Do Sikh Interlocutors Clarify or Confuse Panthic Objectives?
[]]Interlocutor = ਦੋ ਧਿਰਾਂ ਵਿਚਕਾਰ ਗੱਲ- ਬਾਤ ਚਲਾਉਣ ਵਾਲਾ।]
When asked to wrote about a senior Sikh figure, I also had in mind the qualities of a good interlocutor between the Indian state and the Khalsa Panth. The name is not important in this context but the qualities included are as follows: In his Parliamentary speeches as an MP, he robustly defended diversity and Sikh constitutional rights as a distinct people. His contribution over the decades towards the promotion of the Panth as a theo-political entity has been immense. He has always kept in touch with Diaspora Sikhs and understood their genuine concerns about Sikh issues. He has promoted Sikh high achievers and his approach is exemplary for global Sikhs in senior positions. He continues to inspire next generations.
Such Sikhs serve both, the countries they live in and own community. They do not see any clash between the two types of loyalty because Sikhi promotes rule of law when laws are good and just regimes. What is good for the Panth cannot be bad for any country. In the UK, The Sikh Manifesto prepared by an independent team, makes that clear.
Perhaps one of the most famous interlocutors in Sikh history was the martyr Bhai Subeg Singh, a scholar of Persian. He acted as a go-between Zakariya Khan, governor of Lahore (1726 &ndash 1745), and the Khalsa Panth. He did his best to improve relations between the Mughal rulers and the Khalsa. When the time came, he gave his life for the Panth. Bhai Nand Lal brought Guru Gobind Singh Ji and Emperor Bahadur Shah together. From time to time, many prominent Sikhs of the Guru from Hindu and Muslim backgrounds acted as interlocutors between the Mughals and the Gurus and later the Khalsa Panth. Delhi based devotees of the Gurus like Nawab Saif Ali Khan during the time of Guru Tegh Bahadur, played such roles behind the scenes.
Events since 1984 have raised the global Sikh profile. Sikh migration abroad has increased manifold. Indian government reaction to Sikh activism in some Western countries has made continual headlines. A more positive development has been senior level Sikh appointments of identity and other Sikhs. Whether the publicity given to Sikh activism is positive or negative depends on individual viewpoints and state policies.
Common global Sikh direction is derived from Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the Sangat and the simple Sikhi rules for individual discipline and Panthic life. A good interlocutor should fully understand the Khalsa Panth ethos.
An interlocutor takes part in conversation and acts as a go-between two opposing sides. He fully understands respective positions, and aims and objectives of the two sides. In fact, being a participant in the conversations, an interlocutor adds own constructive influence to bring the two sides closer. It is almost certain that some Sikhs played such a role during the all India farmers protest led by the farmers of Panjab. The outcome was the withdrawal of the unjust farm laws by the Modi government.
Needless to say, a good interlocutor has to win the trust of opposing sides that he would not betray either side to self-promote that he would add clarity to what each side is trying to achieve so that intentions and motivations become clear. He is an honest broker who adds value to the discussion. He must be a man or woman of integrity and stature.
Gurmukh Singh OBE
Principal Civil Servant retd (UK)