New Delhi (KP) - Following in the footsteps of the mischievous Gurbaksh Kala-Afghana, the prominent Ragi Prof. Darshan Singh found himself amidst fresh controversy after he publicly ridiculed the Bani of Guru Gobind Singh Ji that is compiled in the Dasam Granth.
Banned from many Panthic Stages
According to press reports, Darshan Singh was not allowed to recite Kirtan at at Sri Darbar Sahib, Amritsar Sahib, Takht Sri Hazur Sahib, in Nanded, and Guru Teg Bahadur Gurdwara Sahib in Jalandhar after complaints arrived about his controversial comments on Dasam Guru Sahib’s Bani. During a live TV broadcast at the historic Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib in Delhi, Darshan Singh continued his criticism of Dasam Bani. Several youths from the Sangat protested his slanderous speech, resulting in such pandemonium and chaos, that that much of the Sangat left the diwan in disgust.
Dr. Balwinder Singh of the Akhand Kirtani Jatha, and the IHRO Sikh Affairs coordinator, Sardar Gurcharnjit Singh Lamba also criticized the nefarious comments by the ragi, who once served as an acting Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib in the late 1980s.
Open Challenge to Ragi to Debate on Dasam Granth with Scholars
The Akhand Kirtani Jatha also openly challenged Darshan Singh to a debate in front of the international media on the subject of Dasam Bani and Bhai Gurdas Ji’s Bani with Dr. Jodh Singh, Patiala, Giani Sher Singh Ambala, Dr. Kanwarajit Singh Patiala, Dr. Anokh Singh Bathinda, and scholars from the Akhand Kirtani Jatha.
The Jatha stated that prominent GurSikh intellectuals such as Professor Sahib Singh, Bhai Vir Singh, Akali Kaur Singh, Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha, Professor Puran Singh, Bhai Randhir Singh, Bhai Raghbir Singh Bir, Principal Satbir Singh and others had always respected Dasam Patshah’s Bani and accepted it as authentic.
IHRO Reaction
In a separate press release, the IHRO called upon other Sikh institutions, organizations and groups, including Akal Takht, Khalsa Action Committee, Damdami Taksal and SGPC, to take note of Prof Darshan Singh's illegal, blasphemous activities.
The IHRO has also decided to file a criminal case under section 295-A of the Indian Penal Code if the Ragi did not stop his anti-Panthic activities.
Kala-Afghana Ideology
The IHRO in their press release states "Darshan Singh Ragi, as kirtaniya, had been doing keertan, writing articles and lecturing on Dasam Bani, and now after the ex-communication of Kala Afghana from the Panth by Akal Takht he seems to be too eager to adopt this new role of Kala Afghana, which is really intriguing."
While others have only speculated in the past that Darshan Singh was a covert Kala-Afghana supporter, his writings now confirm this viewpoint. In his work titled, ਕਬੀਰ ਸੂਤਾ ਕਿਆ ਕਰਹਿ (Kabir Soota Kya Kareh), the ragi clearly acknowledges and endorses Kala Afghana and his skewed ideology.
The original article can be found at : http://www.ggsacademy.com/articles/kabir_suta.pdf
Excerpts from his article:
.................ਮੈਨੂੰ ਅਜੇ ਤਕ ਯਾਦ ਹੈ ਕਰੀਬ 22 ਸਾਲ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਕੀਰਤਨੀਏ ਭਾਈ ਅਮਰਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਤਾਨ ਹੁਨਾ ਨੇ ਬਚਿਤਰ ਨਾਟਕ ਵਿਚੋਂ ਗੁਰੂ ਬੰਸਾਵਲੀ ਦੇ ਨਾਮ ਹੇਠ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਪੜਨਾ ਅਰੰਭਿਆ ਤਾਂ ਦਾਸ ਨੇ ਉਹਨਾ ਨੂੰ ਬੇਨਤੀ ਕੀਤੀ ਸੀ ਤਾਨ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਅਗੇ , ਮਾਹ ਕਾਲ ਕਾਲਕਾ ਅਰਾਧੀ , ਦਾ ਇਕ ਕੰਡਾ ਅਜ ਤਕ ਕੌਮ ਕੋਲੋਂ ਨਹੀਂ ਨਿਕਲਿਆ ਤੁਸੀ ਸਿਖੀ ਰਾਹਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਆਹ ਹੋਰ ਕੰਡੇ ਨਾ ਖਿਲਾਰੋ...... ..
