LUDHIANA, Punjab— Giani Gurbachan Singh, the appointed Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, stated on Saturday March 1,2014 that controversy over the Nanakshahi Calender would be settled soon. The plan is to form a calendar according to the aspirations of the entire Sikh nation that will be acceptable to all denominations, and factions of Sikhs in every country.
The Jathadar made the announcement during a program held at Jawaddi Taksal Sikh Seminary dedicated to the education, and training, of classic Gurmat Sangeet, or Sikh principles. He said that a meeting of Five Singh Sahiban, a counsel of five respected leaders, will be held very soon to discuss on the matter, as the Nanakshahi Calendar new year begins March 14, 2014.
The Nanakshahi Calender controversy is considered as one of the most sensitive of Panthik issues as it creates division in the world wide society of Sikhs. Pressured by the Sant Samaj who are led by Giani Harnam Singh Dhuma, the original Nanakshahi Calender of fixed dates, was discarded by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) in 2010, and amended every year since, with dates which have changed from the previous year. As a result, global division of the Panth has ensued, with the Pakistan Gurdwara management Committee, and the majority of Western Sikhs, following the original Nanakshahi Calender of fixed dates, while more traditional factions in India, and other parts of the East, follow yearly updates of the amended Nanakshahi Calender.
The issue has become further incensed with the Sant Samaj, demanding that the Hindu Bikrami Calender of India be implemented, doing its utmost to press the Jathedar of Akal Takht Sahib to meet its demand. Doing so however, would likely cause a permanent global rift of the Panth, as the fluctuating dates of the Indian calendar pose an immense inconvenience to Sikhs living in the Western hemisphere, where the yearly calendar begins 90 days earlier, with monthly starting dates differing by two weeks. Nearly the entire Sikh Panth opposes the Sant Samaj proposal. With Sikhs living around the world in wide variety of countries, and at least three different major calendar systems being followed, fluctuating dates cause a great deal of ongoing confusion. In many parts of the world, historic holidays are simply being commemorated by Sikhs, either on the closest, or the most convenient, weekend of the month that they fall in, as it is nearly impossible to either predict, or agree, on an actual date. Attempting to follow a Nanakshahi Calendar of fluctuating dates, which is released year, after year, at the last moment before the new year begins, makes it very difficult for Sikhs of different countries to keep up with important Sikh holidays, or plan festivities to coincide with calendar dates. The only real hope for Panthik unity, is to have a fixed Nanakshahi Calendar system, rather than one which fluctuates.
