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Peaceful Resolution Sought In California Sikh Temple Dispute

A P Kamath

A week after the leadership dispute resulted in the dismissal of the 11 member volunteer executive committee at the Bay Area Sikh Temple, the police chief Craig Steckler and his detective Dennis Madsen hope that their men won't have to enter the temple with in riot gear as they did nearly three years ago. Half a dozen men were arrested then and nearly a dozen required medical assistance.

The gurdwara, one of the biggest on the West Coast, caters to nearly 5,000 Sikhs in the area.

The leadership dispute in 1996 had erupted into a brawl involving more than 70 people but this time around, there has been no violence. And Steckler and Madsen hope that the new dispute which involves -- among other things -- if clean-shaven men could play a role in temple management, could be settled in a court. Steckler visited the gurdwara soon after the dismissal of the executive council and appealed for a peaceful resolution of the disputes.

Gurdial Singh, a member of the temple's supreme council, says in a telephone interview the volunteer group was fired because "they were not working together."

But Avtar Chahal, one of the fired men, says he and others were not given a chance to respond. While Singh quotes the temple's constitution that mandates that the executive council is chosen by the supreme council, Chahal says the arrangement leads to misuse of authority and arrogance.

The constitution also requires only observant Sikhs be part of the management. But Chahal, pointing out that many are clean-shaven, asks: "How can 10 per cent of the congregation rule over another 10 per cent?"

But to the traditionalists, there are no doubts about the propriety to be honored. Disputing Chahal's claims, they say even if many in the congregation are clean-shaven, efforts should be made to win them to the side of tradition.

Singh hopes a court battle could be avoided. The supreme council plans to hold a meeting in two weeks to choose "neutral members," he says, adding that he hopes "the entire issue could be settled on a piece of paper."

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