VAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA, VAHEGURU JI KI FATEH
This topic has been done to death on the internet. Question: What has been done? Has the AKJ/Taksal/Nihungs/whoever actually taken the issue up with the Akaal Takht Sahib for a new, definitive Hukamnama? Has there been a recent call for a ban for Pad Chhed saroops to be printed from the Akaal Takht Sahib? Has there been a massive effort to revive the teaching of Larivaar Gurmukhi? Has anyone pushed for local implementation of Larivaar Saroops? More importantly, is Guru Sahib's Larivaar Saroop even widely available so that Guru Sahib may be Parkash at Guru Ghars?
If the Sikh Panth was able to force Hukamnamas from the Akaal Takht Sahib (Ragi Darshan comes to mind...the New York Gurudwara pressured them to finally take action), then why has this not been made into a campaign? Writing posts and books, saying how Pad Chhed is manmat is all good...what has been DONE about it? As of now, the Gurudwara committees, for the most part, do not see this as a priority, the Granthi Sikhs, for the most part, cannot fluently read Larivaar Gurbani and the Bhai Santa Singh/Bibi Banta Kaur of the Sikh Panth do not even know about the issue of Larivaar vs. Pad Chhed. So, as of now, it is all TALK.
Start a petition, get some resources available to the Sangat, approach Sikh media outlets to discuss the issue/pay for an ad in the newspaper to raise awareness, start a multi-Jathebandi campaign for this issue (ALL Panthic Jathebandi Jathedars should be united to push this issue forward together) to be taken up by the Akaal Takht Sahib and issue a new, clear Hukamnama (and it WILL require a LOT of pressure, as the SGPC - that organization that is responsible for the printing seva, may provide tremendous resistance) that only the Larivaar Saroop will be considered the true Guru for parkash and set a deadline for compliance WITH a PLAN to make Guru Sahib available to all the Gurudwaras (it is of no use making Hukamnamas that nobody can comply with...Western countries do not even have the authorization to print Guru Sahib's saroop). This is not a 1 month initiative, it may even take up a lifetime or more to get full compliance.
A few other notes. IF this initiative is taken up, then there should be ABSOLUTELY NO Jathebandi politics/difference highlighted. It can only be achieved by the combined UNIFIED power of the Khalsa/Sikh (NOT AKJ, NOT TAKSAL, NOT NIHUNG...ONLY SIKH) Panth. So check those Maryada differences at the door and then proceed. There will be resistance, people will try to defame/derail/deny this initiative from taking place, but only through unity, mutual respect, harmony, and almost inhuman determination will this ever be achieved. Keeping the condemnation and negativity when presenting this topic will be of utmost importance to gain support among the community. Having evidence of Puratan Saroops all being in Larivaar and the how recent the trend is for Pad Chhed Saroops (think powerpoint presentation style - 1 picture = 1000 words etc.) is vital. The key turning point would be a direct, new Hukamnama from the Akaal Takht Sahib that states that only the Larivaar Saroops will be allowed for Parkash in Gurudwaras, that all Gurmat ceremonies/smagams must be in the presence of Larivaar Guru Granth Sahib Ji, and specify a timeline to implement (practical and flexible to allow enough time) and making obtaining Guru Sahib's saroops practical.
One side note: Calling people who were administered Amrit or had their Anand Karaj in the presence of Pad Chhed Saroops anything less than Sikhs will earn the ire of the majority of the Panth. When administering the bitter truth as medicine, it must be sugar coated (i.e. presented in such a way) that it is palatable. Do not go gung-ho and declare people manmatti - you WILL come off arrogant and haughty and lose massive support. The majority of Sikhs did not check for Larivaar Saroop parkash in their Amrit Sanchaars and Anand Karaj (as most do not know of the issue). They do not know and are innocent to this knowledge.
If the Akaal Takht Sahib was to issue the Hukamnama and the Gurudwarae were to become compliant, the problem would solve itself for the coming generations. Perhaps the Akaal Takht Sahib could include that in the Hukamnama that an Ardaas for the shortcomings for the Amrit Sanchaars/Anand Karaj performed in the presence of Pad Chhed Saroops has been performed (some sort of penitent clemency) or some other procedure set up to mitigate such shortcomings in the Gurmat ceremonies (Punj Pyare already do an Ardaas at the end of any Gurmat Smagam/ceremony for shortcomings to be forgiven and that could be seen as compensating for the shortcoming...I don't know...Soojhvaan Gursikhs from multiple Jathebandis should do Vichaar on this). Insisting that all people be administered Amrit again or re-marry in the presence of Larivaar Saroop of Guru Sahib with an iron fist will cause a backlash against such a campaign - you would be implying that the majority of the Sikh Panth has been guilty of being fakes and frauds - that will not go over well and not be well received. To take a "too bad - your fault - go get pesh etc." stance on the issue will gain you further hatred and passionate anger, with possible outright defiance against such a campaign. This would need to be thought out by Gurmukhs as to how to mitigate the shortcomings that have been occurring as smoothly as possible). At all times, remember that whatever may be, they are still your Sikh brothers and sisters. Push the wrong buttons, and they can easily start attacking the sanctity of your Amrit Sanchar (i.e. "You did not get the right Fifth Kakkar - aka. Keski - your Amrit was "wrong". -> Theoretical backlash).
Otherwise, this topic will stand as yet another broken record of a small group of Sikhs to which the rest of the Panth sadly remains oblivious to.
Oh, and if you want suah a campaign to outright fail right at the beginning, start talking about Raagmalaa, Keski vs. Kesh, Naam Dhrir and Banaa requirements.
ਸਤਿਗੁਰਬਚਨਕਮਾਵਣੇਸਚਾਏਹੁਵੀਚਾਰੁ॥
