Rajay Deep
Talwandi Sabo (Bathinda)
Firm over his stand that has brought him in a sharp difference with the Akal Takht Sahib, the Takht Sri Damdama Sahib Jathedar Giani Balwant Singh Nandgarh on Saturday avoided participating in the Nagar Kirtan (religious procession) held from the Akal Takht in Talwandi Sabo to mark the celebrations of Parkash Gurpurab (birth anniversary) of Sri Guru Gobind Singh on Sunday.
While denying the SGPC members approached him to convince for attending the occasion, Jathedar said in fierce words, “It’s all against ‘Sikh Maryada’ and I don’t want to commit sin like you all. If I attend this procession it means I do acknowledge the Bikrami calendar, which can’t even dream of now. As of my knowledge about Sikhism, we should all go by the Nanakshahi calendar, which says the day falls on January 5.”
“I am surprised how the Akal Takht Jathedar and the SGPC can commit such a blunder by celebrating the Gurpurab on Sunday (December 28), when the whole Sikh populace including they too would be observing the Shaheedi Jor Mel, a day when two ‘Sahibzade’ (sons of Guru Gobind Singh) were cremated in 1705 after they were killed at Sirhind just for upholding the values of the Sikhism,” worried Nandgarh. Speaking to Daily Post at his official residence within the Takht Sahib premises at Talwandi Sabo, Nandgarh said, “If Sikhs continue to celebrate days according to Bikrami Calender, then Gurbani would no longer remain factual.”
Referring to the changing dates of Sikh historical days, he said that if such thing continues to happen, month of ‘Vaisakh’ would displace the month of ‘Jeth’, and month of ‘Jeth’ would occupy the place of ‘Harh’.
Expressing his anguishes on the whole episode, the Takht Jathedar said, “Some greedy and selfish people have been consistently misleading the innocent Sikh Sangat in respect of Nanakshahi Calender just for the vested interests.”
“Cults in Punjab are the gift of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) whose members opposed the termination of Article 25 (2) (b) of constitution which states that Sikhs are part of the Hindu religion. And I am 100 per cent confident that the whole controversy is being created just to please the RSS leaders, who are now in power in the country.”
“It’s very painful for me to say but the SGPC is now following the path directed by some politicians who can’t afford annoying RSS and in the whole scene our respected Jathedar Sri Akal Takht Sahib also failed to understand the issue which I have been raising loud and clear, just for the identity of Sikhs,” rued an emotional Nandgarh.
Going ahead with his accusation, Jathedar said, “The RSS wants to cease off the independent identity of the Sikhs. The Right-wing body of Hindus wants to challenge the Sikh identity by saying that Sikhs were part of the Hindu religion which is absolutely untrue and wrong.”
“I appeal the whole community not only to celebrate the Gurpurab on January 5 but also put all efforts to get the Nanakshahi calendar implemented across the world only then we will be able to pursue our case in UNO to get our separate identity from the Hindus, which would further enable us to have our own laws and Acts,” appealed Nandgarh.
Asked about the risk of losing the position (Jathedar of temporal seat) for raising voice against the ‘power that be’ and disobeying the appeal of Akal Takht Jathedar to observe the Gurpurab on December 28, Nandgarh said, “After withdrawing my security few days back, I was asked to resign which I flatly denied. I don’t have lust for this chair but the thing is that I can’t go in such a manner that too when I have been raising the right point for the safety of the community.”
“Still even if I lose the position, I won’t deter from my stand for Nanakshahi calendar,” he asserted.
Questioned, how many Sikh leaders were with him for the cause, Nandgarh said, “It will be ascertained only on January 1, when they would all be submitting memorandum to Akal Takht Jathedar on the issue.”
Jathedar also clarified that he would attend the meeting called at Akal Takht Sahib for January 2 to discuss the issue.
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