Protect yourselves from false gurus - Master Tara Singh

A translation of Panth Rattan Master Tara Singh’s article that appeared on The Akali Daily Jalandhar’s 20th of June, 1954 edition, in honour of his 138th birth anniversary.

Sri Maan Panth Rattan Master Tara Singh (1885-1967) is a widely known, multifaceted political personality who led the Sikh community in Punjab throughout the early 20th century, during the uncertain times of the British Raj and the first decades of the new Indian republic. But a forgotten aspect of his life is that he was also a prolific writer, novelist, and author who compiled his precious memories and views in many books, pamphlets, and articles, which bear testament to the strength of his spiritual belief in Sikh tenets as enshrined in Gurbani. One among them is the above article on Sikh dogma, translated for the first time in English in honour of his 138th birth anniversary. First published in the daily Akali Patrika of Jalandhar on the 20th of June, 1954, it still rings relevant to our epoch over half a century later.

Master Tara Singh writing in his personal diary, c.1960

History of the The Akali Daily

The brainchild of Master Sundar Singh of Lyallpur, The Akali was a central instrument for bringing awareness to Sikhs around Punjab by covering the latest news and rallying them into action for the various Akali Gurdwara Reform agitations.¹ Founded in the wake of the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre of April 1919, the first edition was released in Lahore in May 1920, in honour of Guru Arjan Dev’s martyrdom anniversary.²

Photograph of Master Sundar Singh Lyallpuri, c.1920

Master Sundar Singh (1885-1969) was an avowed anti-colonial activist who had risen to fame through his 1909 pamphlet “Ki Khalsa College Sikhan Da Hai?”, in which he caustically criticised the British involvement in the management of the Khalsa College in Amritsar, highlighting that Sikhs had been robbed of their kingdom by similar treachery of the British imperialists.³ He followed this up by publishing a newspaper from Lyallpur titled “Sacha Dhandora” (The True Proclamation) which, according to a report from the then-Assistant Director of Criminal Intelligence dated 11 August 1911, contained “largely echoes of the violently nationalistic writings which were then appearing in the Punjab press and which culminated in a series of press prosecutions during 1909-10.”⁴ Eventually, publication was shut down and Master Sunder Singh devoted himself to the cause of the Akali movement, starting The Akali daily newspaper. Later, Sundar Singh relinquished his ownership in favour of Giani Hira Singh Dard, who led it to success.⁵ Hira Singh’s revolutionary fervour earned him the wrath of the colonial government, and the newspaper was temporarily shut down and then re-registered in 1930 as “Akali Patrika.” After partition, its headquarters were moved to Jalandhar. It was here where Master Tara Singh published the article that is translated below.

A page from the Urdu edition of The Akali that was printed in Amritsar on the 28th of February, 1926

Translation of the original ‘‘ਪਖੰਡੀ ਗੁਰੂਆਂ ਤੋਂ ਬਚੋ”

Protect yourselves from false gurus.

I stated in a previous article that meditation should not be displayed in a flaunting manner. In the same vein, I want to address those false gurus who dot the path of meditative contemplation just like “Bedouins on the path towards Mecca” (Punjabi proverb). These cunning individuals market easy salvation (mukti) to the people. Do remember that salvation is defined as transcending the sphere of this world, its goods and its selfishness, not excelling in the above. False gurus think that they are successfully deceiving their followers, and in turn, the followers are convinced that they are bargaining for salvation at a less expensive rate. They believe there is no harm in the idle talk that the false guru engages in to dupe his followers into giving away their capital.

His followers (Sikhs) think of it as no ill to throw away their thousands and millions to purchase their way into salvation. In this way, both sides succeed in their expertise, but both are unknowingly getting hoodwinked. The guru is selling his own soul and his Sikh is buying into dark deceit.

Here, I acknowledge that there must be a multitude of Sikhs who honour false gurus in a fervour of intense piety. Sri Guru Granth Sahib states quite explicitly that without the blessing of the True Guru, one cannot attain Waheguru. Adversely, at other places it is stated that without the blessing of Waheguru, it is difficult to be blessed with the vision of the True Guru. Failing to acknowledge this supreme reality, many from our naïve brethren begin to think that adopting a guru is the first step towards treading on the path of the divine. This assumption is incorrect. Adopting a false guru leads you onto the path of falsehood. Do not be mistaken into believing that once you are initiated into a guru’s order, you will be liberated or fall on the path towards liberation. This is a false belief. Following a deceitful or false guru only leads to the expanse of falsehood and hypocrisy in life. Undoubtedly, a lot of devoted followers tread on the wrong path out of blind devotion, falling prey to hypocrites and subsequently becoming hypocrites themselves. If good sense is lacking, then devotion itself can lead one to falter, falling into many types of deep wells. Think of those who emphasise devotion without logic as obvious victims of hypocrites, those who emphasise logic without espousing genuine devotion as obvious victims of nihilism, and those who enshrine both devotion and logic as genuine Sikhs of the True Guru.

A well known Punjabi proverb states:

“The well always appears empty to the one without reason”.

Master Tara Singh and Namdhari Guru Pratap Singh at Hola Mohalla celebrations in Sirsa, c. March 1958

1. Pratap Singh, Giani, Gurdwara Sudhar Arthat Akali Lehar, Amritsar, 1975

2. Suba Singh, Panjabi Pattarkari da Itihas. Chandigarh, 1978

3. Akali Akhbar, 6 October 1920, “The Sikh community knows its history and its struggle of Independence very clearly”, a response to Gandhi’s telegram praising the Akali liberation of Nankana Sahib- describing it as “first victory for India’s Independence.”

4. Ganda Singh, ed., Some Confidential Papers of the Akali Movement. Amritsar, 1965

5. Barrier, N. Gerald, The Sikhs and Their Literature. Delhi, 1970