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Harmandar Sahib Heritage Status
Issue Again Under Review
WSN Bureau
.jpg) AMRITSAR:
At a time when a new row is emerging in Sikh circles over whether or
not the Akal Takht should be convening a Sarv Dharam Sammelan (an
all religion conclave) and allegations are flying thick about the
motive behind the kar sewa of Darshani Deodhi, the larger issue of
getting from the UNESCO the World Heritage Status for Harmandir
Sahib has once again moved centerstage.
The SGPC, which
at one stage pulled out all stops to pitch for such a status for Sri
Darbar Sahib, has now decided to reconsider the issue after a
pointed reference from the Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission. The
Commission had received a petition seeking direction to the SGPC to
consider the issue of getting world heritage status for Harmandar
Sahib and had ruled in April this year that the decision to reject
and withdraw the dossier on the Golden Temple for seeking the world
heritage status was taken in ''haste'' and hence needed to be
re-considered in the larger interest of the Panth.
It had asked the SGPC Executive to constitute various sub-committees
of experts to delve deeper into the issue.
Punjabi
University Vice-Chancellor Dr Jaspal Singh has now been tasked with
once again studying afresh the dossier which was got prepared four
years ago and also look into the implications of the world heritage
status for the holiest of the Sikh shrines. Prof Prithipal Singh
Kapoor, a renowned Sikh scholar and pro-VC, Guru Nanak Dev
University, Jasbir Singh Sabar, former Prof, GND University, and now
working with the SGPC as in charge of Gurmat classes, Dr Gurnek
Singh, Punjabi University, Waryam Singh, joint secretary, SGPC
Dharam Prachar Committee, and Dr Jodh Singh, Punjabi University are
also part of the panel.
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SGPC sets up
panel to study the dossier afresh after gurdwara judicial
commission directive |
A report in the
regional daily The Tribune said advice of legal luminaries is also
being sought. During the tenure of Bibi Jagir Kaur as president of
the SGPC, a decision was taken to close this case on the plea that
there was no need for getting world heritage status for Harmandar
Sahib. Professor Kapoor, who was also a member of the earlier
committee, gave a dissenting note that no decision should be taken
in a hurry.
SGPC president
Avtar Singh Makkar has confirmed that the dossier was now under
review and the outcome of the panel's delibreations will decide
whether the SGPC will go ahead with seeking the world heritage
status from Unesco.
The petition before the Gurdwara Judicial Commission was filed by
Dal Khalsa general secretary Kanwarpal Singh and Karnail Singh
Panjoli, member, SGPC.
Meanwhile,
massive criticism is on of the decision to have an all religion
conclave at the Akal Takht. Some experts are of the view that while
there was nothing wrong with an inter faith meeting, holding such a
conclave under the aegis of Akal Takht could have been avoided. The
decision for such a gathering was taken at a meeting of five Sikh
high priests at the Akal Takht secretariat last Wednesday. Akal
Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh has said the dates for the
sammelan would be announced after consultation with the SGPC.
The Takht
authorities said the sammelan will help discuss how to counter the
dera culture.
19
August 2009
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