The SGPC would do well by emulating the example of the Halifax Sikhs, says Manohar Singh Gill, Union Minister of Youth Services and Sports.
Responding to The Tribune news report about the Halifax gurdwara in Canada electing an all-women team to run its day-to-day management, Gill said the SGPC should draw a leaf from the book of the Halifax Sikhs.
"It was Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism, who talked and preached gender equality. Now when the Halifax Sikh sangat in general and women in particular have taken the initiative and followed the preaching of Guru Nanak Dev in letter and in spirit, the SGPC should reserve 50 per cent of the total seats in its general house for women members. This would be a real tribute to Guru Nanak Dev," said the Union Minister.
Further, suggests Gill, the SGPC should adopt a convention that men and women members would take turns as the President of the SGPC. In fact, the SGPC had already taken the initiative when it elected Jagir Kaur as the first woman President of the apex body of the Sikhs.
"As a humble Sikh, I salute the Bibis of Halifax for taking the lead and setting a precedent for others to emulate. I personally feel that equal representation of women in the SGPC and the managing committees of gurdwaras will definitely be a progressive step in the right direction. With women around, it would also ensure improved working of the Sikh religious bodies," he added.
The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Punjab
Responding to The Tribune news report about the Halifax gurdwara in Canada electing an all-women team to run its day-to-day management, Gill said the SGPC should draw a leaf from the book of the Halifax Sikhs.
"It was Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism, who talked and preached gender equality. Now when the Halifax Sikh sangat in general and women in particular have taken the initiative and followed the preaching of Guru Nanak Dev in letter and in spirit, the SGPC should reserve 50 per cent of the total seats in its general house for women members. This would be a real tribute to Guru Nanak Dev," said the Union Minister.
Further, suggests Gill, the SGPC should adopt a convention that men and women members would take turns as the President of the SGPC. In fact, the SGPC had already taken the initiative when it elected Jagir Kaur as the first woman President of the apex body of the Sikhs.
"As a humble Sikh, I salute the Bibis of Halifax for taking the lead and setting a precedent for others to emulate. I personally feel that equal representation of women in the SGPC and the managing committees of gurdwaras will definitely be a progressive step in the right direction. With women around, it would also ensure improved working of the Sikh religious bodies," he added.
The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Punjab