sikh scholars, who are involved in challenging the
subversion of Sikhism. In 1999, Prof. Devinder Singh Chahal launched Understanding Sikhism: The Research Journal
under the aegis of Institute for Understanding Sikhism (IUS) on the premise of
projecting Sikh perspectives on the basis of AGGS, the only authentic source
of Nanakian philosophy (Gurmat). In the highlights of the proceedings of the
seminar sponsored by the IUS in Canada in 2002, Chahal reported that Prof.
Harbans Lal proposed a resolution expressing both IUS and speakers’ concerns on
the rising trend in misinterpretation of Gurbani (sacred hymns of AGGS) and
Sikhism by both the Sikh and non-Sikh scholars. I am not aware of any effort by Harbans
Lal to check the misinterpretation and distortion of Sikhism. Rather, Lal should reflect on his own writings since
they too contain numerous misinterpretation of Gurbani that distort basic
principles of Sikhism.
I
have not read all of Lal’s writings on Sikhism. However, I am familiar with his
articles, notes and reports published in The
Sikh Review and Understanding
Sikhism: The Research Journal. I think it is appropriate, reasonable and
necessary to critically examine his writings for the benefit of readers, since
he has won laurels for his contributions to Sikh studies. The following account
scrutinizes his five articles.
Sehjdhari Sikhs And Vaisakhi of 1699
Interfaith Dialogue and the Aad Guru Granth Sahib
Surat: Higher Consciousness Of Divine Engagement
Endowed Sikh Chairs at Western Universities
Copyright© Baldev Singh. About the author
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