A moral compass for redeeming Sikh legacy
Hindustan TimesThe Sikh community has long exemplified integrity, courage, and generosity — virtues deeply embedded in its foundational principles of seva and sarbat da bhala. The Akal Takht’s directive to the Shiromani Akali Dal requiring the resignation of its senior leadership, including former deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, and ordering a clutch of penal actions represents a historic stance. Similarly, the 2023 exposure of value-added tax fraud in the UK involving British Sikh entrepreneurs undermined Sikhism’s tenets of honesty and accountability, with funds allegedly channelled through religious and charitable organisations. The Akal Takht’s emphasis on seva for introspection and redemption embodies a core Sikh principle — that the path to redemption remains open for those who acknowledge their transgressions. The substance of Akal Takht’s actions is an attempt to hold leaders accountable to the community’s shared moral and spiritual values.