Editor’s Note: This series of articles are being published to highlight an embarrassingly consistent collection of shocking decisions and steps taken by the supposed leaders of our Panth (nation).
The blatant lack of leadership skills displayed over the last few decades has consistently proven that our appointed leaders are puppets, while their strings are being played by the hands of politicians in the Punjab and the Indian government.
The lack of backbone, lack of forthright decision making, and lack of spiritual and political wisdom, has led the whole nation to erode from within. With leadership positions being given to individuals and organisations whose intentions are to cause the downfall and weakening of the Sikh dharam, our community is no longer the awe inspiring, positive, moralistic, spiritual nor courageous that Sikhi espouses.
Unless we wake up the spirit within, we won’t be able to begin taking our reigns back and truly become world players with inspiring leadership which would encourage a just, altruistic and helpful society to help make the world a more positive place.
Beginning with the currently appointed (as opposed to selected by sangat/panth) Jathedar of Akal Takht Sahib, Giani Gurbachan Singh, in the coming weeks, we will cover the endless list of failures of our ‘leaders’ today.
Giani Gurbachan Singh
Gurbachan Singh was born on April 6, 1948, in Chakk Baja village in Muktsar district of Punjab, the home district of the Punjab chief minister. He joined the SGPC as a Granthi on February 29, 1972, at Darbar Sahib, Muktsar. In 36 years of his employment with the SGPC, he was promoted to the position of Granthi of Sri Harmandir Sahib. He is considered very close to the Badals and is a frequent visitor to their family.
Giani Gurbachan Singh was appointed acting jathedar of the Akal Takht Sahib on August 5 2008 following the forced resignation of Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti. Since becoming the appointed Jathedar, Gurbachan Singh has proven to be one of the most controversial Jathedars and on par to Jathedar Arur Singh who honored General Dyer, responsible for Jalianwala Bagh massacre.
1. Ludhiana Goli Kaand (December 5, 2009) – Following orders of the Akal Takht Sahib, Sikhs protested against Ashutosh being given permission to have a public gathering in Ludhiana. Bhai Darshan Singh Lohara became Shaheed and countless injured. Giani Gurbachan Singh never attended the scene or spoke against Badal giving Ashutosh permission to speak. A State ban on public speaking of Ashutosh had been in place since 2002 in Punjab.
2. Badal Honored (December 5, 2011) – Giani Gurbachan Singh along with the Jathedar of Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib at Anandpur Sahib, Giani Tarlochan Singh, Jathedar Takht Patna Sahib Giani Iqbal Singh and Vice Jathedar of Takht Sri Hazoor Sahib Nanded Sahib Giani Jotinder Singh and Head Granthi of Darbar Sahib (sanctum sanctorum of the Golden temple complex) Giani Jaswinder Singh, awarded Prakash Badal with “Panth Rattan Fakhr-e-Quam” for his “contribution to the Sikh faith and community”. Prakash Badal is widely recognized as the primary cause for the drugs, alcohol and police brutality issues in Punjab. Not to mention the rife corruption that pervades at all levels of his administration.
3. Anti-Sikh Dera given clean-chit (July 24, 2011) – Surinder ‘Singh’, self-proclaimed god-man of a Dera in Kahna Dhesia (Jalandhar) appeared at the Akal Takht Sahib to express his apology for dancing in the presence of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji whereupon Giani Gurbachan Singh let him off by issuing simple warning to adhere Sikh tenets and give due respect to Sri Guru Granth Sahib in future at the time of congregation. Later to the media Giani Gurbachan Singh said that the Kahna Dhesia Dera promotes Gurmat and this was a small overlooking that won’t happen again. However, the dera leader claims the title ‘Satguru’ which his father and grandfather also claimed before him. The names “Dhan Satguru Tarlokh Singh Maharaj” and “Dhan Satguru Gurmel Singh Maharaj” are printed on the walls of his dera and village gate. Though the dera has Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Guru Ji lies in a neglected room in a corner of the quadrangle. Pride of place instead is given to a throne-like gaddi where even in the absence of the resident baba, the faithful bow their heads and touch the seat in reverence and obeisance. The dera leader is a non-Amritdhari and doesn’t promote Amrit or Panj Kakkaar, yet Giani Gurbachan Singh considered the dera as promoting Gurmat. Interestingly Surinder ‘Singh’ is an influencial politicans with political links.
4. Clean chit given to Radha Soami Dera (August 2, 2012) – Giani Gurbachan Singh gave a clean chit to Radhasoami Dera Beas in the demolition of Gurdwara in Waraich village in Amritsar. The meeting was attended by Giani Gurbachan Singh, Jathedar of Takht Kesgarh Singh Tarlochan Singh, Takht Damdam Sahib Balwant Singh Nandgarh, Takht Patna Sahib Jathedar Iqbal Singh and Giani Jagtar Singh, Granthi Sri Darbar Sahib. No representation of Sri Hazoor Sahib participated.
5. Broke Gurbakhsh Singh’s hunger protest (December 27, 2013) – After 45 days, Gurbakhsh Singh ended his hunger strike for the release of Sikh political prisoners after Gurbachan Singh urged him to end his fast upon hearing the news of Lakhwinder Singh and Shamsher Singh’s parole release. Gurbachan Singh with his own hands gave him juice and promised to get the Sikh political prisoners released. Since then, the Jathedars have stepped back and gone quiet. Despite Bapu Surat Singh Khalsa’s hunger protest having completed 8 months, the Jathedar has till date not offered any kind of support to him. Bapu Surat Singh is asking India to execute its own laws and release political prisoners who have completed their sentences. Bapu Surat Singh went on hunger protest as Gurbaksh Singh ended his Lakhnaur Sahib strike under political pressure.
