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Eighty Four Siropas
Yesterday eighty four people received Siropas at the Central Gurdwara (Khalsa Jatha) in London.
A siropa is bestowed by a religious or social figure or institution and may comprise, as is usually the case, a single garment or a length of cloth, two to two-and-a-half metres long, usually dyed in saffron colour.
Siropa among the Sikhs is a symbol of honour or benediction. The practice can be traced back at least as far as Guru Angad who bestowed upon Guru Amar Das a scarf every year. The latter treated these siropas as sacred gifts and carried them tied on his head one above the other.
The Siropa is the highest award that a Sikh may receive in sangat.
It is a gift bestowed by the sangat on behalf of the Guru Granth Sahib upon someone who deserves the honour by virtue of his or her dedication. It is given as a mark of recognition of piety or as an acknowledgement of unswerving devotion to a moral or philanthropic purpose.
It is the most precious gift of the Guru made through the Sangat. This is the highest honour in Sikhi. Saropas are given when the service rendered by the recipient is truly extraordinary and selfless.
The fine tradition of bestowing of Siropa is frequently totally desecrated.
At times the practice of giving a siropa to anyone who makes an offering of or exceeding a certain value or who happens to be socially or politically important is, an aberration.
The good points of this tradition are not questioned, nor is this tradition to be cheapened by giving a siropa for every little thing, especially money donations.
At times it has become so ubiquitous that it is almost worthless.
Siropa is earned through high merit and dedication. Siropa commands significance.
Gurpreet Singh Anand, committee member, stated from the stage of the Gurdwara:
“These people [named below] deserve the siropa one hundred percent. They actually signify what the siropa is about. People who have given their blood, sweat and tears for this Gurdwara”.
Anand then went on to invite the following persons on to the stage of the Gurdwara to receive Siropas. Those present were then given a Siropa by Hardeep/Peter Singh Virdee and Rajinder Singh Bhasin. The Siropa ceremony culminated by Anand, Bhasin and Virdee giving a Sirpoa to each other.
| Jaspal Singh Kheria | Bunty | Monu |
| Sonny | Naz | Ravi |
| Jags | Raj | Jeeta |
| Sabi | Shera | Bubby |
| Victor | Gurj | Mesh |
| Inder | Rikki | Bob |
| Binder | Happy | Minto |
| Gill | Raj | Benny |
| Raju | Mario | Alan |
| Jaswinder Singh Atwal (Joyti) | Rajween Kaur Gill | Rameet Kaur |
| Sukhwinder Singh Paul (Tony) | Bobby Singh Paul | Amarjit Singh Paul |
| Srikarta Kaur | Inderpal Kaur | Jaswainder Singh Alg |
| Rajinder Singh Alg | Mrs Alg | Dapinder Kaur Alg |
| Bhupinder Singh (Bob) | Satnam Singh Hothi | Manveer Singh |
| Ishpal Singh Anand | Jasjot Singh Kohli | Gurpreet Singh |
| Mono Sandhu | Avtar Singh Tethi | Mrs Avtar Singh Tethi |
| Jaskeerat Singh | Ravi Singh | Mrs Ravi Singh |
| Preya Kaur Heer | Sandeep Singh Sabharwal | Harinder Singh Arora |
| Nanik Singh | Rajveer Singh Sahni | Sukhwinder Singh Sahni |
| Bhupinder Singh Bhasin | Manpal Singh Anand | Romi Singh Chadha |
| Nitu Kaur Chadha | Sonny Chadha | Sarabjit Singh Chadha |
| Pammi Kaur Randhawa | Rajan Randhawa | Gurpreet Singh Sethi |
| Buboo Singh Padha | Vardatta Singh | Deepak Singh Sethi |
| Gaini Arjun Singh | Bob the Plumber | Gurmeet Singh |
| Naha Chahal | Kool Chahal | Jagtar Singh Akan |
| Jasse Singh Akan | Surjan Singh Akan | Rajinder Singh Bhasin |
| Harminder Singh Ruprai | Hardeep / Peter Singh Virdee | Hardeep / Peter Singh Virdee’s father |
| Hardeep / Peter Singh Virdee’s mother | Gurpreet Singh Anand | Mrs Gurpreet Singh Anand |
WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE VOLUNTARY WORK CARRIED OUT IN THE REFURBISHMENT OF YOUR GURDWARA IS VERY ADMIRABLE.
