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Free Akal Takht from SGPC
Tuesday, August 7, 2012 - 16:30
By Sukhpal Kaur
AMRITSAR: Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikhs, has lost its supremacy and sovereignty and needs to be freed from the clutches of the SGPC. A meeting of Panthic Taalmel Sangathan, a conglomerate of various Sikh political, religious and social organizations, was held here in this regard.
During the meeting, Sangathan members said, “Sikh intellectuals and scholars have discussed the issue in the past but there has been no effort to free the Akal Takht from the clutches of the SGPC and its political bigwigs who control the religious body. As the Jathedars of Akal Takht have always been at the mercy of the SGPC, they have failed to do justice to the seat they occupy.”
Akal Takht Jathedar Gyani Gurbachan Singh had recently given a clean chit to Radhasoami Dera Beas in gurdwara demolition in Waraich village of Amritsar district. The move evoked wide criticism from the entire Sikh community.
Besides, when Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal had proposed the opening of casinos in Ludhiana, the Jathedar did not raise any objection despite the fact that the Sikh religion does not allow gambling.
History is witness to the fact that whenever a Jathedar has dared to raise his voice against the SGPC or rubbed the Badals the wrong way, he has had to pay the price with his post. The day when the Jathedars either resigned by choice or held office till their last day seems to have faded from the memory of Akal Takht.
On August 5, 2008, a high-profile drama unfolded when the then Akal Takht Jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti was sacked from his post and was replaced by Gyani Gurbachan Singh, the then head granthi at Darbar Sahib, Amritsar.
Ironically, Vedanti himself had replaced his predecessor under similar situation. He was appointed acting Jathedar of the Akal Takht on March 28, 2000 after Bibi Jagir Kaur, former president, SGPC, had blamed the then Jathedar of the Akal Takht Gyani Puran Singh of violating “Sikh maryada”.
Vedanti and Puran Singh were not the only Jathedars to be sacked unceremoniously. The trend had started way back in 1986 when Bhai Jasbir Singh Rhode was removed from authority. On April 28, 1998, hard-liner Bhai Ranjit Singh was sacked and Gyani Puran Singh was appointed Jathedar on February 15, 1999.
Vedanti, during his tenure as Akal Takht Jathedar, had written to the SGPC, seeking specific rules for the appointment of Jathedars of the three Punjab-based Takhts controlled by the SGPC – Akal Takht, Takht Kesgarh Sahib and Takht Damdama Sahib.
The SGPC has not replied to the issue so far, compelling the Panthic Taalmel Sangathan to take up the issue.
Gyani Kewal Singh, former Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib, argued that if political interference in the affairs of the Akal Takht is not curbed, the Sikhs would not look towards the Takht with respect and for guidance.
Once the head priest of Akal Takht, Gyani Kewal Singh, further said, “People know that the SGPC announces only names. The selection is made ‘somewhere else’.”
“We have seen how the Jathedars were humiliated and sacked. This should be put to an end and the dignity of the Takhts be restored,” he added.
“The head of the Akal Takht should be appointed by the SGPC after consultation with various Sikh organisations. And if need be, a similar procedure should be adopted for the removal of a Jathedar,” he emphasised.
Gyani Kewal Singh does not approve of the practice of the Sikh clergy holding closed-door meetings followed by an announcement of decisions to the media. “The meetings should be held in a ‘Sarbat Khalsa’ (religious gathering of Sikhs) at the Akal Takht and every decision should be announced before the ‘sangat’,” he added.
The Sangathan also decided to launch a drive against female foeticide and caste system.
The meeting was attended by heads of various groups, including Jaswinder Singh Advocate of Akal Purakh ki Fauj, Kartar Singh of World Sikh Organisation, and members of Akhand Kirtani Jatha.
