We have just witnessed the mega event of the celebration of the quadricentennial of the installation of the Adi Granth Sahib, held at Amritsar on the 1st of September, 2004. The Granth was installed by its compiler and major contributor, Guru Arjun Dev, four hundred years ago in the Harmandir Sahib with due ceremony. With Amritsar as the nucleus, the celebrations were organized at global level in which almost every Sikh participated. Major processions originating from different parts of the Indian subcontinent poured into the holy city. The crowds that assembled on the occasion were indeed unprecedented and unmanageable. The main function was attended by countless dignitaries including the President and the Prime Minister of India. The routes of the processions as well as the entire city of Amritsar were lavishly decorated. Illuminations marked the day, and every Sikh home lit up with candles or electric bulbs. The Golden temple premises presented and celestial scene. The SGPC that organized the whole show, issued Gold and Silver coins, and governments issued postal stamps to mark the occasion. A large number of seminars were organized all over the world, and most Sikh periodicals issued special numbers to pay their homage to Guru Granth Sahib.
The celebrations concerned all this and much more. The enthusiasm of the masses was unbelievable. They once more demonstrated their devotion and commitment to the Guru in unmistakable terms. Sikhs outside India did not lag behind. They came to India in large numbers to pay their homage to the Guru and to express their solidarity with the Panth as well as their desire for a glorious future as Sikhs in the international community. This is indeed a favourable ground situation for any programme aimed at future glory of the Panth.
We have demonstrated to the World that Sikhs believe in Sabad Guru, and as such Guru Granth Sahib is our Guru Eternal, so that there is no place for dehdhari Gurus in Sikh religion. It is possible and necessary to build on this foundation the edifice of a great future. We should not sit back gloating over the pomp and show of celebrations. The enthusiasm of the masses should be directed into constructive channels through meaningful programmes. Of paramount importance is the need for sharing the message of Guru Granth Shahib with the rest of the world. This is necessary for salvation of mankind as well as in our own interest. For, we cannot expect an honorable place for us, unless other people understand us and know what we stand for or what Guru Granth teaches.
Volumes have been written on Guru Granth Sahib. Our belief that it is God's own Word is unshakeable. Nobody can fathom fully the depth and extent of knowledge, guidance and inspiration it confers and the ecstasy of its hymms. Guru Arjun Dev has, however, himself summed up its contents in the Mundavani at the end of the Volume thus :
"In the platter (of this Book) are placed three things - Truth, Contentment and Wisdom.
And also this life-giving nectar, Naam of the Lord who sustains us all.
He who tastes this fare and relishes it, is wholly fulfilled.
This thing one cannot forsake: so keep thou it in the mind.
For, (through it) one swims across the darkness of existence and realizes the expanse of God"*
Emphasis on truth in the hymns is too obvious to be missed. Mere knowledge (gyan) of truth is not enough. It has to be practised in life. Contentment is necessary for happiness. Otherwise one continues to indulge in endless pursuits of worldly riches amassing wealth through unethical means, grabbing what belongs to others. This does not satisfy one's hunger for more and more. Greed is unsatiable, and leads to misery. It is only contentment that yields satisfaction. The third thing that the Granth offers is Wisdom, an insight into the nature of the universe, and a worldview. The Guru's approach is positive. The world is real; it is not a dream. Nor is it a place to receive punishment for sins committed in a previous birth. It is a place created by God for man to practise dharma or righteousness. The human birth is an opportunity to meet the Lord who is immanent in the universe, indicating His love for His creation. So, altruistic deeds or service of mankind without distinction of caste, creed, colour or country is the way to please Him. He is the benevolent Father, and we are all His children, and hence equal. There are no chosen and no condemned people. All are equal before Him. He dispenses justice to all. Equality and justice have to be defended as God's Will. That is the only way to end strife in the world and to ensure lasting peace and happiness in the world.
The Granth Sahib repeatedly lays stress on the above values, and it is incumbent upon us to share these values with our fellow human beings across the world. Celebrations of the Shatabadi would be meaningless unless we take some steps in this direction. Some of these could be :
In the end, we must repeat what we have been stressing all along, that the above programmes and other long-term ambitions of the Panth can only be realized through an Apex Body of the Panth with representatives from all parts of the world and from all Sikh organizations. People look to the SGPC in all matters concerning Sikhs. This responsibility will also have to be discharged by the SGPC. The Abstracts of Sikh Studies has been actively campaigning for it. Support from other Sikh organizations in India as well as abroad, will expedite its setting up and propagation of the values that constitute the spiritual food the Guru bestows on the holy platter.
This will facilitate sharing (vand chhakna) of the spiritual food the Guru has bequeathed to us on the holy platter, with the entire mankind.