Introduction To 'Edicts of Sri Akal Takhat Sahib' By Roop Singh

Sri Akal Takhat Sahib is the supreme institute of Sikh sovereignty established by sixth Master Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji. Sikh psyche is emotionally attached to this central seat and the community looks towards it in the event of any critical situation. This sovereign seat offers guidance to the Panth in the matters of religious, social and political issues related to the Sikhs.

An endeavour has been made to consolidate all the edicts, orders and communiques ordained from this highly esteemed seat during the last century. These documents of royalist and religious eminence stand testimony to vouchsafe historical writings and support rational analysis of the futuristic events to happen in the continuous annals human life.

The work in itself offers its eminent importance in the fields of research and critical analysis of ensuing human issues in the light of past practices that have been pursued as a continuous process towards building a society with comprehensive sense of welfare of all beings living on this planet.

About the Author Of 'Edicts of Sri Akal Takhat Sahib'

Roop Singh (b. 20.4.1963) justifiably claims his competence in his scholarly pursuits basically by virtue of his academic degrees with Master in Punjabi and Religious Studies. He entered the portals of Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee to work as an Editor of the monthly organ Gurmat Prakash for more than nine years. By virtue of his undeterred diligence, absolute dedication and astute sense of analysis, he could ascertain his acumen of word-worthiness by popularising this purely religious organ among the Sikh world.

Having acquired his academic proficiency from the Gurmat College Patiala, this illustrious scholar could experience deep understanding of Gurmat Ideology in the company of highly learned Sikh intellectuals. Evidently, he exhibits absolutely clear and concrete understanding of every point of the Guru-axioms but feels remorse about the ones spreading flimsy interpretations.

Acclaimed and honoured by many an eminent panthic institute, S. Roop Singh is fully engrossed in scholastic studies of research in the Sikh religion and history. He has published a good number of books related to the Sikh religion and history and is regular contributor to magazines, newspapers and media channels through his illuminating writings. Recently, the Punjab Government has awarded him for his writings in Gurmat Literature, and Sri Akal Takhat Sahib has bestowed him with the honour of 'Sikh-Scholar'. 

Preface To 'Edicts Of Sri Akal Takht Sahib' By Roop Singh

While writings a Preface to the book Hukamnamei Adesh Sandesh - Orders, Directives and Communiques, I have in my mind the questions connected with Hukamnamas. These questions are not one-sided; but are multi-layered. The traditional devotion is still firm in the mind of an ordinary Sikh. But the possibilities of abduction of such a pure and pious sensitivity have increased much in the present than before. In creating this situation, no one can be called safe out of ours and others. If the inheritors become  negligent, ignorant and greedy, the others speaking from a distance take it as a free game. Now the state of affairs has reached this extent that, in Sikh academics also, most of the writings are being written under a reactionary approach. This is not a Guru-oriented  approach.The Guru way is to draw our line long. It gets confirmed from the contribution of the contributors of contemplation of Sikh religion (from Bhai Gurdas to Bhai Vir Singh ). Sikh academics has to be said lagging behind time. But along with, it has not succeeded in taking care of its heritage. Most of the sources connected with heritage have either gone lost or have been considered as irrelevant. We have still not been able to develop the culture of preserving documents related with our central institutions. It has impeded the path of independent installation  of the reflections of Sikh religion. The preamble of national self-reflectiveness is being fulfilled neither by the institutions and nor by the administrative class. The pure freshness of traditions is being sacrificed at the altar of ignorantly supposed ideas. Now the time is not of pin-pointig the responsibility; rather it is of accepting the responsibility. It can be possible only if there be developed a service-supporting Sikh spirit rather than taking them as authority based officialities. Its provision is firmly intact  in Sikh religious conscience. The need is to activate its consciousness. It can be possible only by turning towards Gurbani. Therefore, we will have to take care of our resource heritage most competently. This book of Rook Singh can be accepted as a step in this direction.

This book has two parts. The first part relates with the connection of Sri Akal Takhat Sahib with Hukamnamas, their origin, history and tradition; Guru-Panth, tradition and history; Quin-presidium, tradition and history ; Sri Akal Takhat Sahib, Hukamname; Punishment and the Accused, tradition and history.Second, and the actual part gives the original version of Hukamnamas issued in the present times. What is available has been brought forth by Roop Singh, and what is required has been left as the responsibility of scholars and readers. Through this introduction, I am trying to proceed with the issue already begun with. History of the Hukamnamas of Guru-period is available. But it is difficult to establish any relation between the Hukamnamas of Guru-period and that of the present times. During the Guru-period, there was no need of issuing a Hukamnama through a Jathedar. Bhai Gurdas, the first Jathedar, did not issue any Hukamnama. Even during the post Guru-period, no Hukamnama is available in written form related with Bhai Mani Singh (upto 1794); Nawab Kapur Singh (upto 1819 Samvat); Jassa Singh Ahluwalia (upto 1840 Samvat) and Akali Phoola Singh (upto 1876 Samvat). After this, the management of Sri Akal Takhat has been running as per the will of English government. They had no objection even during the Jathedarship of Budha Dal. Under their leadership, Arur Singh was the Manager (upto 1920 A.D.). In Akali version, Teja Singh Bhuchar became the first Jathedar (1920-21 A.D.). The first Hukamnama included in this book is the one issued against Professor Gurmukh Singh in 1887 A.D. No such Hukam