An evening with Harinder Singh Ji of SikhRI

The work of SikhRI from Texas and also one Harinder Singh of SikhRI has been mentioned a number of times in sikhchic and other Sikh internet forums.

I have known Harinder Ji of SikhRI for some time. He has always struck me as a very forthright Sikh without any hangups, 'vehems' etc. on Sikhi living. In my mind, he is a true model of the 'miri-piri' spirit.

Last night I was able to attend a 'class' held by him on 'Leadership the Sikhi way' in my hometown of Melbourne. It is a series of three lectures on Sikh Leadership - not what is, but what it should be, according to Sikh philosophy.

I must commend Harinder Ji for his analysis of 'leadership the Sikh way'. His research is phenomenal and his delivery style is dynamic. There is a welcome 'out of the box' lateral thought which has gone into Harinder's research and delivery.

My reason for this short article is to spread the word about this amazing 'resource' available to the Sikh global 'quom'.

I have attended, taken part in and also helped in Sikh Youth forums, sammelans, camps, leadership retreats etc. for the last 30 odd years including 'western' forums on said subject, and I must say that Harinder Ji's presentation of this particular topic has great merit and holds some ideas which even I have not heard about before. Sikhi truly has some amazing ideas about leadership which would give our younger generations the edge in life and also, our international community, its own leadership needs.

Leadership as we know it is certainly not what it should be. The very terms 'Sikh Leader', 'Jathedar', 'Perdhan' etc. these days carry adverse sentiments, or at best mixed sentiments.

He cited simple pointers like the fact that it is not about personalities, but the behavior and actions of potential 'leaders', that should be the criteria. Learning from the leadership styles of all our 'Guru Ji's' for example should be the role model for all Sikhs. For example, the fact that our Gurus exhibited 'servant leadership' is one prime example. Bhai Lehna, the servant became the Guru. Guru Gobind Ji became the disciple by partaking amrit from the 5 Pyarays.

Three great lessons which emerged for me were that:

1. A good leader is genuinely full of humility. (Harinder attributed Guru Nanak as the one who set such an example.)

2. A good leader ensures participation by all - a little like King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table - for us, the Sarbat Khalsa model and,

3.A good leader is one who works him/herself out of a job!!! He/she creates other leaders. (Some will say that Badal has created another leader - his son !)

The above are just the tip of the iceberg of a two hour presentation by Harinder, laced with 'pangatis' from gurbani and also Bhai Gurdas and Bhai Nand Lal Ji, It was mind-boggling. All the ideas/attributes he talked about were basic gurmatt and Gursikhi.

Harinder's analysis of the strengths and weaknesses between Khalsa Raj with its Sarbat Khalsa model and the virtually 'miri' model of Sikh Raj (Maharajah Ranjit Singh) was an eye-opener. He talked of 'transvaluation' where a Sikh leader transfers 'value' to the community - empowers the community. A Sikh leader ensures 'continuity' - the downfall of Maharajah Ranjit Singh. (He kept Hari Singh Nalwa as far away from Lahore as he could!)

Very interestingly, he talked of accessibility of leaders. These days not only our 'leaders', but even our Guru has become or been made inaccessible!! Leaders are only seen at elections and our 'custodians of Sikhi' have made so many rituals etc. around our Guru, that He is not easily accessible! For example, our 'Guru' at Darbar Sahib is in 'parkash' almost at ground-level suggesting that our Guru sits amongst his followers. Today, He is raised high on a pedestal aloof from his sangat and totally in the custody of a few 'granthis' without the common disciple being able to get near Him! We have created 'masands' again and we know what Guru Gobind Singh Ji did with 'masands.'

This wwo hours of very absorbing observations and knowledge from a very competent 'deliverer.' Most importantly, Harinder treated every attendee as a potential leader, with a question/answer session and a thought-provoking questionaire as to what each attendee is going to do in the next six months, as an exercise, to 'make a difference' as a potential leader of and from the Sikh quom.

It is a pity that I am unable to attend all three presentations by Harinder, but if this middle 'discourse' is anything to go by, I will suggest that Harinder has an amazing series on the Sikh model of leadership, and this is just one of a series of other subjects - all researched and moduled by SikhRI.

I recommend Harinder and SikhRI to any Sikh organization anywhere. He delivers in both Punjabi and English and the younger generation love him because he speaks simple Punjabi with a good lacing of English. Let me assure you - not a dull moment!

I wish Harinder (and SikhRI) Guru-given shakti to carry on the great sewa he is doing. The Melbourne series of discourses/dialogues was organized by the Sikh Supreme Council of Australia. What's in a name - 'they' appear to be a group of Sikh young men and women in Melbourne who appear to have their hearts in the right place!

Guru Ji's blessings to all. Chardhi Kala and Guru Fateh!

Dya Singh
Victoria, Australia
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