Wheelchair Not Allowed In Gurdwaras?

[Dr. Harbhajan Singh Seth]

Dr. Harbhajan Singh Seth
I think we are all wasting our time in lengthy discussion. The only solution is some one approach the Management Committee of Gurdwara Sahib and request them to remove that obnoxious sign "wheel chair" not allowed. The committee should remove immediately that "NO WHEEL CHAIR" and happily wellcome every one in Darbar hall of the Gurdwara Sahib. Our Guru Sshibans have embrassed happily even crippled and 'Kohris" suffering with most infectious and dangerous diseases who came to their darbars. Gurufateh.

 

[spnadmin]

Dr. Harbhajan Singh Seth ji

One of our members is part of that sangat and will notifying SPN quietly what indeed happened this past weekend when he approached the committee.

 

[Dr. Harbhajan Singh Seth]

Will eagerly wait the outcome when the SPN member approaches the Management committee of The Gurdwara Sahib. Thanks & Gurufateh

 

[findingmyway]

Dr. Harbhajan Singh Seth
I think we are all wasting our time in lengthy discussion. The only solution is some one approach the Management Committee of Gurdwara Sahib and request them to remove that obnoxious sign "wheel chair" not allowed. The committee should remove immediately that "NO WHEEL CHAIR" and happily wellcome every one in Darbar hall of the Gurdwara Sahib. Our Guru Sshibans have embrassed happily even crippled and 'Kohris" suffering with most infectious and dangerous diseases who came to their darbars. Gurufateh.

I agree Dr ji. I guess I was looking at practicalities in case some committees decided to enforce the rule about have to use an indoor wheelchair (as mentioned earlier in the thread) as I don't think that will be a desirable or practical solution.

 

[Kismet K]

Could you alo update the thread as to which Gurdwara committee is approached, is it Wolverhampton (sedgley Street ) or Harnall lane (Coventry ) .
I want to take this oppertunity to thank everyone for their support and understanding, and for taking the initiative to resolve this.
To all member s reading this , i would be grateful if the next time you are at your Local Gurdwara, could you take a minute to check what notices, signs are outside the main parayer halls, are their other Gurdwara that display simliar notices banning wheelchairs inside the Diwan Halls. Until it agffects you or your loved one, its so easy to ignore this and walk past, (at one time i too would have been guilty of this )
once again thank you , i look forwward to an update.

 

[spnadmin]

Kismet K ji

As an update, our forum memtor Mai Harinder Kaur ji has undertaken the seva of creating an email list of worldwide gurdwaras. It will take some time, but because of this issue, she will be conducting an online survey of gurdwaras to raise awareness and find out which gurdwaras do routinely provide any sort of accommodation for those who are physically challenged - wheelchair bound and others. Thank you for taking that important step of coming here to pursue the issue.

 

[Bayant]

bibiji,this is our degraded thoughts by submitting ourselves to the psyedo-
religious liberty of man rather than being unconditionally soulful to the
principles of our gurus.kalyug ji.what we think and learn is far important
than what we often do.
Bless you bibiji for all your efforts to reach and attain the blessings of guru
maharaj ji.

 

[amankaur]

The generic email to all gurdwaras worldwide is an excellent way forward to try and resolve this issue.

As i have family members that are not able to move from one wheel chair to another, i don't think it is practical for in house gurdwara wheelchairs.It is extremely embarrasing for people to have to move from their own wheelchair to another or to be moved to another room by someone that they may not know.

We attended a family wedding where two family members in wheelchairs were asked to sit outside while the wedding ceremony took place.

I am a young sikh female, and think we should welcome all into the gurdwara, as sikhism encourages and welcomes all regardless of their sex, disability, race etc.

It is good to see sikhs are working together on this website to resolve this issue across all gurdwaras, to welcome all.

 

[Mai Harinder Kaur]

While watching people put chains on cars to drive in the snow, a simple idea came to me.

If the objection to wheelchairs is bringing in dirt from outside, why not make a simple covering for the wheels? They could easily be slipped onto the wheels and removed when the chair leaves the gurudwara. They could be either disposable or, much better, reusable.

Is this as good an idea as I think it is?

Of course, if the real objection is that people just don't want wheelchairs in darbar sahib, then the only solution would be to either knock those prejudiced bullies up alongside the head (maybe that would knock some semse into them!) or cure all the people who need the wheelchairs.

 

[Seeker9]

Dear Mai Ji

Sometimes the simplest ideas are by far the best!

One other issue that has been highlighted in an earlier post on this thread is the alleged disrespect of SGGS if one where to sit at a certain height in a wheelchair....

Do you and others think this is a problem for some narrow minded, inflexible, lacking any measure of common sense and a number of other things I had better not write here, Gurdwara "sevadars"?

Also, on reflection, I can see another potential problem which is just basic accessibilty features of the building itself. I note what Findingmyway Ji said in that:

.all public buildings in the UK have to have access for disabled users so problems with buildings is not a valid reason in the UK. However, India and other countries do not have the disability discrimination act 1995 (recently amended so the name might have changed).

