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Badalshahi On Nanakshahi
SGPC
commits Hara-kiri, Akal Takht ratifies, Sikhs Dismayed
Panthic bodies vow to follow original almanac
Jagmohan Singh
 AMRITSAR: In the
name of Panthic unity, Giani Gurbachan Singh, the Jathedar of Akal
Takht Sahib ratified the SGPC decision of
January 3, 2009
to make amendments to the Nanakshahi calendar as would destroy its
independent character and once again push Sikhs to follow the
Brahaminical, unscientific and illogical Bikrami calendar.
What has come as
a shock to the Sikh world is that the provost of the highest
temporal seat of the Sikhs put his seal on the suggestions of the
SGPC without calling a meet of the Jathedars of the five Takhts, as
is the customary tradition to do so, but arranged for a quorum by
inviting four Granthis of Darbar Sahib to endorse the decision.
Darbar Sahib Head Granthi, Jaswinder Singh, and four Granthis,
Jagtar Singh, Giani Mal Singh, Ravel Singh and Giani Sukhjinder
Singh were part of the decision process alongwith the Jathedar of
Akal Takht Sahib. Obviously, he and the SGPC were expecting
resistance from Jathedar Giani Balwant Singh Nandgarh –Jathedar of
Takht Damdama Sahib.
Riding
rough-shod of all concerns, appeals, prayers and warnings from a
wide spectrum of the Sikh community from Punjab, various parts of
India and the Sikh Diaspora across the globe, the premier Sikh
institution of the Sikhs –the parliament of the Sikhs –the Shiromani
Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee had made significant changes in the
dates of the Sikh calendar on the basis of a committee formed by
SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar and Damdami Taksal head, Baba
Harnam Singh Dhumma, and forwarded the same to the Jathedar Akal
Takht.
At the SGPC meet
which was presided over by its president, Avtar Singh Makkar, the
resolution to make the changes was adopted by 12 votes to 3 with
three members, Sukhdev Singh Bhaur, Karnail Singh Panjoli and
Ravinder Kaur walking out in protest. Apart from these three, all
other members of the executive committee spoke in favour of the
Nanakshahi calendar remaining unchanged, but then Avtar Singh
Makkar, made it categorically clear, “it is the decision of the
party and we should adhere to it, party discipline demands it”. No
logic or argument was offered. All, except the above three,
succumbed and Nanakshahi was diluted with the Bikrami colours.
Though the SGPC
head and the Jathedar Akal Takht have denied any pressure, it is
quiet evident that Jathedar of Takht Harmandir Ji Patna Sahib,
Jathedar Hazur Sahib, the Deras led by Damdami Taksal chief Baba
Harnam Singh Dhumma and the invisible RSS lobby have had their full
say in this decision which would mean that there will be a change in
the dates of 6 Sangrandhs, birth and death anniversary of Guru
Gobind Singh Ji, martyrrdom day of Guru Arjan Sahib and Gurta Gaddi
of Guru Granth Sahib.
Speaking to the
media, the Akal Takht Jathedar, Giani Gurbachan Singh, hoped that
the new calendar, which is to come in effect from 1 Chet, that is
March 14, would become “a catalyst for unity amongst Sikhs by
bringing together the two Takhts who were till now not following the
Nanakshahi Calendar.” Not only this, Giani Gurbachan Singh went on
to say that the SGPC could also affect more changes in future.
Though this was
quiet expected from the turn of events in the last few weeks, that
the Jathedar too would do it with such alacrity to ditto the
decision flouting age-old norms has come in for a lot of criticism
from Panthic organisations who are gearing up for the next round of
confrontation with the SGPC on this issue.
Numerous appeals
through letters, phone calls, emails and newspaper columns,
including by World Sikh News were not heeded at all, either by the
SGPC or the Jathedars of the Takths.
According to
latest reports even Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee,
American Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, the ad-hoc Haryana Sikh
Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Dal Khalsa, Shiromani Akali Dal
(Panch Pardhani), Sikh Youth of America, Sikh Youth of Punjab, a
host of Singh Sabhas have decided to continue with the Nanakshahi
Calendar as adopted by the Akal Takht and the SGPC in 2003 and
ignore the decision made today by the executive committee of the
SGPC.
Panth Protests
in vain, vows to follow the old almanac, chalks out struggle and
maintains hope:
Panthic
organisations of all hues and shades, from
Amritsar
to Mumbai, from Geneva to Vancouver, from California to London have
expressed disgust at the dilution of the Nanakshahi Calendar, with
many Gurdwara bodies passing resolutions at the Guru Gobind Singh
Gurpurab celebrations, avowing to continue to follow the Nanakshahi
calendar adopted earlier in 2003.
Delhi Sikh
Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee passed such a resolution at Gurdwara
Rakabganj, amidst chaos created by the Badal Akali Dal in the
pandal, whereas amidst thousands of Sikhs, the apex body of Sikhs in
Mumbai, the Sri Guru Singh Sabha Mumbai passed a unanimous
resolution to join the struggle of all Panthic bodies to restore the
Nanakshahi calendar to its pristine glory.
The Institute of
Sikh Studies (IOSS) which played a key role in the consultations
before the acceptance of the calendar in 2003, the International
Sikh Confederation (ISC) and the Kendriya Sri Guru Singh Sabha
(KSGSS) have expressed their deep disappointment over the decision
of the SGPC executive committee and in a joint statement said,
“These amendments have totally changed the concept and character of
the calendar,”
Harpal Singh
Cheema, the Secretary General of Shiromani Akali Dal (Panch
Pardhani) in a release from Fatehgarh Sahib said that the changes
made to the Nanakshahi Calendar by the SGPC are unacceptable and
that the Sikh nation will continue to observe all religious and
historic days as per the Nanakshahi Calendar accepted and adopted by
the Akal Takht and general house of the SGPC in 2003.
