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SGPC, Damdami Taksal land in self-created controversy over distancing issue, both social and religio-political




The times are changing fast and the apex elected Sikh body that is Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee too can’t keep itself in isolation, although it is quarantine that is advisable.
The SGPC went to the extent of honouring a controversial police official under suspension and facing a trial and that too for a contribution that in normal course is not considered much of a contribution. Rather the Sikhs don’t seek recognition for such donations.
The officer under discussion is Inspector General of Police Paramraj Singh Umranangal who is facing trial in the case of police firing on peaceful Sikh protesters at Kotkapura in 2015 when Punjab was under Akali Dal rule with Parkash Singh Badal as the chief minister with his son Sukhbir Singh Badal as the deputy chief minister. The protest was against sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib in Bargari that is few kilometres from Kotkapura.
He was honoured for donating a few quintals of wheat flour and some other items earlier this week for Langar that is run in the Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple) complex. Siropa was presented to him by Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee member Bhagwant Singh Sialka elected to the general house on the Shiromani Akali Dal ticket from the quota of the Damdami Taksal and the SGPC staff. Going by the pictures of the honouring, the venue is some room in the shrine complex, possibly the information office where such ceremonies are often carried out.
The main dignitaries are honoured at the sanctum sanctorum of Darbar Sahib or the Golden Temple. the honours in the information office are routinely bestowed on people. The tradition is that the non-Sikhs are not honoured at the Akal Takht but this tradition was violated by honouring General R E H Dyer who was responsible for the massacre of people-men, women and children-in Jallianwala Bagh on April 13, 1919.
This Taksal was headed by Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale from August 1977 to June 1984. His martyrdom has been commemorated with a memorial near the Akal Takht. This is the legacy of Damdami Taksal.
The tradition till recent years was that after wheat harvesting, trolley or truckloads of wheat would be contributed by almost every village in Amritsar district for the Langar and there would be long queues of vehicles jamming the narrow road. None would be honoured for such contributions. Nor would the devotees seek such recognitions. The Sikhs consider it a duty to donate for the Langar for which no recognition is supposed to be sought.
The basic issue that has arisen from this case is as to who should be honoured and for what.
Both Sukhbir and his wife Harsimrat kaur Badal are honoured at the sanctum sanctorum every time they go to pay obeisance.
Umranangal is considered close to Sukhbir. He also figures in some other controversies from the days of militancy.
The SGPC general house has always been dominated by the Akali Dal. The only difference is that earlier, the party president never interfered with its functioning. The situation changed after the death of stalwart Gurcharan Singh Tohra when the Akali religio-political discourse turned unipolar under Parkash Singh Badal who has been succeeded by his son.
The people in the SGPC, both at the political and the bureaucratic level, ensure that they remain on the right side of the political bosses. The once all-powerful office of the president has not been reduced to being just  ceremonial.
The SGPC should have maintained social distancing, both in the context of coronavirus and social sensitivity.
The blunders like the honouring of General Dyer had triggered gurdwara liberation struggle.
One can’t say what turn would situation take in the context of next social realities emerging from the present situation dictated by coronavirus but the moves have already been unleashed for launching similar campaign.
It is time the SGPC comes out with norms for honouring people.


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