Selected Editorials - The Sikh Bulletin

although the script is Gurmukhi. It can be written in Devnagri script without translation and be
understood by Hindi speaking people to the same degree as the Gurmukhi script version is understood by
the Panjabi speaking people. That represents a small percentage of the humanity. How do we reach the
rest To address this issue we published four articles, including the Editorial, in the November-December
2006 issue of the Sikh Bulletin on how to make the message in GGS universal. Extracts from two articles
are presented below:
Devinderjit Singh, St. Catherine’s College, Oxford wrote: “What would be most helpful, in my view, is
the availability of ‘commentaries’ in a variety of languages (English, Chinese, Spanish, Arabic and so on)
along the lines of Professor Sahib Singh’s magnum opus in Punjabi, ‘Sri Guru Granth Darpan’. Here each
word (albeit its transliteration) should be translated one at a time, notes provided to explain the
background and context of any references used in a Hymn (e.g. Indian mythology, Hindu and Muslim
beliefs and rituals, Yogic practice etc.) and then the overall message of the Verse described in a narrative
style. This is a mammoth task, and needs a dedicated group of individuals with the relevant knowledge
and skills to work on it together for a number of years.”
Prof. Gurtej Singh wrote: “It (GGS) defies being classified as the scripture of a particular religious
denomination but tenderly and most profoundly caters to the human heart in search of an intimate
relationship with the Ultimate Reality… The Order of the Khalsa, the finished product of the Sikh
movement, was created by the incomparable Tenth Guru to embody the teachings of the Guru Granth,
and to be the ultimate guardian of the Truth of the Guru Granth. Order of the Khalsa was to perform this
sacred duty until at least the rest of humankind generally became aware of its message. As it now appears,
the Khalsa neglected its primary duty and pursued matters immediately relevant to survival. Now in the
year two thousand and seven it obviously has no such urgency. The unfinished task is beckoning the
panth and the Order of the Khalsa.”
There are many translations of GGS into English and some other languages but they are all individual
efforts and have serious flaws. For example in one version bhagat Kabir’s ‘gur gur meetha-deena’ is
translated as ‘God gave me molasses’. In the past several months I have come across two instances
where a chance introduction to Quran (in English) led to the conversion, of a famous Christian musician
in England and a recently elected member of US Congress, to Islam. I wonder if at the same time these
two gentlemen were exposed to a proper translation of GGS what the outcome would be. We have a
donor who is committed to finance the effort. What we need are a group of people well versed in Gurbani
and its grammar, all the languages in GGS and English. If you can help please volunteer and/or
recommend someone you know.
Hardev Singh Shergill
*****
EDITORIAL
DOWN TO EARTH COMMON SENSE SIMPLICITY OF
GURU NANAK’S MESSAGE
[Editorial from March-April 2007 Sikh Bulletin]
This Vaisakhi day I wish we were celebrating Guru Nanak’s birthday by spreading his true teachings
rather than the hinduised version being preached and practised in the Gurdwaras today; but knowing all
the world’s Gurdwaras and the Sikh religious leadership in Amritsar have already celebrated it in ‘Katak’
(October) I am obviously living in a fool’s paradise.
The other day when I read that a researcher in Italy has probably identified the person whose portrait is
the famous Mona Lisa, I could not help but marvel at the Roman civilization and its legacy. This
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