.........ਬਾਣੀ ਨਾਮ ਹੇਠ ਦਰਬਾਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਅੰਦਰ ਭੀ ਪੜ੍ਹੀਆਂ ਜਾ ਰਹੀਆਂ ਕਚੀਆਂ ਰਚਨਾਵਾਂ ਬਾਰੇ ਖੋਲ ਕੇ ਆਖਿਆ ਕੇ ਮੈਨੂੰ ਸਮਝਾਓ ਜੇ ਇਹ ਬਾਣੀ ਹੈ ਤਾਂ ਸਾਨੂੰ ਬਾਹਰੋਂ ਕਿਸੇ ਹੋਰ ਦੁਸ਼ਮਨ ਦੀ ਕੀ ਲੋੜ ਹੈ ਪਰ ਉਹ ਅਜ ਤਕ ਦਰਬਾਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਦੇ ਅੰਦਰ ਪੜ੍ਹੀਆਂ ਜਾ ਰਹੀਆਂ ਹਨ ।.......
...........ਕਾਫੀ ਸਮੇ ਤੋਂ ਲਗਾਤਾਰ ਅਪਣੀਆਂ ਲਿਖਤਾਂ ਰਾਹੀ ਕੋੰਮ ਦੇ ਆਗੂਆ ਨੂੰ ਝੰਜੋੜ ਕੇ ਜਗਾਨ ਦੀ ਕੋਸ਼ਸ਼ ਵਿਚ ਘਾਲਣਾ ਘਾਲ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ ਸ : ਗੁਰਬਖਸ਼ ਸਿੰਘ ਕਾਲਾ ਅਫਗਾਨਾਂ
Darshan Singh critcizes Bhai Amarjit Singh Taan for reciting Bani of Dasam Patshah, but the Ragi himself has continued reading the same Bani on Panthic stages for years. Darshan SIngh mentions that this discussion took place at Hemkunt Sahib, a place that is referenced in the same Bani he has condemned. Interstingly, the Kala-Afghana lobby rejects the very Hemkunt Sahib Darshan Singh visited.
He claims that 22 years ago he cautioned Bhai Amarjit Singh Taan from doing Kirtan of Bachitar Natak. This is amusing because Darshan Singh was himself authoring articles on Bachittar Natak and doing Kirtan and Katha from Bachittar Natak and other banis from Dasam Granth until recently. The audios below clearly prove that point.
Listen to Audio: Prof Darshan Singh recites Kirtan and Katha from Krishnavtar in Dasam Granth ਧੰਨ ਜੀਓ ਤਿਹ ਕੋ ਜਗ ਮੈ ਮੁਖ ਤੇ ਹਰਿ ਚਿੱਤ ਮੈ ਜੁਧੁ ਬਿਚਾਰੈ -
Listen to Audio: Prof Darshan Singh recites from Krishnavtar (ਛਤ੍ਰੀ ਕੋ ਪੂਤ ਹੋ),Chandi Charitar (ਦੇਹ ਸਿਵਾ), Bachittar Natak and other banis from Dasam Granth.
Commenting on the ragi’s controversial stance, one Panthic observer stated "Even after Bhai Kahn Singh and other Gurmukhs explained the real meaning of Kaal, Kalka and Mahakaal more than 100 years ago in his book Hum Hindu Nahin, Darshan Singh still seems to be confused with its real meaning."
"Now what has entered his cunning mind is anyone's guess. Such hypocritical pracharaks should be exposed and brought to justice in the court of Sangat."
