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Editorial

Punjab:The gradual decline of Sikh population

September 28, 2015 04:47 PM
Charandeep Singh

By Charandeep Singh
The politico religious leadership of Punjab is simply reticent, on the gradual decline in Sikh population over the years as compared to RSS which has created a massive hullabaloo over the dropping of Hindu population number to just below 80 percent. As per the latest figures of census released, Sikhs form 1.7% of the population in 2011 against 1.9% in 2001.

Even in Punjab the situation is no different. As per 1991 census, Sikhs constituted 62.95% of the population, which fell down to 59.91% in 2001 to 57.69% in 2011. Correspondingly there was a gradual spurt in the Hindu Population 34.46% in 1991 to 36.94% in 2001 to 38.49% in 2011. Going by the logic of Sangh Parivar, the Sikhs should have felt threatened by this alarming trend , as the state was carved out in 1966 as a Sikh majority state. But as exhibited the census data has hardly created a flutter among-st the Sikhs and their is no collective rage in the community also.

Actually there has been a somersault in the political landscape of Punjab, in the form of Moga Declaration of 1996, where “Punjab , Punjabi and Punjabiyat”, became the leitmotif for further governance., thus rendering the 1972 Anandpur Sahib resolution which pledged to propagate the “Khalsa Panth”, and launching “Dharam Yudh Morcha” to establish the supremacy of Sikhism. So it is not the religion or extremism but the language which fevicol’s the entire population together. With this trend it is clear that , “Punjab, Punjabi and Punjabi”, is no more an exclusive agenda of the Sikhs., rather it is an inclusive agenda for both the Hindu’s and Sikhs of the state.

But the hardliners amongst the Sikhs, hold SGPC directly responsible for this decline. There exist a severe discrimination amongst the Sikhs, and the dalit’s in Sikhs have been marginalized. Although Sikhism , being the most modern religion professes equality to all, but in reality you have separate crematoriums as well as gurdwara’s for dalit Sikhs in every Village. That explains the mushrooming of various dera’s like Sachkhand Balla, Sacha Sauda etc, where the marginal element is treated at par. Then these dera’s enjoy unfettered political patronage also, as they are solid vote banks. Another reason, being attributed is lack of quality preachers, which again is under the domain of SGPC. Many believe it is the SGPC that has failed the Sikhs.

Migration to the West, after the breakdown of rural economy is another big reason for declining numbers. Two decades of turmoil impacted average Sikh family dependent on agrarian economy. Political mishandling of economic and social issues, and militancy, added to the woes of Punjab. The ensuing lack of opportunities have also pushed young Sikhs to try their luck elsewhere in the world, even if it means selling off their landed assets. And once in West, increasingly the Sikhs are marrying out of religion. Thus a subtraction in future numbers.

Sikhs are generally perceived to be a prosperous community, hence they adopted family planning measures much earlier. Furthermore , as the average landholding per family has decreased, so families have on or two children so as to avoid further land division amongst the siblings. It has been recently observed, as the youth has fallen prey to addiction of drugs, it has affected both their fertility and reproductive abilities. Effects of the addiction related phenomenin , would be catastrophic in times to come.

The systematic exclusion of sehaj-dhari non-Punjabi Sikhs from the Sikh population figures from the 1950 definition of a Sikh, has had a devastating effect on numbers. With one stroke exluding tens of millions of Ravidassia’s, Kabirpanthi’s, Satnami’s, Sindhi’s, Balmiki’s, Banjara’s, Hindu Punjabi’s (who had all previously been accepted as Sikhs on account of attending Gurdwara’s and respecting Gurbani) are not counted in the population of Sikhs. This has also led a considerable erosion in numbers.

With a total of 2.08 crore Sikh are the fourth in Population chart, preceded by Hindu’s at 79.8% , Muslims at 14.2%, and Christians at 2, 3 %. Of all the communities Sikhs have reported the maximum decline in numbers vis-a-vis muslims whose growth charts have gone up. Actually reservation is major issue for conversion amongst Sikhs. Economically backward Sikhs who live in other states, feel delineated and hence they remain unattached to their own community. SGPC should seriously look into it. Surprisingly the number of Sikhs in the four Southern states have gone up.

The issue of conversions have started a political slug-fest in Punjab. RSS has very clearly tweaked it “Ghar Wapsi” programme for converting Christians back into Sikhism. And as a measure of their success, the Dharam Jagran Samiti, which is behind this tweaked “Ghar Wapsi” programme has already converted about 8000 Christians back into Sikhism. But political observers point out that this “Ghar wapsi”, is small dimension of a larger political motive. The ulterior motive is to use these tools to stoke up communal flag-rations in future and create a sort of religious crisis in the state. With this re-conversion programme , and combing it with census data, the parivar is trying to project false perceptions about community facing a threat, thereby earning some political equity which may help it in expanding it’s base and marginalize Akali’s political as a part of its long-term political planning. These grand designs should be a cause of worry to the current political dispensation.

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