“I am sorry I failed.”

— D.C. Superior Court Judge Bruce Beaudin, on his attempts to bring resolution to the dispute over the National Gurdwara in Washington, D.C. 

Such disputes involving Gurdwaras (Sikh places of worship) are all too common in North America.  Many Gurdwaras are plagued with an over-emphasis on buildings, personal ambition, and finances.   A visit to this Gurdwara’s website takes the visitor to a page asking for donations to keep it afloat.  The Gurdwara is surrounded by such prestigious buildings, and yet what goes on within is such a disappointment.

It’s a sad state of affairs that even in the heart of the nation’s capitol, the Gurdwara hasn’t been spared from such a legal and financial mess.  In most cases, it is a clash of personalities and egos that becomes the shame for the entire religious community.