"The world is on the way to ruin when sacred places become corrupt."
- Guru Nanak, Dhanasri 1, SGGS pg. 662

It is obvious that, with the ongoing Gurdwara problems in the Washington area, the present system as laid out in their constitution has failed - over and over again. This is not unique to the Washington area. Not a single Gurdwara in the USA and Canada has escaped controversy since its formation decades ago. Why do we continue to follow a failed system?

In the article "Management of the Sikh Gurdwaras" (The Sikh Review, Oct 2001), Manjit Singh of Montreal offers some sound solutions on how Gurdwaras in Canada, and indeed everywhere, can become models of Gurmat and Sikhi that future generations can look up to. His suggestions are:

- Organizing and supervising the provisions of religious services as per the Maryada.

There are many religious institutions that call themselves gurdwaras but they do not follow the Sikh teachings as prescribed by the Akal Takht. Gobind Sadan, for example, includes fire rituals in their services. And then there are Nanaksar followers and Nirankaris and so on. The sangat has a right to know whether their gurdwara is truly following the Maryada.

- Basing financial management on sound accounting and financial principles.

Many problems arise from suspicion of gurdwara accounts. Something as simple as keeping receipts of all transactions and conducting independent audits should be a minimum requirement.

- Maintaining the facilities properly.

Gurdwaras should be kept clean inside and in good functional condition. The outside grounds should also be kept clean and well manicured.

- Providing educational facilities.

- Conducting public affairs in the larger community.

- Ensuring legal compliance.

- Providing corporate planning for the short and long-term direction of the Gurdwara.

Gurdwaras could benefit from a budget and plans for the upcoming fiscal year. The government functions that way. All plans must be pre-approved the prior year. Everyone knows what to expect in expenditures, there are no surprises.

- Forming a system to resolve conflict.

There must be a better way to resolve conflicts internally rather than taking Gurdwara matters to court.

- Participating and promoting interfaith dialogue with other communities.

Manjit Singh admits that management committees of Gurdwaras are not prepared nor equipped to handle the above tasks.

So we must take this issue a step further.

Why not form an independent "umbrella" organization that can set the basic standards by which all Gurdwaras can function? This organization would set guidelines for conducting religious services as per the Maryada, electing the governing body - board of trustees and the management committee, determining membership criteria, resolving conflicts when they arise and monitoring the welfare of the Sikh community as a whole. These items are common to all Gurdwaras and can come under the same policy. The local management committees would still have freedom to conduct business of local concern. One could consider the power structure to be similar to that of the federal government and the state government.

Gurdwaras that conduct business according to the principles and guidelines established by the organization would be registered as an accredited institution. Just like a university has credibility if it is accredited, a "seal of validation" from this organization would define the legitimacy of the Gurdwara. Perhaps the Gurdwaras would have to be accredited every few years.

This organization could be what the SGPC was originally intended to be - a decentralized organization with only a supervisory role to help manage local Gurdwaras. The SGPC ran smoothly with low-key, forthright and progressive management until 1947 when the Congress Party changed it into a political organization.

These are suggestions for rectifying the terrible situation we Sikhs are in. We must find the scholars and professionals who can put their heads together and start this movement. Let's start small and grow from there. The in fighting at gurdwaras is completely self-destructive.

If nothing is said and done we will have no one to blame but ourselves.

Anju Kaur, mother of two little Singhs, is a Master in Mechanical Engineering and editor of the Washington based Sikh Sentinel.