After nihang outfits threatened to disrupt the ceremony and Sikh organisations determined to boycott it, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) put in Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, 40, because the jathedar of Takht Kesgarh Sahib in Sri Anandpur Sahib within the presence of the ‘Panj Pyare (five beloved ones of the Guru)’ of the Akal Takht at 2.45am, seven hours earlier than schedule, on Monday. The brand new jathedar has additionally been given the extra cost of the performing jathedar of Akal Takht in Amritsar, the best Sikh temporal seat.
Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, 40, being honoured after he was put in because the jathedar of Takht Kesgarh Sahib at Sri Anandpur Sahib within the presence of the ‘Panj Pyare (five beloved ones of the Guru)’ of Akal Takht at 2.45am, seven hours earlier than schedule, on Monday. (HT Photograph)
The ceremony was to be held at 10am on Monday and invitations had been despatched to Sikh organisations, sects and seminaries. Nevertheless, after the controversial removing of Giani Raghbir Singh because the Akal Takht jathedar and Giani Sultan Singh as Takht Kesgarh Sahib jathedar on March 7, Shiromani Panth Akali Budha Dal chief Baba Balbir Singh on behalf all main Nihang outfits, together with Dal Panth Baba Bidhi Chand Sursingh, Misl Shaheedan Tarna Dal Baba Bakala, Tarn Dal Harya Belan and Dashmesh Tarna Dal, threatened to disrupt the set up ceremony.
The nihangs had began gathering at Sri Anandpur Sahib in Rupnagar district of Punjab from Sunday night to scuttle the ceremony, leaving the SGPC in a repair because the jathedar’s set up is critical earlier than the Hola Mohalla competition that formally began at midnight. A number of Sikh organisations, together with the Damdami Taksal, Kar Sewa teams and the Takht Patna Sahib managing committee, boycotted the ceremony.
The SGPC govt committee members secretly introduced the newly appointed jathedar to Takht Kesgarh Sahib at 2.45am and made him assume cost, cancelling the coronation ceremony that usually sees an enormous Panthic (Sikh neighborhood) gathering.
Since Giani Raghbir Singh, who continues to function the pinnacle granthi (priest) of Sri Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple), Amritsar, skipped the occasion, the SGPC govt committee made the Panj Pyare current Giani Gargaj the normal dastar (turban). SGPC secretary Partap Singh and Takht Kesgarh Sahib supervisor Malkit Singh additionally introduced turbans in his honour. The granthis of Takht Kesgarh Sahib honoured him with siropas (gown of honour). Apart from the ardas (prayer), no different rituals have been carried out on the event.
No different office-bearer or member of the SGPC was current amid the rising opposition towards the removing of the jathedars. SGPC chief secretary Kulwant Singh Manan, who disassociated himself from the SGPC govt committee’s decision of eradicating the jathedars, stayed away.
Urges Sikhs to unite in difficult time
Giani Gargaj known as upon the Sikh neighborhood to unite below one Nishan Sahib within the gentle of the present Panthic scenario. He expressed gratitude to the ten Sikh Gurus and Guru Granth Sahib for bestowing upon him the honour of serving Takht. “I humbly acknowledge the privilege of receiving this sacred responsibility despite being born into a simple Sikh family,” he stated. Reflecting on his journey, he shared that he started his life as a Pathi earlier than dedicating himself to spiritual preaching, a dedication he vowed to proceed in service of the Guru’s Panth.
On the non secular, social, and political challenges going through the Panth, the newly appointed performing Akal Takht jathedar highlighted that many points stem from a disconnect with the Guru’s teachings. He lamented the rising non secular disunity amongst Sikhs, emphasising that inside divisions and ideological variations have created vital rifts. He criticised the dearth of cohesive non secular and political management, which has led to a tradition of undermining each other as an alternative of resolving points collectively. “In these difficult times,” he stated, “There is an urgent need to establish platforms for dialogue based on mutual trust in the Guru.”
Politically, he stated, that the Sikh neighborhood faces vital challenges. On one hand, an environment of worry has been created amongst minorities within the nation; on the opposite, political energy is being wielded towards Sikhs by black legal guidelines and stringent authorized provisions resembling UAPA and NSA, resulting in extended incarceration of Sikh kids. He condemned the federal government’s failure to ship justice even 40 years after the 1984 Sikh bloodbath. Because of the fragmentation of Sikh political affect, long-imprisoned Sikh prisoners are denied bail, whereas anti-Sikh dera (sect) components are given undue privileges.
Giani Gargaj expressed concern over the demographic and political shifts in Punjab. He warned that the Sikh inhabitants is being compelled emigrate, whereas a deliberate effort is underway to make Sikhs a minority in Punjab by settling giant numbers of non-Punjabi individuals. He criticised Punjab’s political management for prioritising the votes of sure deras and immigrant communities over the wants of the state’s Sikh inhabitants, attributing this to the deep divisions inside the neighborhood.
Requires reconnecting to Sikhi
On the social entrance, he lamented challenges going through Sikh society, significantly the drug downside. He accused successive governments of failing to curb the drug commerce, noting that, moderately than declining, substance abuse has continued to rise, ensuing within the deaths of hundreds of children. He attributed this disaster to the erosion of non secular values as a consequence of materialism and emphasised that the one treatment lies in reconnecting with Sikhi. Expressing concern over non secular conversions, he harassed the necessity for a sturdy grassroots-level non secular consciousness and preaching marketing campaign. He pledged to launch an efficient outreach initiative with Sikh students, sect leaders, and intellectuals.
He stated whereas the edicts of December 2 included a directive for Panthic unity, neither of the concerned events has taken any initiative towards its implementation. Transferring ahead, he stated, the claims of events involved shall be reviewed to make sure that the edicts are acted upon.
Lastly, congratulating the Sikh neighborhood on the competition of Hola Mohalla, he urged Sikh kids to uphold the values of devotion, service and sacrifice as laid down by Guru Gobind Singh. He appealed to Patit Sikh (with shorn hair) kids to honour the spirit of Sri Anandpur Sahib by carrying turbans as an alternative of tying handkerchiefs.