The next meeting of the Panthic Taalmel Sangathan will be held on October 14, at New Delhi wherein various issues being faced by the Sikh community, including the Akal Takht issue will be addressed. A similar meeting will be held on February 13, 2013 at Amritsar.
source: http://www.punjabnewsline.com/content/free-akal-takht-sgpc/54937
Tuesday, August 7, 2012 - 16:30
By Sukhpal Kaur
AMRITSAR: Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikhs, has lost its supremacy and sovereignty and needs to be freed from the clutches of the SGPC. A meeting of Panthic Taalmel Sangathan, a conglomerate of various Sikh political, religious and social organizations, was held here in this regard.
During the meeting, Sangathan members said, “Sikh intellectuals and scholars have discussed the issue in the past but there has been no effort to free the Akal Takht from the clutches of the SGPC and its political bigwigs who control the religious body. As the Jathedars of Akal Takht have always been at the mercy of the SGPC, they have failed to do justice to the seat they occupy.”
Akal Takht Jathedar Gyani Gurbachan Singh had recently given a clean chit to Radhasoami Dera Beas in gurdwara demolition in Waraich village of Amritsar district. The move evoked wide criticism from the entire Sikh community.
Besides, when Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal had proposed the opening of casinos in Ludhiana, the Jathedar did not raise any objection despite the fact that the Sikh religion does not allow gambling.
History is witness to the fact that whenever a Jathedar has dared to raise his voice against the SGPC or rubbed the Badals the wrong way, he has had to pay the price with his post. The day when the Jathedars either resigned by choice or held office till their last day seems to have faded from the memory of Akal Takht.
On August 5, 2008, a high-profile drama unfolded when the then Akal Takht Jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti was sacked from his post and was replaced by Gyani Gurbachan Singh, the then head granthi at Darbar Sahib, Amritsar.
Ironically, Vedanti himself had replaced his predecessor under similar situation. He was appointed acting Jathedar of the Akal Takht on March 28, 2000 after Bibi Jagir Kaur, former president, SGPC, had blamed the then Jathedar of the Akal Takht Gyani Puran Singh of violating “Sikh maryada”.
Vedanti and Puran Singh were not the only Jathedars to be sacked unceremoniously. The trend had started way back in 1986 when Bhai Jasbir Singh Rhode was removed from authority. On April 28, 1998, hard-liner Bhai Ranjit Singh was sacked and Gyani Puran Singh was appointed Jathedar on February 15, 1999.
Vedanti, during his tenure as Akal Takht Jathedar, had written to the SGPC, seeking specific rules for the appointment of Jathedars of the three Punjab-based Takhts controlled by the SGPC – Akal Takht, Takht Kesgarh Sahib and Takht Damdama Sahib.
The SGPC has not replied to the issue so far, compelling the Panthic Taalmel Sangathan to take up the issue.
Gyani Kewal Singh, former Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib, argued that if political interference in the affairs of the Akal Takht is not curbed, the Sikhs would not look towards the Takht with respect and for guidance.
Once the head priest of Akal Takht, Gyani Kewal Singh, further said, “People know that the SGPC announces only names. The selection is made ‘somewhere else’.”
“We have seen how the Jathedars were humiliated and sacked. This should be put to an end and the dignity of the Takhts be restored,” he added.
“The head of the Akal Takht should be appointed by the SGPC after consultation with various Sikh organisations. And if need be, a similar procedure should be adopted for the removal of a Jathedar,” he emphasised.
Gyani Kewal Singh does not approve of the practice of the Sikh clergy holding closed-door meetings followed by an announcement of decisions to the media. “The meetings should be held in a ‘Sarbat Khalsa’ (religious gathering of Sikhs) at the Akal Takht and every decision should be announced before the ‘sangat’,” he added.
The Sangathan also decided to launch a drive against female foeticide and caste system.
The meeting was attended by heads of various groups, including Jaswinder Singh Advocate of Akal Purakh ki Fauj, Kartar Singh of World Sikh Organisation, and members of Akhand Kirtani Jatha.
The next meeting of the Panthic Taalmel Sangathan will be held on October 14, at New Delhi wherein various issues being faced by the Sikh community, including the Akal Takht issue will be addressed. A similar meeting will be held on February 13, 2013 at Amritsar.
source: http://www.punjabnewsline.com/content/free-akal-takht-sgpc/54937
