There are about 9,000 deras in Punjab and many of them are as old as the Sikh religion itself. Though this is not an official figure, but experts say there are two in every tehsil.Sikh scholar Dr Darshan Singh says, “Deras like that of Nirmalas, Ravidasiyas are old as the Sikh religion. However, ‘commercial deras’ like Dera Sacha Sauda were raised in late 60s and early 70s.”
Ask him for the reasons and he says, “Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and the people who ran them during those times. They ruined the institution for their vested interests, leading the deras to flourish in Punjab.”
Dr Balkar Singh, another Sikh scholar who has been very closely associated with the longest-serving SGPC president late Gurcharan Singh Tohra, says, “The definition of a dera is a place which is run by one person who calls himself a guru and such institutions are spread all over the state. I remember I used to joke with Tohra sahib that would he permit, there would be a dera in his name too. Derawaad flourished because the SGPC became a mere administrative body, and so did the Akal Takht. These two institutions which were supposed to give spiritual guidance to the Sikhs became highly politicised and the people of Punjab turned to deras.”
Talking about the clash between the Sikhs and the deras, he says, “There is no clash when it comes to religion. Had it been so, Nanaksar too is a dera and even Bibi Jagir Kaur runs a dera. This clash is basically a political issue.”
SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar, however, denies all these charges. “The SGPC has not failed. We are doing dharam parchar successfully. In the last one year, we have covered over 100 villages in Malwa where thousands of people have been baptised. The response from the youth is good who want to now revert to beard and turban,” he says.
By SSNews
Guru Nanak Dev ji preached the philosophy of the AKAL PURAKH to people of all faiths alike. He did not refute the essence of any religion, but condemned the pragmatic ill practices of the time and pronounced a truthful living.
The Sikh Gurus have had gone through rigorous persecutions to defend the rights of religious practices for all faiths alike. They rooted out the evil practices and upheld the humane values.
According to the definition of ‘DERA’ such a place does not confine to the code of the Panthic Principles. Then why should Deras be allowed to preach Sikhism, and even to an extent to carry out Amrit Sanchar ‘Khande Bateh Di Pahaul’? The majority of the Sikhs are affiliated with Deras of their own choice. It is a debatable matter to a further discussion and conclude why it is happening. I leave that notion for the Sikhs to think about!
I think, if the Amrit Sanchar ‘ Khande Bateh Di Pahaul’ option should only be confined to the Anand Pur Sahib Gurdwara, no other place be permitted to carry out this occasion, then the majority of the existing probles would vanish. The desired Sikhs should spend sometime at the Gurdwara premises to learn the basic rules and how to live a brotherhood or sisterhood life for own sake and for others to be as a role model.
Trilochan
This indeed is a debatable question. the point you have raised my brother, is very serious because this ‘Dera-vaad’ (Sect culture) is a rust eating up our faiths from the deeps of our minds. People feel proud to say that they believe in St. XYZ because he is very good at preaching and kirtan etc. .., but forget, that we are son of Guru ‘Gobind Singh and we are not supposed to bow before any other human being.
But it is my personal belief that Akaal Takhat Sahib must make strong laws for not to give khandey ki pahul’ to anybody straight away they must be given six months time to learn and practice the code of conduct of Gursikhi life before having entry to Gursikhi. Also the Amrit Sanchar must be conducted at some particular places affiliated by Akaal Takhat Sahib.
Rest is upon Sikh Panth, what they want and how they want it?
Why don’t you get a good video capture device and TV Tuner and record these videos.