With the approach of not only a new century, but a new millennium, is Khalsa prepared to meet the challenges it will face in the future? Will we, ourselves and our leadership, bring us to a period of glory, peace, prosperity, and love for mankind, or will we repeat mistakes of the past? The following article expresses one view on this critical subject on the eve of the third millennium. The North American Sikh Journal (NASJ) solicits articles with enthusiasm on this topic.

In 1699, Guru Gobind Singh ji created Khalsa, which changed the course of Indian history through its success in halting the frequent and devastating incursions into the sub-continent by the warlike tribal rulers of the states of the northwest, beyond the Khyber Pass. During the same century, East India Company was founded in London by merchant adventurers and speculators, including the Crown, seeking profits in exploiting the riches of the East. Within a few decades of its arrival on the sub-continent, it became a quasi sovereign government over many parts of India.

By the mid-nineteenth century, the East India Company had become a factor of such magnitude in the economic and political life of England that the government took over the company, and brought direct British rule over India. In 1857, it declared Victoria to be Queen of India, and later in 1877, declared her Empress of India.

During the early nineteenth century period, or almost one hundred years after the creation of Khalsa, Maharaja Ranjit Singh succeeded in creating a remarkable empire, extending over the northwest India up to the Khyber Pass, and about 50 miles beyond. However, Maharaja Ranjit Singh, for various reasons, never groomed a successor to hold his hard won creation together. This was probably a major factor that East India Company was able to extend its control over the Sikh territory in 1849. During the second half of the nineteenth century, Sikh influence and power experienced a decline in its status.

From the arrival of British rule in Punjab to the 1920s, Sikh Gurudwaras were managed and controlled by managers (called mahants) who were appointed by the British government. These mahants proved to be the pleasure-seeking opportunists, and treated Sikh religious institutions as their personal estates. Jathedar Kartar Singh Jhabbar raised a voice against these mahants, and led a campaign in the 1920s to restore the control of the Gurudwaras to Sikh hands. This movement became a rallying point for the Sikh renaissance, and was successful in the formation of the Akali Dal and Shiromani Committee in 1925.

In 1999, while the Sikhs were celebrating the 300th anniversary of the creation of the Khalsa with great pomp and show in Anandpur Sahib, I thought this amazing celebration was misguided, Tohra and Badal groups at war with each other, not over principles but because of ego and self-perpetuation. No one pondered the question: Is there a better tribute? A few hundred crores of rupees have been squandered.

And I asked myself.- Have the Sikhs produced a person of international eminence, statesman, scientist, philosopher, artist, or a sportsman? I asked a few others. We could not come up with a name. Someone suggested Bhai Vir Singh, another Milkha Singh, a great hero for us but he was only 4th in the 1960 Olympics in Rome. Bhagat Puran Singh's name also came up. He was remarkable man but received no international recognition. A friend said he did not receive enough publicity or there had been discrimination against him because, unlike Mother Theresa, he was not able to get wider exposure. The Sikhs did not lobby for him or did not know how to go about it.

After 500 years and being the 5th largest religion in the World, 19 million strong, our failure to produce a person of international eminence ought to be a cause of great concern to every Sikh.There is evident lack of intellectual development comparable to the developed countries. Nirad Chaudhuri, writes in his book, Thy Hand, Great Anarch, "For nearly one thousand years the Hindus have been saying that they hold this truth to be self evident that there is no country but theirs, no nations like theirs, no kings like theirs no religion like theirs no science like theirs." I am paraphrasing the words the great Muslim scholar employed around 1000 AD."(P920). We live under similar illusion, which prevents us from identifying our weaknesses and finding ways of overcoming them.

There was jubilation at the announcement by the Central Government that a Junior Commissioned Officers Academy will be established at Anandpur Sahib. How exactly it will contribute to the well-being of the Khalsa, I fail to comprehend. The Khalsa has paid lip service to its past tradition of gallantry and bravery but has produced no documentation and memorials to its heroes, either those who fought for our survival under Banda Sigh Bahadur, Nawab Kapur Singh, Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, Sham Singh Attariwala or those who displayed bravery during World Wars I & 11 and India's wars against Pakistan. Those who sacrificedtheir lives and comforts during the struggle against the British are already forgotten, even though the politicians strut out the figure of over 2200 who died. The heroes of Kama Gata Maru and Gadhar Movement have no memorials built to honour them by the Sikhs. The loss of life in the 1980s and early 1990s has been attributed to their misguidance and not to the incompetence of Sikh leadership.

