As you visit various Gurudwaras in Punjab nowadays, you will start seeing a new trend of Gurudwaras adding gold and marble to their infrastructure. Why all of a sudden do we have duplicate copies of Harminder sahib emerging? Is it to attract more sangat to their Gurudwara so that they can collect donations to run the Gurudwara? That can't be true since they already have the money to gold plate the Gurudwara. Is it to appease our Gurus? That can't be true either as our Gurus have taught us not to follow wealth and it is the name which pleases him and not money. The only other answer remaining is that the Gurudwara President, Secretary and the committee members are trying to build their own legacy.
If Guru Ram Das wanted he could have built number of Golden Temples throughout the country but he chose to build only one in Amritsar so why do Gurudwara management members think otherwise? Is it because they are getting too much donations from Sangat in India and Abroad and they don't know what to do with the money?
Here is a suggestion to put that money to a good use. Punjab has been suffering for a while due to drug use, poverty, lack of jobs and immigration of youth out of the state. We need to channel the donations toward improvement of community around Gurudwaras through creation of a Self-Sufficient ecosystem. This doesn't mean beautification of the land or buildings.
For example, in this ecosystem, use the money to educate the kids near the Gurudwara so that they are not out in front of Gurudwara begging for money from Sangat who visit the premises. In turn they will be able to support their families with a good education. Build a small scale industry where the people using their skills build goods and those goods are sold in India and aboard. As part of this program, people in industry will have to contribute Dasvand back to Gurudwara so that the money can used to improve other people's life. People have forgotten the meaning of Dasvand nowadays and are busy building their empires. They don't remember anymore that wealth doesn't travel with them after they die.
Punjabi youth are turning toward drugs and build hopes of future aboard when they can live a better life in India. Why not give them the opportunity to learn a trade and making a living of it? Don't wait for the Government to create jobs or create opportunities for you. Learn from other religions globally and how they support the upliftment of their communities.
Agriculture industry is dying in Punjab which was once famous in the world. The excess funds should be used to educate farmers on the new technology, seeds and market trends so that farmers can be profitable and improve life of their family/community. For the farmers who are struggling with the loans from bank or landlord, Gurudwara should create a micro finance system to lend money to farmers at zero or negligible interest rates so that they can invest in new equipment, green technology and compete globally/nationally in quality and price.
You have to realize that by gold plating the Gurudwara infrastructure, you are not going to leave yourself a legacy. No one is going to remember you after you leave this world. The only person who will come to your funeral will be the contractor who was involved in building your golden infrastructure. Should you decide to use the funds to improve the lives of the community members around you, you will have thousands and thousands of people attending your funeral because you made a difference in their life. That is what Guru wanted and you might be able to break the cycle of life and death with good deeds and Naam.
In addition, in almost every Gurudwara there are fights for the management positions globally which leave people dead or behind bars and community scarred. The positions you are shedding blood for are not for your personal gain financially or otherwise. This is to better serve the community and the Gurudwara. There should be no personal agendas being fulfilled through this medium. One way to stem this is to have the Gurudwara sangat vote on any major project so that not one person is responsible and there is accountability. The financial accounts should be shared with the sangat on regular basis so that they are aware of where the money is being spent.
No one is going to help Sikhs and we have to help our community to ensure this religion doesn't fade away in coming decade. Rise my brothers and sisters and make sure your life counts for something on this earth.
Jan 13, 2010