HOWEVER OUR INTENTION IS ONLY TO CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE A HEALTHY AND FRUITFUL DISCUSSION ON THE SIKH TRADITION AND PRINCIPLE OF GIVING AND RECEIVING A SIROPA.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO PUBLISH ANY COMMENTS RECEIVED WHICH ARE RELATED SOLELY TO THIS SUBJECT MATTER.
AS WE KNOW SIROPA IS VERY BIG HONOUR TO THE DESERVED PERSON. BUT IN THIS CASE DISTRIBUTING SIROPA’S TO MANY PEROPLE IS WRONG & IT REDUCES THE RESPECT & VALUE OF SIROPA. SO, IT IS REQUEST TO MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE THAT GIVE SIROPA TO THAT PERSON ONLY WHICH HAS REALLY DONE SOME GOOD THING TO INCREASE THE VALUE OF SIKH CULTURE, TRADITIONS OR RELIGION.
What a arrogant and politically motivated stunt! Shame on the presenter for creating a list of “mates” to give the highest Sikh honour to! There has been no attempt to create an objective list of people, rather who should we include which will further our agenda (give election is right around the corner and this is televised on Sikh TV.
In the context of the Panth, and the historical understanding of the term, when an individual is presented a Sirōpā they are understood to personify the very essence of the Guru Panth Sahib, and the Guru Granth Sahib, in their very existence. From their head to their feet. The Guru Panth Sahib, therefore, acknowledges this by bestowing upon them a physical Sirōpā.
Of course, today you can receive this “Sirōpā”, and the historical ideology it represents, for a simple financial donation at some of your local Gurdwārā Sāhib and this honor shall be bestowed upon you.
Great work fair play to those who have devoted their time and efforts to make a beautiful gurdwara. Outstanding work.
The siropa is a robe of honour bestowed upon a person for his commitment and dedication to Sikhism or who has achieved something remarkable probably beyond the call of sewa / duty. The act of bestowing a siropa is equal to the Guru’s blessings and signifies honour bestowed upon an individual. We can’t distribute it like langar and lower its importance.
Have you been to the gurdwara and seen what these sewadars dedication and hard work has achieved? A beautiful guru ghar for our children. They have recharged a desire to attend this gurdwara to those that have been driven away by historical politics and fights driven by politics! For that desire of Sikhi to be recharged in a sangat that left this gurdwara a long time ago, I would say that is a huge contribution to sikhi. They have reignited a sense of community and brotherhood and should be applauded.
If we look at the history of 10 Guru Sahibaan, siropao was only given by Guru Sahib Himself to a Sikh for extremely dedicated seva. Occasions of awarding a siropao were very few and far between, totally unlike the mockery of today.It is a blessing of the Guru and is given upon who has done some pious act.
Gurdwara managers and preachers appeared to have degraded the sacred custom to a very low level. It is simply a devastating situation, beyond belief. The tradition of ‘Siropao’ has been limitlessly degraded.
A big donor is offered a handsome Siropao. A person, earning through hard labour, and is unable to make a big offering is often denied the Siropao. If a Sikh is indifferent towards another Sikh in a historic Gurdwara, then where else can we expect the application of Gurmat precept of equality? It is like prevalence of injustice in the House of God. The rich Malik Bhagos are predominant every where while the hard earning, Lalos, get ignored.
I pray to preachers and managements of Gurdwaras with folded hands to keep
aside personal differences for useless positions but to follow the way of Guru Granth Sahib
Whether it is the people giving out the siropa or the people commenting here. Who are we to judge ones sewa? We do not know the sewadaars recieving the siropa’s and what sewa they have done and whether they ‘deserve’ (if thats the right word to use) or not. We, along with waheguru, all should judge our own actions and the sewa that we do. While trying to better ourselves, we may inspire others to better themselves.
Vjkkvjkf
If somebody has spent
A year of their life
Cleaning dirt sand cement
Surely they deserve a gift
From there Guru
There actually seems to be no appreciation for the wider Sewa that has taken place in this Gurdwara Sahib.
If the current committee deemed it suitable to reward the Sewadaars who spent the the whole of 2017 renovating this Gurdwara Sahib for the benefit of the wider Sikh Community both in the United Kingdom and Internationally then I do not believe it is suitable for the Gurdwara Times to write an article condemning the rewards given out by way of Saropa’s by genuine members of the current committee.
This particular Gurdwara Sahib opened its doors after a multi million pound Sewa initiative, that was implemented by a charity outside of the current governing committee.
This particular Gurdwara Sahib is one of the oldest Gurdwara Sahibs in Europe.
