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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