By I.J. Singh - In the past few weeks, the Sojhi project has attracted tons of attention, a lot of it decidedly negative, and not for the good that it attempts and achieves.

I like and admire the project and the work that goes into it. So, I have been scratching my head to figure out how exactly I feel about this whole imbroglio.

Somewhat incomplete, I submit to you my preliminary thoughts here.

For those on unfamiliar territory, Sojhi is an initiative of the Texas-based Sikh Research Institute (SikhRI). The objective of Sojhi is to design a curriculum that parallels curricula that we see for secular education in our schools from Kindergarten to high school. What Sojhi teaches, however, is not the 3R's but the basics of Sikhi - its language, magic and meaning, music and lifestyle.

Readers, I am sure, would agree that this is exactly what we have needed for over a generation. It is something we have not had so far.

For taking on such a Herculean task then, kudos to the tireless workers at SikhRI.

Now, critics are surfacing who are pointing to what they see as missteps and inaccuracies in the Sojhi offerings.

Why are some people reacting now with strong opinions when the whole program was unveiled almost three years ago - and why so strongly and negatively? (I am aware that many more are reacting much more kindly; to them a sincere thanks.)

I offer you a digression via an analogy that might be useful.

Look at the Financial Stimulus Plan and how the average Joe and the Republicans are responding to it. There is a lot of anger on the street, but it took a few days and weeks for this anger to become even somewhat channelized. In fact the process of giving direction to amorphous anger and addressing it productively is far from complete.

There is no doubt that the average tax-paying citizen has a very large stake in this financial meltdown that we are in. It is like being hit with a ton of bricks - and then there is the much needed massive program of rescue and restoration that is hard to understand and comprehend fully.

Now, look at the several thousand pages of a program - the Sojhi Project. It will take time for readers and users to come to terms with it. And then response will surely follow; the process has started already.

Obviously, Sikhs all across this country feel that they have a stake in this much needed program, and they should.

The patrons and designers of Sojhi have invested a lot of their own money, along with blood, sweat and tears to produce it. They have produced a road map for teaching the fundamentals of Sikhi in a systematic manner where no such model ever existed. (Emphasis on "ever" is intentional.)

In fact, this has been the Stimulus Plan that Sikhi in the Diaspora has direly needed. But for most Sikhs it comes as an overwhelming experience, just as the financial stimulus plan does in matters of the economy.

It will take readers and users a while to come to terms with it. If they do not react then, if the program does not become the talk of the town, I would honestly say, the effort of producing the program has been wasted.

It would be like the Republicans who have no critically detailed reaction and alternative suggestions except to reject the massive financial rescue plan. The power of No! serves us only when it is accompanied by productive and creative initiatives.

Is the Sojhi project perfect? No more than any other endeavor in life. Perhaps no more than the Financial Rescue plan is, but it is just as vital. The Financial Plan would only get better if the best minds (Republicans, Democrats, and those of no party affiliation) come together. The Sojhi initiative will only progress if Sikhs honestly weigh in on it.

So, we need the critics - we need them desperately. More power to them. But we need to co-opt them to work with us so that the product is better than either side could possibly make by itself alone. They need to be cast into the role of the loyal opposition.

What bothers me is not that there are shortcomings in the Sojhi project; I would be surprised if there were none. My problem is how the differences are playing in the community and how we learn from them.

When charges of blasphemy are pushed forward, that, to me, is nonsense. Why? Because such actions close the conversation that is so necessary. They result from over-wrought emotions that overlay and drown rational analyses.

To my mind, neither the designers of Sojhi nor their critics are out to damage Sikhi or sell it short. But, if you look at our community, for the past two or three decades, hasn't this been our modus operandi in discussion and debate - by charges and countercharges? And the result is pure chaos.

I would say to the critics of Sojhi: Thank you for your analysis.

But I would also hasten to remind them that working the passions of people is not productive strategy; it sensationalizes the issues but achieves little beyond the expenditure of incredible amounts of energy and resources. It serves no purpose to cast aspersions on the motives of either side.

Sikhi is not in danger from anybody here.

Some of my readers from India might remember Blitz, a news magazine that specialized in sensational news. It often brought the blood to a boil but, in the final analysis, was a poor arbiter of policy compared to saner but imperfect voices like The Statesman.

Our critics need to come to their critique from a position of appreciation of Sojhi just as the Republicans need to criticize the Financial Rescue Plan from the realization that without a plan we as a nation are sunk.

We at Sojhi, too, need to give our critics an equal place at the table. I would like to see our critics become our partners so that they can see that Sojhi gives them an instrument that never existed before, and can do things that have never been attempted.

The Sikh Research Institute (SikhRI) and the Sojhi project will, I know, respond positively. But institutions are more akin to ocean liners and are less like speed boats. They need to forge a reliable system to evaluate themselves before tinkering with either their structure or direction. And that is exactly what SikhRI is now in the process of designing.

Sojhi is a fantastic initiative that deserves the thoughtful support of Sikhs everywhere. The operative words here are "thoughtful support."

Two lines from gurbani come to mind:

Jub lugg duniya rahiye Nanak, kicch suniyae kicch kahiye
Whilst in this world, let's listen a bit; then, let's say our bit.
[GGS, M1, 661)

Hoe eikathr milahu maerae bhaaee dhubidhhaa dhoor karahu liv laae; har naamai kae hovahu jorree guramukh baisahu safaa vishhaae
O Brothers! Let's gather and sit together. Cut through differences and be in tune with Reality. O, let's assemble in His Name, and confer.
[GGS, M5, 1185].

The first citation tells us the onus rests on the joint faculties of listening to the other and then speaking one's mind; the second one reminds us that a fundamental of the process to resolve differences is to gather together united in common purpose in a civil dialogue.

Only two universals: These things take time, but they will happen. And, secondly, let's keep our friends close, but our enemies closer.

Note: The author, Inder Jit Singh, is a member of the Sikh Research Institute's advisory board.

He is also on the editorial advisory board of the Calcutta-based periodical, 'The Sikh Review,' and is the author of four books: 'Sikhs and Sikhism: A View With a Bias,' 'The Sikh Way: A Pilgrim's Progress,' 'Being and Becoming a Sikh' and 'The World According to Sikhi.' He can be reached at: ijsingh99@gmail.com