Fiction, sex and sleaze are the key words of a controversial book "Dasam Granth Da Likhari Kaun? (Who wrote Dasam Granth). The book is bound to blow up the controversy over authenticity of 'Dasam Granth' purported to be written by Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru. The Sikh intelligentsia is already vertically divided over the issue.

The book written by Jasbinder Singh Khalsa based in Dubai has been printed in Chandigarh under the banner Bhai Lalo Foundation. The writer of the book has claimed that Dasam Granth was not written by Guru Gobind Singh and it was wrongly attributed to the tenth Guru to ridicule the Sikh religion in the eyes of world. "Not even Dasam Granth, Guru Gobind Singh has not written any poetry in his life time including the "Zafarnama" (The Epistle of Victory) that he understood to have written from Machhiwara to Aurangzeb in March 1705 after leaving Anandpur Sahib.

Khalsa claims that he had shown the draft of book to Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti and other Sikh high priests beside about 150 Sikh intellectuals. Jathedar Vedanti said that he had issued directions not to raise controversy over Dasam Granth and the matter should be examined by a committee of Sikh intellectuals.

Dasam Granth has been placed in Gurdawara Takht Patna Sahib, Gurdawara Nanded Sahib in Maharashtra, Damdami Taksal headquarters at Talwandi Sabo and number of other Sikh Dera's particularly managed by Nihang Singhs.

Khalsa has based major part of his book on contents that depicts fiction, sex and sleaze. In 'Triya Chrittar' chapter, describing 405 deceptive characters of women, Dasam Granth has portrayed women in very poor frame" explains Khalsa. How could Guru Gobind Singh bring disgrace to women, he argues. His contention is that Sikh clergy is running away from discussing the issue, which relates to the future of Sikh community.

Shiromani Gurdawara Parbhandak Committee (SGPC) has not accepted 'Dasam Granth' as a whole, while certain contents of 'it including the Ardas "Pritham Bhagouti Simar Ke" have been adopted. Jaap Sahib, Chaupai, Savvayie, Akal Ustat Babbar Bani, Bachitar Natak, Chandi Di war and Shastar Mala are other portions of 'Dasam Granth', which have formed part of Sikh 'Rehat Maryada' (Religious rituals). This would be major hurdle before the Sikh clergy to discredit 'Dasam Granth' and telling people that religious leaders deceived them.

"Disowning Dasam Granth as a whole is not possible, even though some part of this is controversial", says Manjit Singh Calcutta SGPC member and former secretary. It is possible that Dasam Granth was polluted or mixed with other writings by Prithi Chand and his son and grand son who possessed Dasam Granth for long. He however said that condemning Dasam Granth in totality is not correct.

He replied to a question, "If something about sex is written in the Dasam Granth', it is not out of context. Sex is not banned in Sikh religion. As far as I understand, the short stories about sexual behavior of the then generations were given as reference to make people aware of social evils. It is like news about a father raping his daughter or brother having sex with sister are appearing in daily newspapers". His argument is that sex symbols showing men, women and animals in sex positions are made on walls of Hindu temples and devotes go there to pay obeisance.

Calcutta said that Dasam Granth had in its wisdom portrayed an ideal woman, an ideal businessman, an ideal husband and ideal human beings. It is a warning against sex pitfalls in one's life. He however strongly opposed paying obeisance to Dasam Granth in Gurdawaras. He says that Guru Gobind Singh had ordered Sikhs to accept Guru Granth Sahib as living Guru after him.

Khalsa has however challenged Calcutta's point of view. He said that Sikhs are supposed to recite five 'Banis', out of which only two are taken from Guru Granth Sahib and three are adopted from the Dasam Granth. This is religious cheating, he maintained. If a wrong practice is going on for ages, it is not necessary we should carry it forward for future also, Khalsa said. He has announced an award of Rs. One million to anyone who can prove Dasam Granth to be work of Guru Gobind Singh.

Jathedar Vedanti when contacted by Golden Times said that five high priests had on May 14,2000 passed a resolution asking Sikhs not to debate anything about Dasam Granth and take a decision on it through Religious Advisory Board. Vedanti said that he was about to form a committee of Sikh scholars who would discuss the Dasam Granth in totality to arrive at a decision. He also warned the publishers from raising an unnecessary controversy.

Vedanti had in fact replied to Khalsa in response to his letter. Vedanti has written that after this book was published, the print and electronic media would follow it with reviews and possibility of a fresh debate on this issue is not ruled out. "This will be violation of orders of Akal Takhat", he reminded. He has told Khalsa to use restrain.

Khalsa however said that he had made thorough research on Dasam Granth and found that poets comprising Soom, Shyam and Ram basically wrote it. He claimed that only selected versus from this book were picked up and made part of Sikh 'Rehat Maryada'.

Khalsa claimed that Kavi Soom had clearly mentioned in Dasam Granth itself that he had written this granth in 1753. He added that somebody had later added words 'Patshahi Daswin' (Tenth Guru) in it. Kavi Shyam had written two books Gian Parbodh Granth and Chaubees Avtaar. In his books, Shyam had repeatedly refered to "Shri Bhagauti ji Sahai" since he was devotee of Bhagauti. He blamed priests for super imposing name of Tenth Guru on these verses. Kavi Shyam had written Bhagwat Granth in 1744 and his verses were included in Dasm Granth. In every Chaupai and Savvayia Shyam had given his name at least 500 times but this fact was ignored by Sikh scholars.

He said that Kavi Ram was the first poet to write about 'Triya Chritars. These verses were also included in Dasam Granth by certain vested interests. He also maintained that in Dasam Granth, the Zaffarnama is written in Gurmukhi whereas a copy of Zaffarnama available in liberary of Maharaja Patiala is written in Pharsi language. He said that certain scholars claim that it was written in Persian.

He further said that Choupai, Kavi-o-vach has 405 couplets in Dasam Granth but in Gutka's only 397 to 405 no. couplets are given that too with numbering starting from number one. Sikhs should know who has changed it and why?

Khalsa alleged that contents of Dasam Granth encourage idol worship, super spirituality sexuality, repression on women, does not recognize Akal Purkh but idenrtify with 'Kal Purkh', ridicules lower castes and approves sacrifice of humans and existence of demons.

Khalsa said that Bhai Mohkam Singh of Damdami Taksal was invited in a meting in Chandigarh to discuss the Dasam Granth. He had initially agreed that its contents were not in religious order. But later he refused to cooperate.