If the Gurdwara Times deems itself as an impartial and non biased publication then why did The Gurdwara Times publication not cover the opening of this establishment? The turn out for the opening was unlike anything ever experienced in the last 30 years of the Gurdwara Sahibs history.
Why did The Gurdwara Times not spread the message of the Sewa Initiative throughout 2017 when hundreds of thousands of pounds and multiple Sewadaars where working day and night to ensure a timely opening of the Gurdwara Sahib?
Instead, this publication is actively spreading hatred within the Sikh Community not to mention potentially deterring other private organisations to carry out similar initiatives with other dilapidated and poorly managed buildings in Gurdwara Sahibs across the country.
Its shameful and disgusting to realise that all the comments written in this thread and the points raised in the above article have been influenced by a select group of people who are losing their grip and control of a Gurdwara Sahib that has served as a cash cow for them for decades.
The Sikh community needs to take a lesson from communities such as the Muslim and Jewish communities and realise that there is more to life than earning money, causing controversy and having a chair of importance.
Shame on every single keyboard warrior that has failed to recognise the true results of the wider Sewa that took place here.
– Please excuse any grammatical errors, I am not a journalist but a speaker of reality and truth.
WAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA
WAHEGURU JI KI FATEH
An interesting article regarding Saropas can be read on this link:
http://dailysikhupdates.com/sikhs-destroyed-meaning-siropa/
I have watched the video and the people receiving the Siropa deserve them for they have done hard work to restore the Gurdwara Sahib back to glory from it’s dilapidated state. It is easy for people to sit behind a computer and do nothing other than criticise those who have done the Sewa, perhaps Mr G SIngh and others who have commented below could elaborate which privilege he relies upon to tarnish the good names of the sewadars? Indeed Mr G Singh should not be writing comments about the tax man but rather be considering his own position on the day when he will be held to account by Dharamraj. This looks like a new website created for the sole purpose of tarnishing people.
I understand that this is a wonderful seva spanning nearly a year. Why would one would expect there to be less Siropas given to these deserving Gur Sikhs? I am sure lots of trades people/Sangat all came together to make this dilapitdated Gurdwara into what it is today. Good for them and shame on you all for trying to belittle their efforts.
You clearly have a hidden agenda…shame on all you fools. I hope you all go to hell as none of your are fit to sit in the Charan of our wonderous Guru!!!
This is the problem with gurdwareh, there is no sense of Gupt Seva. Instead a bright orange cloth is given in front of everyone as a sense of accomplishment, who decided the bench mark of seva to receive this? I see committees doing this a lot in a sense of securing publicity and promotion. Seva has become politics and PR unfortunately, Pitha ji (Guru Gobind Singh Ji) never intended this for us.This is nothing but Homeh… I suggest these people read Asa di var to understand why mahraj has warned us of this homeh entrapment.
Question is the person giving the saropa Amrit shak (Baptised Sikh)? I am pretty sure a Saropa sahib has to be given by someone who is. If not this is a farce! Then they are just giving an orange cloth!
As far as I am concerned this is a non-story. Gurdwaras all over the world give Siropas for all sorts of reasons from birthdays, exam results or to dignitaries for simply turning up.
This story is deliberately written to discredit the Gurdwara Sahib and the Virdee family. Has Herr Muller interviewed any of the recipients of the siropas to ascertain their contributions? I think not.
I know for a fact that these sawadars have spent countless hours and funds rectifying repair and maintenance issues which have been neglected by the presently defunct committee.
Before you judge on this forum, know the facts
This Gurdawara has misused the value of Siropas. Don’t they know what Siropas are? Giving these Siropas to building workers because they done free service for Gurdwara? It’s really shameful for the people who organised this drama on the Gurdwara stage. They need to apologies to the Sangat.
FAO Prabandhak committee
What’s the minimum amount do I have to contribute to qualify for Saropa ??
Jokes apart .. pls respect saropas and give them to someone doing exceptional duties for Humanity and can be from any religion.
As siropas are being given to every Tom, Dick and Harry l certainly recommend that few siropas should be given to the VAT inspectors as well.
i agree with the comments that a Siropa should only be awarded for exceptional service. This should be over and above the normal sewa that is expected of every Sikh
Siropa is honour from our Guru. I think it’s not that cheap that everyone qualifies for it. It should only be given after careful consideration to the one who actually deserve it.
Deliver one to my address
This is wrong and overtly generous. This actions devalues the Siropa as it should only be for distinguished services to the community not for just being around the place.