But I must confess I am not 100% certain and will check for this the next time I visit

For example, one of the Glasgow Gurdwaras is in an old building....architecturally, it's a rather nice building but accessibility-wise...it's a complete nightmare

Even before you get to the doorway, there is a stone staircase from the street and I have seen and helped elderly people go up and down the steps. I have seen them struggle and make a couple of stops on the way

Then once inside, the Langar is downstairs but the main hall is upstairs and I know there are no lifts in the building....so I honestly can't imagine how a wheelchair user would cope in that building

Very sad

 

[Kismet K]

Dr. Harbhajan Singh Seth ji

One of our members is part of that sangat and will notifying SPN quietly what indeed happened this past weekend when he approached the committee.

Thank you for this, i was contemplating my next course of action , and wondered if there was any update from the above sangat member.

 

[spnadmin]

So far no. He has not been online for more than a week. When he does return I will make certain to ask him for an update.

 

[Inderjeet Kaur]

I am a member of an online group called Freecycle. We post things we have that we want to get rid of and can also ask for things we want. Everything is freely given, no money, no swaps. Just giving and receiving. The purpose is to cut down on waste and keep things out of the landfill, as well as to help each other.

I couldn't help but think of the difference in attitude between us and the Christians when I just now received this request:

Our church needs a wheelchair to be used at our building to help visitors and members with disabilities. IF you have one with the "leg extensions" as well...that will be great!
Please email [e-mail addresses deleted] with time and place to pick up.
Thank you,
Nancy

Maybe we could learn something here.

 

[Gyani Jarnail Singh]

a GRANTHI who was suing the Gurdwara for Unlawful Dismissal..had this NOTICE TAPED to hsi Door in the Gurdwara Premises: DOGS and GURDWARA COMMITTEE PARBHANDAKS NOT ALLOWED ENTRY. He won the suit after 2 years.....lol.

 

[Harry Haller]

I have seen the suits those granthi's wear, I wouldn't wait 2 years to win one

 

[sukhsingh]

Kismat Kaur. If you are a true Sikh I don’t think so you should be talking against Sikhism, that they won’t help. Instead of asking to take your wheel chair in side Darbar Sahib asks someone to take you in without wheel chair. I bet you there will be hundreds of volunteers (Male or Female) to help you. If you understand that it is disrespectful to sit high in front of Guru Sahib what makes to think that guru will give you permission to sit high. You people make the devotee Sikh, sicker than you are sick yourself. Go in front of Guru Sahib and ask for better health than asking to go in on wheel chair. Think about Mata Ganga Ji going to Baba Budha Ji on a Rath and what happened? Don’t you learn something from history how to go to Guru Sahib? These websites just want to attract advertisement for wheel chair so they can make money from topic like this. They give damn about Sikhism reputation. Lack of true Sikhism knowledge brings this topic here. It is the most peaceful as well as the toughest religion. Follow it or not is entirely up to you. Learn how to walk on a sword.
I am sick to read the comment about 'no blacks allowed'. What a twist to the topic. Can’t say the word publically for these kinds of people. How dare they say like this when Sikhism is open to every single human in the world? It was started to bring the equality. You are not prohibited your wheel chair is.

How patronising and outrageous

 

[Harry Haller]

How patronising and outrageous

no, actually its not, its mainstream thinking, its normal, scary huh

 

[sukhsingh]

Ssira Ji ,
I too found you comments completeley ignorant, normally i wouldnt waste my time trying to justify my intentions to someone who i think will always see the wheelchair rather than the person in it! If this website is just about making money why are you wasting your time on it?
firstly being a paraplegic is not a sickness! i have worked full time since my injury and frankly my sickness record is better than most. The only time i have regrets about my situation is when i come across such narrow minded bigots who cant see past the wheelchair.
Most people have taken the time to read my post and have understood and interpreted it in the manner to was meant to be, its about raising awareness , so that people who are responsible at setting these bans think about the effect of their ban on allowing wheelchairs inside of the main prayer halls. There was no direct criticism on sikhism.
I have no doubt that there would be people willing to help, but you have no understanding or concept of how a person would feel being carried in like a sack of potatoes (pardon the simile ) .

You should not have to be compelled to rely on the 'charity' of others to get guru darshan. If I may proffer a sensible idea.. I think a solution could be that all gurdwaras make available wheelchairs that have never been used outdoors. They should be available for 'das' to use free from any help. If a individual has a specialised chair and they feel that the one's available hinder there independence then there own wheelchair should be able to take darshan. Would guru ji really deny anyone darshan?

 

[RD1]

I am pretty sure that many countries in the world have rules that buildings must be wheelchair-accessible. Perhaps Gurdwaras should not be exempt from this rule.

 

[Harry Haller]

Wolverhampton Sikh worshippers in wheelchairs 'forced to sit behind screen' « Express & Star