Guru Gobind Singh Khalsa College, Chigwell (UK)
Chigwell, London (KP) - Last week it was brought to Panthic Weekly's attention that Guru Gobind Singh Khalsa College, Chigwell, London, is doing beadbi (violating the sanctity) of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji by showing gross neglect and lack of care in managing and maintaining the Gurdwara which is within the school. The same school hosts the controversial ‘Sikh Student Camp’ every year. The same camp has come under the thick criticism for wrong parchaar, lack of observance of Gurmat Maryada, and a lack of discipline on behalf of camp sewadars. It was claimed by members of the Sikh Sangat that “the Chigwell sikh school are unaware of what their role is towards Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.”
Concerned members of the Sikh community reported that no one cleans the Gurdwara within the school and it looks in a sorry state. One Sangat member described their findings as, "I couldn't believe what I saw. Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is kept in a small cupboard like room, which is really untidy and a sheer embarrassment. I also found Gutke Sahibs just laying around at the back.”
Students who attend the Guru Gobind Singh Khalsa College have also contacted Panthic Weekly in regards to gross beadbi (violation) of the Gurdwara within the school. One concerned pupil wrote, “A non-Sikh ‘couple’ were ‘making-out’ in the back of the Gurdwara, and much more has and is still going on in the Gurdwara within the school. The school has students from all different faiths and no one shows respect for the Gurdwara.”
Another pupil of the school claimed that, “People swear in the Gurdwara. There is no discipline. They have no Amritdhari person to do Guru Mahraaj’s sewa. The tabla and vajas are kept on the side and many of them are broken. Also people pick out dry Parshaad themselves and there is no basic Maryada kept by pupils or enforced by the school staff. The children are told to wear hats in Darbar Sahib if they don’t like wearing rumaals.”
Photos of Beadbi:
Gutka Sahibs kept in boxes stacked up together
Gutka Sahibs kept uncovered with little care and attention
Sachkhand is a small cupboard like room which is used for storage as well as for the resting place for Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
Vajas and Tablas dumped in a corner of Darbar Sahib next to Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, alongside bags of rubbish
Bags littering the way to get to Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
It is disheartening for the whole Sikh community to see the deterioration of our Gurdwaras. Anyone institution, Gurdwara, or school who has set up a Guru Darbaar, has the responsibility to maintain the Sikh Rehat Maryada. We are celebrating 300 years of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji being bestowed eternal guruship by Guru Gobind Singh Ji, yet sections of the Sikh community have still not learnt how to treat Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji the utmost respect, reverence, and care. It seems beadbi has been taking place for a number of years while the school retains a name of a school based on ethics of the Sikh faith, but it does not function in adherence of the basic tenants. This comes with no surprise with the school being given to the ‘Sikh Student Camp’ to hold a yearly summer camp, which has been widely reported as having many problems it self.
Panthic Weekly urges the local community along with the UK Sikh Sangat to contact Guru Gobind Singh Khalsa College, Chigwell, and ask them to take appropriate action:
Guru Gobind Singh Khalsa College
Roding Lane
Chigwell
Essex
IG7 6BQ
E-mail : info@ggskcollege.co.uk
Phone: 020 8559 9160
I had brought this to the attention of the owner of the school, Amarjit Singh Toor about two years ago. But it fell on deaf years, like the many complaints from the parents of the school about the school and it's teachers, which is another subject altogether. Mr Toor projects himself as a Panthic sewadaar.He is a soft spoken man, and as a person is no doubt a good individual.But that does not excuse the poor management of the school.
Small time Sikh organisations are given the use of the dark and dilapidated gym and run down dining hall or so called library[understand the children are not allowed the use of the library] for small or no charge.That keeps every one happy.
My children studied there for one year, after which we removed them.There have been numerous complaints from other parents, but they are always ignored and brushed aside.Try ringing the school, the response is totally unprofessional and often worrying that such people man the school.
Coming to the Gurduara, I have personally noticed some people running through the darbar sahib to the other side with shoes on. Non Sikh children wander in and out without any respect to the Sikh sentiments and protocol.I would not be surprised if a non Sikh couple were making it out, as there is no guarded supervison of the place.There is neglect of the Gutkas etc in the place, and they are thrown into some box.
The school is run poorly and very unprofessionally.The toilets are extremely unhygenic and each time this is raised with the Education department things improve for a while then revert back.Unfortunately being a private school, the complaints procedure is quite complicated.The school buses are old and dangerous, but children are overloaded and transported in them.I know of an instance where a bus borrowed to transport elderly people, had a large hole just where the feet are rested on the drivers side.The person who went to drive it was shocked and refused to drive.
N another ocassion, one of their busses transporating children on the busy M11 nearby had its door fall off, and the motiorway was closed off for one hour while the children were rescued and looked after.
One parent almost came to blows with Mr Toor,after he constantly complained about the poor and dirty conditions the children were studying in; and the police had to be called in.
It has also been alleged by many children that the 6th Form children doing their A levels are supported to copy,hence the School attains high marks each year.
This school is a cover for tax purposes, nothing else.Although a retired teacher,his primary business is supplying vegetables to the Asian markets.
There have also been other issues around the Sikh camps, but that perhaps is not all the school's fault to be fair.
G S Kulim
Chigwell
(I apologise I wrote the earlier write up in hurry.I request that be removed.)
I am appauled by the discipline in this school. It is not good at all, there is no disicpline or restrictions in this school at all. People are swearing in the Gurdwara which is wrong and disrespectful.
There were also two people making out - this should not be done in the Gurdwara or even in the school premises.
This is appalling, there should be something done asap, this is no way to treat our religion.