An average Sikh holds in esteem a person of means, be he Sardar Bahadur, Sir or Maharaja or a Jathedar who received the honour from the British in recognition of their services rendered to them, and in some cases collaborated against the Sikh interests at a given time. Some of the Akali leaders, after Independence, are alleged to have served the interests of the Central government. Since the leadership derives its strength from the affluence and prestige bestowed upon them and average

Sikh lacks critical judgement, they have continued to be regarded highly, and they have been able to maintain their positions. The Sikhs spend plenty of time and money on the Gurudwaras but have failed to create international (or national) institutions for "seva" or for propagation of the faith as Christians have done. Yogi Bhajan has made the Sikhs proud by introducing Sikhism to his followers. He is the only Sikh who has created a significant number of Sikhs among western societies outside of India. It is a shame that SGPC has done nothing to further our faith or publicize it. The Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandic Committee had failed to issue a White Paper on Operation Blue Star. While the Govermnent issued its biased version within days and distributed it free. After over 13 years SGPC authorised Dr. Gurdarshan Singh Dhillon to produce a White Paper. He has written a book, priced at Rs 75. How many people will read it after such a lapse of time. Admiral Satyindra Singh's offer to write a book to commemorate the anniversary of Blue Star operation was spurned by the SGPC.

However, it is encouraging that The Institute of Sikh Studies, Mohali, has started a trust, funded by Stephen Sander and SGPC to disseminate Sikhism among the vanjaras in Madhaya Pradesh. It is a good beginning. I hope it stays its course.

The Sikhs are divided into a number of Akali Dals, in most cases named after the leader. The leaders ego is too strong to work with the others. Divided we either fail or make a compromise, as can be seen on the present Punjab Government going back on its commitments given in Akali Party's manifesto. The Akalis have disgraced themselves in their failure. The Sikhs are divided among themselves, as Jats, Bhapas, Ramgarhias and so on. People who are so divided among themselves have no future. They will continue to be driven by others.

Why is it that the Sikhs have failed to create print and electronic media of international standing or for that matter industry and financial institutions of repute, except for Sanjiv Sidhu's i2, which has a capitalization of over three billion dollars in USA. Incidentally, he is the first Sikh to be listed as a billionaire. The Punjab and Sind Bank and Bank of Punjab owe their origin to Sikhs, but these are small institutions even by Indian standards. Ranbaxy Laboratories is a company that all Sikhs can look up to with pride. S. Mangal Singh started Hindustan Times but could not keep it. Dayal Singh Majathia gave his money to Arya Samaj because the Sikhs would not agree to his terms, more importantly could not perceive how their interests could be served by his offer. In the absence of a credible newspaper the official media and hostile papers allowed Indira Gandhi to dub the Sikhs as Khalstanis.

All through their history, shortsighted, emotional, naive, and illiterate (or semiliterate feudal) leadership who had no clearly defined objective or plan to pursue, has led the Sikhs. They have blamed everyone else but themselves; that is the Sikh tragedy. It is doubtful if an average Sikh trusts any of his leaders even though he may cast his vote for them. The literacy in Punjab is lower than many other states of India even when literacy only means a person's ability to sign his name in Punjabi. Now the World is going through a computer revolution, is there nothing that the Sikhs can do to help their own, especially those in the rural areas where there is growing unemployment?

Is there an invention or discovery that is attributed to a Sikh, as also an Indian, which has a universal consumption or application? All my research has produced only a negative answer. Here again is the reflection of the lack of adequate intellectual development and curiosity. The emergence of USA as the only superpower, and the success of earlier colonial powers, much as we may not like them, is owed largely to their military and economic strength. The military, industrial and economic strength flows from high level of professional education and skills. And those who lack education or are inferior in quality of education and industrial skills continue to be manipulated by the others, through military or economic means. The Brahmins in India and Jews of the World are two good role models to study and understand. Both of them are intellectually superior to others and have controlled, influenced or affected the destinies of others to their advantage. In 1914 Britain had 2% of the world's population, and Europe 10%, but they ruled 84% of the earth; and America is now the de facto ruler through its financial and military strength. Russia and Eastern Europe collapsed because they lacked the education, skills and political flexibility to create stronger economies to sustain their military infrastructure.

The best tribute that the Sikhs can pay to Guru Gobind Singh is to ensure for each Sikh the opportunity to acquire the best education and skills, especially computer education, and the jobs where they can use them. We will have Khalsa who will not only be prosperous but also more discriminating in electing their leaders-clearly providing an environment for a better Khalsa.