I have seen the live video broadcast by the Sikh Channel on the 31st December 2017 showing the eighty four Siropas given by the Central Gurdwara. I thought Siropas were given to people for distinguished service or dedicated seva beyond the call of duty for charitable causes and for services to humanity.
It appears that those giving the Siropas were simply doing so to promote themselves in order to keep management control of this Gurdwara for many years to come. Congregants and members of this Gurdwara need to comment on these on-going matters and have their voice heard.
Jagmail Singh Gill
President 1979 To 1981
Central Gurdwara Khalsa Jatha
London
To be completely honest sir, these people seemed like they were not expecting the siropas, so I don’t see how they could be taking it to promote themselves. I would rather decent people be in management of the gurdwara to those who just care about money. I am fortunate that these sewadars helped bring back the life to this Gurdwara and I believe that is truly exceptional. The Gurdwara was in such a state that I’m not surprised it didn’t blow up. Technically these sewadars could have saved many lives. We can all agree that they saved the oldest Gurdwara in Europe. That is honourable. However, running the Gurdwara down was not so honourable. I am aware that you are on the committee, and I hope that you can contribute to the future of the Gurdwara.
The people who received these siropas have put in work above and beyond the calling of the Guru. Without them Central Gurdwara London would have been left in a state of disrepair as seen by the robbery of it some years ago. It is humouring to see previous delusional committee members commenting utter nonsense. I for one am disgusted by the majority of comments by people who clearly have not bothered to do further research on this gurdwara and its background and are simply believing an article written by a man in Germany with no actual involvement in this Gurdwara Sahib
Wow I wonder if bob the builder will get a Siropa too
He already did. Didn’t you see Bob got a siropa?
This gentleman that is talking on the mike does he think he owns this Gurdwara Sahib? He clearly doesnt know the reason for a Siropa, He is shouting out names in the Gurdwara Sahib, giving Siropa’s out to people queuing up to do Matha Tekh. This is a joke. He’s not even speaking in Punjabi?? He’s rushing Boleh Sonihal as if he is in a hurry to catch a train LOL! Sorry this made me laugh. This gentleman really needs to know what the purpose of a Siropa is. Maybe we can send him to some Sikhi classes in Smethwick Gurdwara. Eh guru ghar ah, guru ghar!
Sahni Saab,
There is not written rule that anyone in the Gurdwara Sahib needs to greet the congregation in Punjabi.
We are living in a third or even fourth generation Sikh society in the United Kingdom.
If the newer batch of Gurdwara members deem it suitable to address the wider congregation in English then all for them.
As for Smethwick Gurdwara sahib, well there have been more committee related brawls inside that establishment than in most football matches between true rivals. Lets not compare establishments of distinction with one another.
The Bestowment of Saropas to ‘Tom, Dick and Harry’ in recognition of their political allegiance and alignments to serve and support vested interests amounts to desecration of the practice of Saropas denigrating its piety and its significance in Gursikhi.This activity has brought this historic institution in great disrepute and does not promote Sikh ideology for the betterment of humanity.
Bestowment of honours to individuals between themselves relays and certainly conveys a wrong message and adds an insult to the injury of the piety practice of bestowment of Saropas which must be condemned vehemently .
Tarlochan Singh Sawhney
President From 2000 To 2006
Central Gurdwara Khalsa Jatha London
Very well written Sir.
Was you and Jagmail Singh Gill sitting in the same room using the same interpreters to draft your comments?
So Uncle, when you passed out the saropas to every “Tom, Dick and Harry” on birthdays, anniversaries and other personal (non sikhi) related occasions, was it not “denigrating it’s piety” then? I’ve personally watched you do this. I appreciate your views but one should not be hypocritical and must also remember ones own act when they were the President from 2000-2006.
The traditions and/or the principles when giving a Siropa have clearly not been followed. This has not only degraded the value of a Siropa but has also tarnished the reputation of this well established Gurdwara.
What a joke. I wonder if they decided to give a Siropas to the tax investigators looking into their affairs!
WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE VOLUNTARY WORK CARRIED OUT IN THE REFURBISHMENT OF YOUR GURDWARA IS VERY ADMIRABLE.
HOWEVER OUR INTENTION IS ONLY TO CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE A HEALTHY AND FRUITFUL DISCUSSION ON THE SIKH TRADITION AND PRINCIPLE OF GIVING AND RECEIVING A SIROPA.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO PUBLISH ANY COMMENTS RECEIVED WHICH ARE RELATED SOLELY TO THIS SUBJECT MATTER.