Committee on Takht jathedars invites suggestions from Sikhs

The committee of scholars, constituted by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to make recommendations for formulating norms regarding the qualification, appointments, jurisdiction and retirement of jathedars of Sikh Takhts, has invited suggestions from Sikhs from across the world.

The committee of scholars, constituted by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to make recommendations for formulating norms regarding the qualification, appointments, jurisdiction and retirement of jathedars of Sikh Takhts, has invited suggestions from Sikhs from across the world.

The five-member committee of the scholars, who are experts in their fields relating to Sikh history and theology, was constituted following the unceremonious dismissal of Takht Damdama Sahib jathedar Giani Balwant Singh Nandgarh in January on the issue of the Nanakshahi calendar. The decision to invite suggestions from Sikhs was taken during the first meeting of the committee held here on Wednesday.

Only two members of the committee, Dr Balkar Singh and Dr Balwant Singh Dhillon of Guru Nanak Dev University, attended the meeting. SGPC secretary and the committee’s coordinator, Dilmegh Singh, also attended the meeting. Other committee members, including Punjabi University vice-chancellor Dr Jaspal Singh, Prithipal Singh Kapur and historian Dr Kirpal Singh, failed to turn up for the meeting.

He said suggestions received by the committee would be discussed in its next meeting, to be held in the first week of March.