Do Gurdwara leaders wish to win respect?

It is decision time for Sikh Gurdwara leadership; the question they have to address is this - how can they win respect from their congregations where it is lacking? The question is 'if' and not 'how' and 'why'?



The foregoing commentaries have celebrated the fact that the Sikhs in the United Kingdom and elsewhere have succeeded in building fine temples and other premises for social and community use. The next phase of the debate is to address the vital question: are Sikh communities benefitting from community resources?


While talking to some young people at the Neville Road Gurdwara a few months ago, the discussion tended to lead to the following outcomes, each of which needs to be debated critically:


How does a Gurdwara define success?
 This would depend on what one means by success. If the function of a Gurdwara is to address the spiritual and religious needs of the greatest number of Sikh people with the most significant spiritual needs on a continual basis, then we seem to be heading towards a few answers. On the basis of current evidence, one may predict, on the balance of probabilities that ‘success’ is possible to achieve but we are probably not there as yet.

Success would mean two positions,

Either

a) That Sikh Gurdwara leadership perceives a role to address the spiritual needs of all Sikh populations but the greatest single denominator should also be the needs of young people and others who must be helped to acquire a sense of community.

Or,

b) That the Sikh’s Gurdwara leadership does not accept that community development is a part of their role. They are in the business of running temples and all the ‘four doors’ of the Gurdwara are open to anyone (not only Sikhs) who may wish to participate in religious meetings and classes under their supervision. They, as the leadership are not interested in or able to provide a proactive service to the community owing to lack of resources or more likely due to lack of vision. They may believe that it is not necessary to have strong communities in order to have a strong sense of religion.

Or,


c) That the Gurdwara is a spiritual house of God and issues such as community harmony and community development is not the responsibility of the Gurdwara. There is a need for these initiatives but Gurdwara leaders are not either obliged or more likely equipped to perform these tasks.


d) The responsibility for community advancement and building positive relationships within the Sikh community and with all other communities must be the role of specialists or professional people in the Sikh community who can bring special insights into this major challenge. All they expect is comfortable place to meet and to hold meetings with due regard to Sikh practice, namely there should be no access to alcohol or unwholesome food with non-vegetarian content. This outcome provides a major challenge to Sikh leaders, namely the masters of Gurdwara assets.


What does the community expect from Gurdwara leaders?

a) To answer this critical question, should someone not consult with the Sikh community? Where are the communities most likely to converge? At the Gurdwara or at weddings and funerals, most likely the other events will also take place at the Gurdwara. With the exception of one or two Gurdwaras where there is a strong sense of community, Gurdwara congregations seem to be yearning for engagement, for investment in collective energy and for achieving success and recognition for engaging with the wider community as a whole.

b) Where the Gurdwara leadership is not interested in supporting community development initiatives, they should come forward and say so. There is no harm in being open and frank as it will hopefully stir others to come forward. They cannot be the architects of change without being engaged in building the new communities.


c) On the other hand, those Sikh Gurwara leaders who wish to invest in community welfare because these actions will satisfy their ‘survival needs’, it is time for them to invite the professional and competent people in their midst and to declare their options. They must declare their interest in becoming the facilitators and agents who may wish advance the community development agenda but they may not wish to be engaged in the development of action plans and delivery of the community development process. While this outcome may be initially perceived to be disappointing, a mature Sikh leader who declines personal involvement but seeks professional input will win my respect.


It is decision time for Sikh Gurdwara leadership; do they wish to win respect?


It is likely that very few Sikh leaders will be totally determined to avoid the responsibility for developing their communities. It is more likely that many leaders will not recognise their personal and organisational shortcomings and that they may not appreciate the fact the world believes in specialisation. The more qualified people in education, community and leadership development are well represented in the most Sikh communities. They are waiting to be asked. They need access to resources which are most likely to be meeting space and a few cups of cha.


Gurdwara leaders must make up their minds. The young people who may benefit from a range of initiatives that are commonly grouped under ‘community development’ may be their own sons and daughters. The Sikh ‘youth’ must first of all assemble and exchange their views about community needs and benefits within their own forums and at their own level. Only then will they be able to take part on joint action which is beneficial to the wider community.


When they cannot first and foremost develop their own proposals, they are unlikely to have respect for Gurdwara leadership. As a result they will be further denied the benefits of the central purpose of spiritual development which is to form strong and purposeful life in the community. Strong and successful communities with good links at the grassroots are more likely to want to worship together. Without the bottom up engagement of young people and more diversified input from professional people, Sikh Gurdwara leaders are likely to pass the baton to a shrinking pool of talent who are more likely to be people like themselves.