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Differences over Nanakshahi calendar reverberate from Nankana Sahib stage


GroundZero: Differences over Nanakshahi calendar reverberate from Nankana Sahib stage
August 1
The development was not unexpected.
Differences among the Sikh organisations over Nanakshahi calendar reverberated from the stage of Nankana Sahib at the function organised to mark 550th anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of the Sikh Faith at this place that is now in Pakistan.
The SGPC and Akal Takht had led a group of about 500 Sikh devotees from India to take out Nagar Kirtan from Nankana Sahib to Sultanpur Lodhi in India.
The issue of resolving the differences over Nanakshahi calendar was raised by leaders from the Pakistan Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee citing practical problems.
It was pointed out to Akal Takht acting Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president Gobind Singh Longowal that the changing date of Guru Nanak Gurpurab had been cited by Pakistan government for not declaring holiday on birth anniversary of the founder of the Sikh Faith. Pakistan wants a day fixed to mark birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev.
It may be mentioned that the dates of Sikh historical events were fixed under the Nanakshahi calendar that was implemented by the SGPC in 2003 after discussions and debates at various level over the period. Not only the dates were fixed, the calendar manifested the separate and exclusive identity of the Sikhs. The dates of Hindu religious events change every year in India and the same system is followed by the Sikhs.
However, a major section of the derawalas, the so called Sikh religious leaders, refused to fall in line and started exerting pressure on then Akali Dal president Parkash Singh Badal for diluting it. This first ever Sikh almanac was finally diluted completely by reverting to fixing the dates as earlier that change every year.
It may be mentioned that the Bharatiya Janata Party had vehemently opposed the Nanakshahi calendar in its original form on the logic that it would divide the Sikhs and the Hindus.
However, the decision to revert to the previous system caused deep divide among the Sikh organisations globally. The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee that was then under the control of rival Delhi Akali Dal refused to abide by diluted version. This body implemented the diluted calendar after Shiromani Akali Dal took over. The Pakistan Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and gurdwara committees in USA, Canada and several other countries follow the original Nanakshahi almanac.
This has also been coming into the way of Pakistan issuing visas to the Sikh devotees from India as Sikh events in that country are organised on different dates.
It was for this reason that this issue was raised by the Sikh leadership from Pakistan.
However, the Pakistan Sikh leadership should know that the both Longowal and Giani Harpreet Singh lack the authority to take such crucial decisions. The authority rests with the House of Badals.
The SGPC chief and heads of other Sikh religio-political institutions in Punjab and Delhi are the choice of the House of Badals. The only qualification is that the person should be spineless.
Let the date of at least Guru Nanak Dev’s anniversary be fixed as per the original Nanakshahi calendar as a first step to narrow down the divide among the Sikhs.
Nagar Kirtans are just routine exercise.



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