Introduction To 'Tandav Of The Centaur , Sikhs And Indian Secularism' By Gurtej Singh

Sardar Gurtej Singh needs no introduction. For the common mass of Sikhs, particularly the younger generation, he is the hero who had he guts to resign from the prestigious Indian Administrative Service protest Bold and unique, as this decision was, there is no other way Gurtej Singh could have reacted. Not only does he clearly understand the true spirit of Sikhism and its stand against injustice and oppression, has become a part of his nature. His reactions are always as correct as they are spopntaneous. His decision to quit IAS cost him dearly, but he has never regretted it.

His scholarship and commitment to the cause of Sikhism or the message of the Guru has never been in doubt. The Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee recognised this by conferring on him the rare honour of Professor of Sikhism - a distinction shared only by the late erudite scholar Sirdar Kapur Singh.

In the present book, Sardar Gurtej Singh casts his penetrating eye on the recent history of the Sikhs, with particular reference to the so-called Indian Independence struggle, and the role of Sikhs, treat­ment meted out to them and the genesis of the Punjab problem. His observations and conclusions might cause shock and disbelief among certain quarters. His very approach, questioning the traditional views, is bound to raise many an eyebrow.

We are accustomed to accounts that glorify the Independence movement, and a few stalwarts of the Indian National Congress have been accepted as our heroes. Mahatma Gandhi is presented as the greatest saint, modern India has produced, and is regarded as father of the Nation. Jawahar Lal Nehru is not far behind, with the title of Uncle or Chacha Nehru.

The author questions the very intentions of the leaders of the movement. He has based his premise on the proclamations made by the British Government from time to time, as well as the policies pursued by our leaders. The later clearly indicate that our leaders had no doubt in their minds that departure of the British from India was only a matter of time. The so-called freedom struggle was in fact a struggle for succession to hegemony. The Hindu leaders with an over­whelming majority in the country, as well as in the Congress, wanted an unrivalled succession to authority under cover of nationalism and secularism. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, who later bacame the undisputed leader of Muslims in India, saw through the game and claimed his share of the cake. Sikhs were the only party that believed that the British would never leave, unless pushed out. They, therefore, continued the fight and suffered heavily in terms of prison and death sentences. This partly explains the sacrifices made by the Sikhs far out of proportion to their numbers. Their faith in the Congress leaders remained un­shaken, and they continued to cast their lot with the Hindus, blaming all the while the Muslim League of secessionism and lack of patriotism.