Calling the
decision of the SGPC as that in the genre of the Ram Raiyas, the
party has said that the decision of Avtar Singh and Parkash Singh
Badal is treachery with the Khalsa Panth.
Touching a
historical note, they recalled how the SGPC had disowned the Gurmata
against Prof. Gurmukh Singh, after a hundred years and also disowned
the act of honuring General O’Dwyer with Saropa for the Jallianwala
Bagh massacre, and said that, similarly this decision of the SGPC
and Akal Takht will not go down well with the Panth and the Panth
will have to review it.
Sandeep Singh,
General Secretary of the Youth unit of Shiromani Akali Dal (Panch
Pardhani), in a statement from Mohali appreciated the role of SGPC
general secretary Sukhdev Singh Bhaur, executive committee member
Karnail Singh Panjoli and Ravinder Kaur for their bold stand at the
SGPC meet yesterday when they resisted all efforts by the Badal Dal
to toe the party line to make changes in the Nanakshahi calendar.
Dal Khalsa
leader Harcharanjit Singh Dhami said the approval by Giani Gurbachan
Singh, Jathedar of Akal Takht Sahib of the SGPC’s decision to tamper
with the contents of the Nanakshahi calendar will lead the Sikh
nation into another round of internecine struggle with the whole
community vertically divided into two sides –those who are in favour
of the original calendar and those who have prevailed upon the SGPC
and the SAD leadership to bring radical changes in it.
Dal Khalsa
leaders targeted Gaini Gubachan Singh for playing a biased role
during the entire process. "The Jathedar of Akal Takht Sahib had an
opportunity to play a positive role but unfortunately he missed it
badly.” said the statement.
"Contrary to
bringing the community closer, the changes wood further deepen the
gap between various sections of the Sikhs,” said Kanwarpal Singh. We
will gherao Avtar Singh Makkar at his residence on 12 January and
will not allow him to continue to cheat the Sikhs endlessly.
Taking strong
exception over the manner Giani Gurbachan Singh, the Jathedar of
Akal Takht Sahib has ratified the decision of the SGPC to dilute the
Nanakshahi Calendar without calling a meet of the Jathedars of the
five Takhts, the Dal Khalsa leader said that “We accept the
challenge posed by the SAD that runs the SGPC and we will take the
issue of Nanakshahi Calendar to the masses.
Former SGPC
secretary Manjit Singh Calcutta said that “the days of the Badal Dal
in the SGPC are over. I am sure that in the next SGPC elections, the
people of Punjab will give them a crushing defeat as they have
totally defiled the character of the Nanakshahi Calendar and
destroyed the democratic working of the SGPC.”
Shiromani Khalsa
Panchayat leader Rajinder Singh said that the decision of the SGPC
regarding Nanakshahi calendar is totally unacceptable and Sikhs must
resist it in whatever manner possible. He pointed out that many
Singh Sabha Gurdwaras in
Chandigarh
and Mohali have decided to oppose this latest move of the SGPC.
In a statement
from
Ludhiana, the Sikh Students Federation general secretary has
questioned the authority of the executive committee of SGPC to alter
the Nanalshahi Calendar that was adopted by its’ General House.
Moreover the term of current general house has already expired and
it lacks the authority to take vital decisions.
“Though the
Nanakshahi Calendar adopted by SGPC but it has been accepted by
Sikhs living throughout the world, so now it can not be altered
without making a universal consensus among Sikhs.” said Parmjeet
Singh Gazi, President of SSF. “The Sikh Nation should disapprove the
amendments made by the Badal lobby. All Panthic organization should
take up the responsibility and call a general gathering of Sikhs to
find a solution as per Sikh traditions.” he added.
Karan Singh, president of Sikh Foundation,
Switzerland,
called it an illogical decision and said that a meet of Sikhs
organization would soon be held to chalk out further course of
action in this regard.
In a talk show
organised by Bhai Jaswant Singh Hothi on the issue of Nanakshahi
calendar, Pritpal Singh of American Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee,
Bhai Gurbhalinder Singh, Bhai Jasjeet Singh, Bhai Resham Singh of
Sikh Youth of America, Major Raghbir Singh Gill , Bhai Charan Singh
Gill of Gurdwara Sahib Selma, Bhai Harpreet Singh Sandhu of Gurdwara
Sahib el Sabronte, Bhai Jit Singh Aloarkh of Shiromani Akali Dal
(Mann), Bhai Satnam Singh of Gurdwara Sahib Freemont, Bhai Tejinder
Singh Dosanjh of Gurdwara Sahib Yuba City, Bhai Avtar Singh
Randhawa of Gurdwara Sahib Ledai, Bhai Mohinder Singh of Gurdwara
Sahib Dashmesh Darbar Tracy, Prof. Prabhsharandeep Singh of
University of Berkeley, Dr. Amarjit Singh of Khalistan Affairs
Centre and Bhai Gurmel Singh of Gurdwara Sahib Stockton passed an
unanimous resolution to continue to follow the original Nanakshahi
calendar. The resolution also announced that all those who are
opposed to the Nanakshahi Calendar –Jathedars, leaders of Damdami
Taksal and Sant Samaj would not be allowed to speak from Gurdwara
platforms.
Similarly,
Gurdwara bodies in Surrey, Vancouver, Abbatsford, Victoria and
Edmonton have expressed deep anguish at the changes made in the
Nanakshahi Calendar and have showered praise on the members of the
SGPC executive who opposed the move to do so in the SGPC meet, even
though it was in vain.
6
January 2010
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