Holy Sikh book presents composite Eastern spiritual lore: Dhindsa

New Delhi, Nov 2 (UNI) The Guru Granth Sahib (holy Sikh scripture) is an anthology of Indian spiritual ethos, evolved from the active interaction of Eastern and Semantic religious philosophies and thoughts and should not be bracketed with the Sikhs alone, said Akali leader and former Union Minister Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa.

Releasing a book, 'Sri Guru Granth Da Bahupakhi Chintan' a research treatise in Punjabi, authored by eminent academic Mohinder Kaur Gill, Mr Dhinsa said the Sikhs had failed to convey to the countrymen that the Sikh scripture belonged to them in the same right and manner as that of the Sikhs'.

Because, he said, it contained the religious writings of highly acclaimed 15 saints like Kabir, Namdev and Ravidass and 11 religious philosophers who dotted the entire Indian sub-continent and hailed from different sections of society.

Punjabi University Vice-Chancellor De Jaspal Singh, who presided over the book release function said it was a sorry state of affairs that a majority of Indians as well as the Sikhs were not aware that the Sikh scripture represented a composite Indian spiritual lore which got enriched after its interaction of Sufism with Indian religious mythology and Buddhist thought.

Dr Singh said the Sikh scripture was relevant today and would remain so in future as the 'One God' it had portrayed resides not in Heaven but among the people, in the entire universe. And, the God blesses only those who pratice a ''truthful living as family persons'' and work for equality and social justice while giving a fight against every sort of discrimination and excesses on economic, social and poltical levels.

''The Sikh ethos does not believe in seeking of salvation for an individual but grants emancipation of 'the Self' of a follower only those who dedicates him or herself to a lofty social cause and earns livelihood through honest labour'', Dr Singh added.

Eminent academicians- Dr Satinder Singh Noor and Dr Manjit Singh said the Sikh scripture negates the caste-system, gender inequality and authoritarian ruling set-up while presenting the entire Creation and Universe as a living reality and not as 'maaya'( an illusion).

Several other sikh leaders and scholars, inclduing senior Akali leader Birinder Singh, spoke on the occasion and praised the book for its lucid analysis on the Sikh thought which could be easily undetrstood by the common man.

Dr Mohinder Kaur Gill, mother of eminent Punjabi Sufi singer Rabi Gill, has authored about one hundred books on Sikhism. Rabi Gill was also present in the function.

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