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California Sikhs reject changes
in Nanakshahi
Badal-Dumma writ will not run among Diaspora Sikhs; 2003 almanac to
continue
WSN Bureau
 FREMONT: Almost
all the gurdwaras in California have rejected the changes made in
the Nanakshahi Calendar and have openly refused to abide by the
decision of the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht and the Shiromani
Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee.
At a conference
at Gurdwara Sahib, Fremont, a resolution was passed in the presence
of the sangat making it clear that no changes will be accepted in
the Calendar till these are carried out as per due process.
While it was
clarified that the Akal Takht continues to be supreme for the
community, and every Sikh is duty bound to obey its edicts, this
particular decision was not of the Akal Takht but was rather
inspired by vested political interests.
It was resolved
that the Sikh Diaspora will continue to observe Gurpurabs and other
historical days as per the Nanakshahi Calendar issued by the Akal
Takht in 2003.
Any changes will
be accepted only after these are carried out unanimously, after
discussions with almanac’s author Pal Singh Purewal and other
scholars.
The conference
began with an address by American Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee
(AGPC) coordinator Dr Pritpal Singh who briefed the audience about
how the calendar came into being and how Dhumma & party pushed for
changes in a surreptitious manner.
Sikh Youth of
America’s senior leader and Fremont Gurdwara’s Supreme Council
member Bhai Jaswinder Singh Jandi read out the Resolution which the
Sangat approved with Jaikaras. He said the ruling Akali Dal in
Punjab
was playing with the sentiments of the Sikhs and wreaking untold
damage upon the panth.
Dr Amarjit Singh
of Khalistan Affairs Center elaborated upon the history, requirement
of and changes in the Nanakshahi Calendar. He said the Diaspora
Sikhs are independent and not answerable to the Dhumma-Badal junta.
He said Badal’s writ will not run with the Diaspora and the Sikhs
will continue to stick to the 2003 Nanakshahi Calendar
Among those who
addressed the sangat were Bhai Avtar Singh of Gurdwara Sahib Lodi,
Bhai Jaswinder Singh Pannu from Seattle, Bhai Jarnail Singh from
Selma, Akali Dal (Mann’s) Bhai Gurjeet Singh Jhampur, Sikh Youth of
America’s Bhai Kulwant Singh Khaira, Gurmat Chetna Leher’s Bhai
Karnail Singh Khalsa, representatives of martyrs’ families Bhai
Baldev Singh Bedi and Bhai Balwinder Pal Singh, SGPC’s former member
Bhai Tarlochan Singh Dupalpur and Sikh scholar Dr Tarlochan Singh
Nahal.
Taking a
fact-based approach, Bhai Baldev Singh said the changes were wrong
and were unacceptable.
 Dr Tarlochan
Singh Nahal elaborated upon the differences between solar and
lunar-based calendars and explained how the Bikrami calendar
(lunar-based) was not in consonance with Gurbani.
Similarly, Bhai
Tarlochan Singh Dupalpur narrated how the calendar came to be
accepted and said he was a member of the SGPC in 1998, when several
rounds of discussions took place. He urged the audience to boycott
the visiting Sadhs and Jathedars.
Bhai Jaswinder
Singh Pannu, who had come specially from Seattle (Washington) also
advocated a boycott of the Sant Samajis and the Jathedars.
Almost all the
speakers kept up a shrill tone against Akali Dal (Badal), Jathedar
of Akal Takht and the SGPC.
Bhai Jaswant
Singh Hothhi, vice president of AGPC, coordinated with various
gurdwaras to make this conference a success. He said he plans to
arrange similar conclaves till March 14.
He said that
Bhai Pal Singh Purewal will be specially invited to address the
sangat over the next few days in Stockton, Los Angeles, Bakersfield
and Selma, etc so that the sangat can understand the intricacies of
the calendar.
Bhai Satnam
Singh Khalsa conducted the stage with practised skill while Dr
Pritpal Singh congratulated Bhai Jaswinder Singh Jandi, Bhai Harjot
Singh Khalsa and the entire management committee of Gurdwara Sahib
Fremont for organizing the conclave.
13
January 2010
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