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Panth Protests in
vain, vows to follow the old almanac
Many organizations, sangat chalk out struggle and maintain hope
WSN Network
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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