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Damdami Taksal head Bhai Ram
Singh slams changes in Nanakshahi
WSN Network
 GURDASPUR: Even
as the Damdami Taksal led by Bhai Harnam Singh Dhumma took the lead
in collusion with the Sant Samaj to effect changes in the Nanakshahi
Calendar and thus dilute the uniqueness of the Sikh almanac, a
sterling example was presented by Bhai Ram Singh Khalsa who leads
the parallel Damdami Taksal and seemed much more in touch with the
pulse of the Sikh community.
In scathing
observations made after his return to Punjab from Mumbai where was
running a series of Gurmat Prachar Samagams, Bhai Ram Singh said the
Nanakshahi Calendar was an identity marker for the Sikh community
and the changes have killed the spirit of the almanac. He said no
scholars, scientists, experts in the craft of calendar making or
panthic organizations were consulted or taken into confidence before
ordering the changes.
He said the
SGPC's move has only widened the gulfs within the Sikh community.
Bhai Ram Singh said the right way was to call a meeting of the
experts like Dr Gursharanjit Singh, Prof Jodh Singh, Dr Balkar
Singh, Dr Harpal Singh Pannu, vice chancellors of the universities
and author of the almanac Pal Singh Purewal. Ideally, even those
asking for these changes should also have been invited. This could
have a due process and if any changes were agreed upon, most
sections of the sangat would have accepted these. Instead, he said,
changes were thrust down the throat of the community and no self
respecting Sikhs will agree to these.
Bhai Ram Singh
said the move of the SGPC has also diminished and dilute dthe
respect for Sri Akal Takht Sahib by politicizing the temporal seat.
He saw some
hidden forces at work in the controversy saying when the Sikh Quom
was unitedly fighting the Sirsa sadh fraudster, it was sought to be
embroiled in a controversy over Dasam Granth, and now that the Sikhs
are fighting against Noormehal's Ashutosh, the almanac row has hit
the community.
He appealed for
formulating a version of the Nanakshahi Calendar that should be
acceptable to all sections of the Sikh panth.
13
January 2010
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