Beadbi and The Non-Existent Security Detail of Guru Granth Sahib Ji

Preventative Context

While we have discussed how Beadbi Prevention is the top priority of the Panth, and how our neglect causes build-up of negative Panthic Karma, we still don’t have a practical solution to prevent any incident of beadbi so far.

This also means that when Sangat members decide what single category they want to specialize in preventing, they don’t have a way to make an informed decision. Therefore, we need to ensure that there is adequate clarity to facilitate that process.

The first step for that is to make sure that all solutions are separated, and only relevant categories are connected to a single solution with clarity on the time and resource commitment required. The first one we should focus on is the solution to prevent Physical Attack Beadbi

Dysfunctional Culture of Panthic Theatrics

Before anything else, we need to get a real perspective. The priority of Beadbi Prevention demands seriousness and a no-nonsense approach. That is why we must focus on what provides actual security instead of mere theatrics.

This is especially important in our contemporary culture that thrives on projecting visuals that are not backed by any effective skills or capacity to provide tangible services to the Panth.

We do not want to end up having bodyguards that create great imagery but are clueless on how to appropriately handle or neutralize an attack on our Guru Sahib Ji. This is why we must deal with security in specific professional terms and protect the goal of Beadbi Prevention from our dysfunctional culture of appearances.

Security Framework

To accomplish our Panthic objectives with clarity, we need a custom framework to incorporate our traditions and relevant security elements from existing frameworks that can create exclusive focus on the security of Guru Granth Sahib Ji.

While standardized services such as Close Protection and Executive Protection are a close match, they are designed for individuals to address needs that are not exactly applicable to our use case. They also lack some security elements included in other services, such as asset protection in corporate protection services. This means that we can’t directly use an existing framework as is, but need to develop our own.

Saroop Protection

We must to put in extra effort to make sure that we think of security in terms of every single Saroop of Guru Granth Sahib Ji, not just the Saroop that is Parkash in Palki Sahib. That means, we must have equal focus on protection of Saroops everywhere: Sachkhand, Parkash, and during Aswari. That is why it’s best to define our custom framework as Saroop Protection to stay laser-focused.

Rings of Security

In order to understand Saroop Protection, let's follow the commonly used model of rings, and look at how each one would look like under Saroop Protection.

Inner Ring

This is the protective layer that is formed in close proximity around the subject. The inner ring is critical as it is the last defense when other rings around it fail to neutralize a threat. This is why Saroop Protection primarily focuses on inner ring and includes the following:

• Maryada based training: The operatives must be well trained to respect Mariada and maintain Rehit.
• Fast Sukh-Aasan for extraction form threats: An acceptable balance between speed and respect is need, based on simple distinction as fast or immediate urgency.
• Satkar based Aswari to safe house locations: Transportation procedures and evasive driving skills needed to take Saroop to a location with Palki and Chandoa.
• Training in emergency protocols: Training in procedure to follow in case of natural disasters or building fires.

Middle Ring

This layer around the inner ring acts as a buffer zone where the goal it to stop any threats from reaching the inner layer. This means that protection operatives are placed in medium proximity to the Saroop.

While the inner ring can succeed in providing exclusive focus to Guru Sahib Ji, the middle ring may not, for multiple reasons:

• Presence of more than one Saroop, leading to multiple inner rings
• In the future, a Sangat Protection security framework could be deployed in parallel with Saroop Protection, especially during peak hours.

Since only the inner ring can offer the most reliability, it should be recognized as the key focus of Saroop Protection. Therefore, the middle rings must be more flexible and adopt more modular structure that can be compatible with other needs as well.

Outer Ring

This layer is the first line of defense and due to its placement covers the most area. This requires it to rely more on screening and live surveillance to identify threats as soon as possible and alert the inner rings.

However, just like the middle ring, the outer ring's role in Saroop Protection should also be modular. That way, instead of being rigid, it is proactively made compatible to work with Sangat Protection or future Gurdwara Protection frameworks.

Localized and Distributed

While various rings do provide security layers, we also need to further increase their effectiveness with additional components, such as:

• Threat Analysis and Intelligence: To identify a regional threat or evaluating risk levels of various categories.
• Advance Team to screen locations before Aswari: To evaluate Maryada and security related needs of venue and transportation routes.
• Crisi Management: To adequately handle incidents both in real-time and follow up procedures, including documentation or review.
• Legal Support: To handle all legal aspects related to Beadbi Prevention, including protective teams and protocols.
• Administrative Support: To make sure all logistical planning and administrative support is provided to operations of all security services.

Since these are not required to be in proximity to Saroops, all such elements should be modularized and put into a wider regional context to pool together resources and gain efficiency.

However, since this set of services present a different focus, we can't include them directly in Saroop Protection. Therefore, we'll adopt the flexible context of Security Detail and put all these additional services in it.

That means, we have the following distinction:

• Saroop Protection: laser-focused on protecting Guru Granth Sahib Ji in close proximity.
• Security Detail: management of multiple Saroop Protection operations in an area and providing additional security services that are shared among them.

This approach can allow us to optimize our resources and increase our service quality at the same time.

While it may seem like this is difficult to accomplish, we must remember that right now we are in a disoriented state as a Panth. The first step is choosing to make Beadbi Prevention a priority, and then asking our Guru Sahib Ji for help. That is they only way we'll able to discover how to handle the practical implementation of what is our duty: to provide 24-hour protection to all Saroops of Guru Granth Sahib Ji, all 365 days of the year.