The announcement by the Jathedar Baba Kulwant Singh ji of Takhat Hazoor Sahib, Nanded, Maharashtra, one of the four holy shrines releasing all the gold collected over the last 50 years to build hospitals and medical institutions. The objective that no ç or anybody should travel to Hyderabad or Bombay for medical studies or treatment away from the heartland is most gratifying and welcoming.

As per law and our constitution, minority religious institutions and trusts enjoy freedom from government administration with collection and income exempt from income tax. In minority educational institutions up to 50% seats can be retained for minorities while the balance is open for general admission on merits and management discretion (capitation was common once).

By certain acts of Parliament all the religious majority institutions were nationalized and taken over by government appointed trusts, mostly the biggest and most popular ones. The entire collection is property of the state government which is used for state activities.

Minority trusts have built huge land banks with all Income free from tax. This runs or expands activities.

Some even repatriate funds abroad to their controlling bodies.

One or two were canonized (sainthood) mainly for service to the poor, conversions, and huge fund transfers to parent body.

Each place of worship has a sort of target. Postings of clerics is on merit for growing the flock and the collections.

These trusts are also entitled to government grants, subsidies for relief work. Some like the Takhat Huzoor Sahib go the extra mile to use the collected funds for good of the Khalsa and all who need help. In addition to contribution by followers and well-wishers to establish Institutions that provide relief these are eligible for ongoing government grants under various relief programs including medical relief plans.

The goodwill, the community feeling, and wellbeing when visiting the well maintained and clean environs reposes faith and relieves pent up stress and thus serves its purpose to humanity.

This is something that very few majoritarian faith institutions have achieved in our own country, unlike the other faiths have done in the countries of their origin and establishment, despite being younger by several thousand years.

Society decides and follows what they believe in. Inducement and coercion were necessities for modern sects to grow their following. Sikhism is an exception that attracts by its simplicity of teaching and practice.

Nothing that all of us do not know already. We shy away from discussing religious matters or stating facts openly, despite being a democracy and avowedly secular due sensitivity towards one and all, even to a level of causing harm to one’s own belief and faith systems.

Fortunately, this tradition of not merely co-existing, but accepting the other faiths sets us apart in this galaxy of nations. This spirit needs to be universalized by all faiths by a series of self-introspection and find new directions for the future.

Hardliners and extreme ideologies will constantly derail such evolution which must be fought from within. Each one is responsible to reform their own. If helping hand is asked, then by all means do step in but not step on.

Rishi Singh

rishikant.s@gmail.com