Updates from Gurdwara Amb Sahib – Bhai Gurbaksh Singh’s Hunger Strike Enters 33rd day

AJITGARH, Punjab—Bhai Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa’s hunger strike has entered the 33rd day.  Bhai Sahib remains in rising spirits and speaks to the Sikh congregation whenever possible.  Ever since announcing his fast until death, he has remained steadfast in his demands to free Sikh political prisoners.  At the same time, he has continued to remain imbued in naam and prayer.  While Chaupai Sahib recitation has continued at Gurdwara Amb Sahib, Bhai Gurbaksh Singh spends much of his time listening to other banis and kirtan.  Just yesterday, after a group of Gursikhs arrived from Jallandhar and started doing kirtan around midnight, Bhai Gurbaksh Singh got up to be in sangat.

This past Monday, a large scale march was taken out from Damdama Sahib that reached Gurdwara Amb Sahib.  Sikhs from a number of villages took part in the march and raised awareness of Bhai Gurbaksh Singh’s message.

While much is being done by Sikhs worldwide to raise awareness, the campaign has not received much support at a local grassroots level.  In addition, the self proclaimed Saint’s Union, Sant Samaj members who had received much love and respect from Bhai Gurbaksh Singh have now gone quiet and have remained absent from further meetings at Gurdwara Amb Sahib.  Damdami Taksal Jathedar, Baba Harnaam Singh who is the President of Sant Samaj has remained missing ever since Bhai Gurbaksh Singh started his hunger strike on November 14.

Today, Sikhs across Punjab (including Chandigarh) will be holding protests outside offices of Deputy Commissioners to bring awareness of the cause.

Sikh24 is making the following suggestions to bring the movement to the next level –

1)      First and foremost, Baba Ranjit Singh Dhadriawale should organize diwans at Gurdwara Amb Sahib.  He should start a march from Gurdwara Parmeshuar Dwar and arrive at Gurdwara Amb Sahib to express full solidarity with Bhai Gurbaksh Singh’s mission.

2)      Preachers such as Giani Pinderpal Singh and Bhai Amrik Singh (Chandigarh) who have supported Panthik causes in the past should be invited by Sikh Sangat to hold regular programs at Gurdwara Amb Sahib.   Bhai Amrik Singh openly spoke in favour of Bhai Gurbaksh Singh, however Giani Pinderpal Singh has remained silent.

3)      Sikh Sangat in Punjab should once again hoist “nishan sahibs” atop their houses to express solidarity with Bhai Gurbaksh Singh.

4)      Panthik leaders should draft a list of detainees of other communities who have completed their sentences but remain lodged in jails.  This list should include a list of Tamil and Kashmiri detainees, amongst others.

5)      Sikh Sangat living worldwide should contact their Government officials and Human Rights Organizations and seek their involvement in this case.  An email template has been made available on Sikh24.com that can be copied and forwarded.  In addition, sangat living worldwide should request their relatives and friends to visit Bhai Gurbaksh Singh at Gurdwara Amb Sahi.

We believe point #1 is most important because people in villages who stand with Baba Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale need to rise and join Bhai Gurbaksh Singh.  This can only happen if personalities like Baba Dhadrianwale openly support the cause of Bhai Gurbaksh Singh.  Although Bhai Sahib has visited Bhai Gurbaksh Singh in person a number of times, he is yet to hold a program at Gurdwara Amb Sahib.