Jathedars’ absence sparks anger on calendar change
January 6, 2010 by Sikhs Online · Leave a Comment
A proposal to align some sacred dates on the Nanakshahi calendar with those on the traditional Bikrami calendar has been given final approval by Giani Gurbachan Singh, the jathedar of the Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of the Sikh community.
But it has lit the fuse to another row between segments of India’s oft-divided Sikh community.
The powerful Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee (SGPC) sent the proposal to the jathedar for consideration a few days ago, although three of its 15 members, from Haryana, boycotted the meeting in Amritsar because they opposed the amendment.
The Akal Takht had previously sent its proposals to the SGPC, considered the mini-parliament of Sikhs, to discuss the steps necessary to change the Nanakshahi calendar.
According to the Times of India website, Gurbachan Singh announced that the birth and martyrdom day of Guru Gobind Singh, the death anniversary of Guru Arjan Dev, the coronation (Gurta Gaddi Diwas) of Guru Granth Sahib, and “sangrand” (the beginning of every month) will now be observed as per the traditional (Bikrami) calendar.
The changes will come into force after the publication of the new Nanakshahi calendar in March. Until then, all Sikh religious days will be observed as per the existing programme.
Nanakshahi special dates observed since 2003 have not accorded with other calendars.
Giani Gurbachan Singh’s announcement parted from convention. It was made in the absence of the high priests of the other four Takhts. Four priests of the Golden Temple in Amritsar were present instead.
The announcement angered a number of Sikh organisations. Karan Singh, president of the Sikh Foundation, Switzerland, called it an arbitrary decision made by Sikh clergy at the behest of the Shiromani Akali Dal political party.
He said organisations outside India would meet to discuss an issue that threatened Sikhs’ identity.
Radical group Dal Khalsa believes the calendar change will cause a new split in a divided community. A party statement said the ratification by Giani Gurbachan Singh and none of the other jathedars would lead the Sikh community “into another round of internecine struggle”.
