SUMMARY
G.G.S. & its impact on Institutional Develoment
Dr. Gurdarshan Singh Dhillon
This paper is an attempt to focus on the core Sikh institutions which came into being under the ideological impulse of the Sikh doctrine. The mission pioneered by Guru Nanak transcended earlier dispensations by virtue of its unique world-view which advocated a social context for the practice of religion. This provides the key to the understanding of Guru’s thesis of love, service and social responsibility. Guru’s Bani is not an abstract creed. It is a dynamic philosophy of the ‘Deed’ , proclaiming and preaching that spiritual path can be trodden not by mere words and talk but by remaining God-centred while performing the affairs of the world. The Guru’s ideology has been a great driving force which evoked deep faith and response among the Sikhs and has exercised an abiding influence on their lives.
Institutions conceived and created by ten Gurus, over a span of two centuries match the revolutionary ideology propounded by Guru Nanak. Guru created a network of Sangats to inculcate the feeling of brotherhood, encourage egalitarianism provide opportunity for Sewa and congregational prayer. Langar and Pangat were instituted to promote the ideal of equality and to emphasize the importance of service, sharing with others and dignity of labour. Gurudwaras were established to serve as rallying centres for the Sikhs and function as strongholds of Sikh ideology. Durbar Sahib emerged as the focal point of Sikh faith and a visible symbol of the Miri Piri doctrine.
Creation of the Khalsa by Guru Gobind Singh was a fulfillment of Guru Nanak’s mission. Double aspect of Guruship represented in the twin institutions of Guru Granth-Guru Panth was in keeping with the spirit of Guru’s injunctions. It has been explicitly laid down in the Granth Sahib that Bani is the Guru and the Guru is the Bani: Collective order of the Khalsa was given the status of Guru-Panth which was to provide temporal leadership to community in the name of the Guru. Institutions of Sarbat Khalsa and Gurmatta (Decisions taken in the name of the Guru) were established in consonance with the democratic impulse stemming from the Guru’s teachings.
In Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikhs have the living voice of the Gurus’. In Guru-Panth, Sikhs have a living, dynamic organism with instruction to grow, progress and perpetually evolve (thus being ever new and fresh), seeking guidance from Guru’s Shabad. These unique institutions have enabled the Sikhs to confront all kinds of challenges. They have endowed them with strength and adaptability to match the pressures created by ever new trends in man’s thinking. It took the Gurus two centuries to build the nucleus of a society capable of propagating itself. Today there is need to strengthen and fortify the Sikh institutions in the true spirit of the Guru’s doctrine to enable the Sikhs to move along their destined course in history.