SURREY, BC – BC Sikh youth, Gurmat schools, and Gurdwara sevadaars gathered today at Gurdwara Dasmesh Darbar to discuss the BC Sikh community’s reaction to the arson attack on Gurdwara Sahib Western Singh Sabha in Williams Lake, BC on March 26. The suroop of Guru Granth Sahib jee that was prakash in the main hall at the time was severely damaged and sanskaar seva will have to be done. This fact was the overwhelming cause of sadness and shock amongst the Gurdwara committee members, granthis, and sangat that gathered for the meeting today.
The beadbi of Guru Granth Sahib ji’s suroop was the most important and significant aspect of the entire incident – this was the message echoed by everybody at the meeting. The gurdwara sahib building could be rebuilt, but Guru Granth Sahib ji is the living light of God and the embodiment of the 10 Patshahian, Guru Nanak Dev ji to Guru Gobind Singh ji. As such, the attack on the gurdwara, while according to the RCMP may not have been race-hate motivated, was attempted murder and assault on the Guru and the Guru’s sangat.
The sangat voiced their commitment to supporting the Williams Lake sangat in any way possible, suggesting various programs be undertaken at local gurdwaras to pray for forgiveness of the beadbi of Guru Granth Sahib ji, for the healing of the sangat in Williams Lake, and for protection of Guru Sahib from tests like this in the future. Many individuals insisted that Gurdwara Sahibs across British Columbia, and for that matter anywhere in the world, should be equipped with a night-time security guard and 24-hour security surveillance technology, as well as alarms. Although media reports confirm that Gurdwara Sahib Western Singh Sabha was equipped with a closed-circuit security camera, perhaps other measures could have stopped the attack. Apparently, the Granthi Singh was in his room at which point he saw the arsonist, an 18-year old Williams Lake resident, break through the Gurdwara window to enter inside. This is what prompted the Granthi Singh to call 9-11, as well as a Gurdwara committee member, resulting in quick action to save the structure of the Gurdwara. However, as many of the participants in the meeting said tonight, the structures have no significance compared to Guru Granth Sahib ji. The damage had been done before the fire crew arrived, and such a beadbi of Guru ji should never happen again in Canada, let alone anywhere in the world.
The meeting attendants expressed their solidarity with each other and with the Williams Lake sangat to lobby the provincial government and the appropriate authorities to ensure justice, and protection in the future of Gurdwaras across British Columbia. Furthermore, the attendants planned to work together to raise media awareness of the gravity of the incident, not on the basis of the Gurdwara arson attack, but for the respect of Guru Granth Sahib ji and for the media, public and courts to recognize Guru Granth Sahib ji as the living enlightener of Sikhs, rather than a plain book as always misinterpreted in most newspaper articles.
The meeting was adjourned with plans for a small jatha of gurdwara representatives to visit Williams Lake this coming weekend, as well as a large united BC Sikh community gathering in Williams Lake, according to that city’s sangat’s convenience, for the sanskaar of Guru Granth Sahib ji’s suroop.
For more information please visit http://www.bcsikhyouth.com or contact the Sikh youth of BC at sikhyouth@shaw.ca
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