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FEROZEPORE: To address larger issue of global environment in the new millennium, a section of Sikh clergy is considering to document instances, portraying the prominent historical figures as champions of the "green cause". A move is therefore afoot to prevail upon the missionaries to publish a series of documents, projecting the Sikh gurus as champions of environmentalism. The idea is to make the Sikhs aware about various environment related problems addressed by the Gurus and some other prominent figures. Disclosing this to the Tribune, the Takht Kesgarh Sahib Jathedar, Prof Manjit Singh, said that specific instances and stories, portraying the Gurus as environmentalists shall be documented to enable the Sikh community to find answer to contemporary issues. "The new millennium demands this sort of work instead of confining the community to the convention of organising langars and diwans", he said. The Guru Nanak Mission has already conveyed its willingness to publish environment-related articles through its journal, Prof Singh said, hoping some other organisations to come forward with more ideas. Quoting Gurbani, Prof Manjit Singh said that most Sikh Gurus had stressed on environment protection and this fact needed to be highlighted. Prof Singh, who earlier had initiated the practice of offering saplings as prasad at Gurdwara Kesgarh Sahib during the Khalsa tercentenary festivities cautioned the Sikhs against continued pollution of Punjab rivers, including Beas in holy Goindwal-where Guru Amar Dass had constructed a baoli (a well with steps leading to water level). It is widely known that the Guru had constructed the baoli sensing contamination of Beas river. Tracing the roots of environmentalism in the Sikh history, Prof Singh further pointed out that Guru Har Rai ran a herbal treatment centre in Kiratput Sahib that was now being retrieved with fresh plantation with the help of forest authorities. Likewise, Guru Arjan Dev had a well dug in Chheharta village in Amritsar to help out the villagers suffering on account of drought Baba Budha a respected figure in the Sikh history is known to have retired to a forest, where various species of the animals lived in harmony. "All this needs to be retrieved and is being done step by step", Prof Singh assured. It is interesting in a related development Punjab and Sind Bank has brought out a new year calendar carrying the paintings detailing these incidents. Adding that the ignorance of such valued historical facts was fuelling misconception among the Sikhs, Prof Singh said the community and its leaders certainly had a role in saving the environment in Punjab. Referring to the menace of poaching in the state, he said, the Sikhs should refrain from hunting as the new world order demanded protection of wild life. Generally the misinformed Sikhs feel free to indulge in poaching, as the Gurus had promoted the sport. Since it was a need of the hour during the war times, the practice should not be allowed to continue, Prof Singh emphasised adding, "the Gurus had never hunted for fun, but to make the community stand recklessly against the invaders". Source: Tribune News Service |