6. Gave Approval for Anti-Sikh Film (January 22, 2015) – Gurbachan Singh signed and gave a letter from Sri Akal Takht Sahib with reference number 3936 providing Harinder Singh Sikka blessings of approval in a making the controversial movie ‘Nanak Shah Fakeer’. It is worth mentioning that at beginning of film’s trailer available on Youtube, Sri Akal Takht Sahib is thanked for supporting the film. However, in March 2015 Gurbachan Singh denied any such support to the alleged anti-Sikh movie. However, the letter sent to the film director exposed all the matter. In reference to the letter, the Jathedar has now stated that whenever somebody informs Akal Takht’s jathedar regarding any project related to Sikh religion and history, he is sent a routine letter in view of their sentiments are encouraged.
7. Cancelled the initially approved Nanakshahi Calendar (March 15, 2015) – Made a U-turn on the 2003 Nanakshahi Calendar and reverted back to the Bikrami Calendar after pressure of Sant Samaaj, BJP and RSS. The Indian Tribune reported that Gurbachan Singh said they had released the calendar which was published by the SGPC. Whilst SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar said they simply followed the directions of the Akal Takht that asked them to publish the calendar as per “Gurbani and historic sources” and said “We’ve done what we were told to”. Ever since, the calendar issue has continued to divide the Sikh community and the matter is now more complex than it was earlier in 2003, even if the Nanakshahi calendar was deemed not perfect by everyone.
8. Endorsement of Vadbhag Singh Dera (September 6, 2015) – Giani Gurbachan Singh told the media that “there is no harm in commemorating Vadbhag Singh’s birthday.” The Sikh Rehit Maryada states that one becomes a Thankhahia (liable for religious discipline) if anyone maintains relations or communion with “Meene, Masands, followers of Dheermal or Raam-Raae, or any other anti-Panthik individual or groups, users of tobacco, those who kill or abort their daughters, and (being a Sikh) one who cuts their hair.”
Dhir Mal was the elder brother of Sri Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji, who became an enemy of the Guru. In Kiratpur Sahib he set himself up as a guru and also claimed to be Guru at Baba Bakala. He also got Sheehe Masand to try and shoot the ninth Guru. The Sodhis of Kartarpur are Dheer Mal’s descendants. ‘Baba’ Vadbhag Singh is from this clan and fifth in line to Dheer Mal. He was called Vadbhag Rai and was engaged in exorcisms and black magic. When Nasir Ali, the ruler of Jalandhar, desecrated Gurdwara ‘Tham Sahib’ he got scared and ran away. He came to Sri Akal Takht and asked the Dal Khalsa to save him from Nasir Ali. The Khalsa agreed to help him under the condition that he would give up exorcisms and also take Amrit. He agreed and became Vadbhag Singh. For some time he confirmed to the Khalsa Rehat, but then went back to black magic and exorcisms. After getting threats from the Khalsa for going against the promise he had made, he escaped into mountains to continue his black magic and exorcism practices. The Dheer Mal clan is excommunicated and is not to be associated with by the Khalsa. If Giani Gurbachan Singh is correct in believing Vadbhag Singh was a practicing Amritdhari then that would mean the Sikh Rehit Maryada needs changing. Giani Gurbachan Singh helped to promote the exorcisms and anti-Sikh activities that take place in deras associated to Vadbhag Singh.
9. Honored Avtar Makkar (September 10, 2015) – Giani Gurbachan Singh and the appointed Takht Jathedars awarded Shiromani Sevak Award to Avtar Makkar, when no such concept of ‘Shiromani Sevak’ exists. The countless sacrifices of sevaks in the Panth has been ridiculed by conferring such an award to someone who has no regards for seva. Makkar has been seen having other SGPC workers put his shoes on. He receives a hefty salary and gets paid for his ‘seva’ plus accommodation, security, workers, and AC facilities. Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib Jathedar Giani Mal Singh, Takht Sri Damdama Sahib Jathedar Giani Gurmukh Singh, Takht Sri Patna Sahib Jathedar Giani Iqbal Singh and huge number of SGPC functionaries were also present on the occasion.
10 – Gurmeet Ram Rahim is pardoned (September 24, 2015) – Despite the martyrdom of 3 Sikhs and countless other Sikhs in jail or pending legal cases in relation to controversial Dera of Gurmeet Ram Rahim, the Jathedars announced the decision to pardon him. The letter seeking “forgiveness” by Ram Rahim is said to have been prepared and sent under political guidance of Punjab Government led by the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal). It is notable that in May, 2007 Gurmeet Ram Rahim had conducted an activity in Sirsa cult resembling the Amrit Sanchaar custom in Sikh religion in which he dressed up like Guru Gobind Singh wearing costumes like him. Giani Gurbachan Singh has said that Gurmeet Ram Rahim is pardoned after accepting his so-called apology. The actual letter of Ram Rahim did not seek forgiveness, instead emphasized that he had not impersonated any Guru, Saint or Prophet. Meeting of the Jathedars was attended by Giani Gurbachan Singh (Jathedar Sri Akal Takht Sahib), Giani Mall Singh (Jathedar, Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib), Giani Iqbal Singh (Jathedar, Takht Sri Patna Sahib), Giani Ram Singh (Jathedar, Takht Sri Hazoor Sahib) and Giani Gurmukh Singh (Jathedar, Takht Sri Damdama Sahib).
God is inside of us and outside of us.
God where are you.