During the emotionally charged Ghallughara Week which commemorates the day of Operation Bluestar from June 1-6, Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, the recently appointed officiating Jathedar of the Akal Takht, made a determination that amazed galore and signalled a large displacement successful the institution’s approach.
By choosing not to publically honour the families of those killed successful 1984 during Operation Bluestar, and by refraining from addressing the sangat from the ineffable Takht’s fasil during the 41st day lawsuit connected Friday, Gargaj took a bold, conciliatory way aimed astatine bringing unneurotic each shades of Sikh sentiment — from moderates to hardliners.
At conscionable 39 years, Gargaj is the youngest-ever Jathedar to instrumentality connected this revered position. Conscious of the tensions betwixt Panthic factions, helium scaled down his information successful ceremonial events, a determination wide seen arsenic a strategy to forestall confrontation. Yet, helium led the ‘ardas’ and delivered a heartfelt ‘sandesh’ (message) to the Sikh ‘qaum’ from the Akal Takht premises—while salient critics, including Damdami Taksal main Harnam Singh Dhumma and Bhindranwale’s sons, Ishar Singh and Inderjit Singh, stood softly among the gathering.
Hailing from Jabbowal colony adjacent Baba Bakala successful Amritsar, Gargaj’s travel to the Akal Takht is rooted successful dedication to religion and community. After finishing schoolhouse locally, helium studied Sikh theology astatine the Sikh Missionary College astatine Anandpur Sahib, past earned a Master’s grade successful past from Chandigarh. In 2014, helium launched the NGO APNE to enactment orphaned children. Before his appointment, helium served arsenic a ‘kathavachak’ (religious preacher) astatine Gurdwara Manji Sahib Diwan Hall wrong the Golden Temple analyzable for astir 3 years.
When asked astir his abrupt elevation to the Akal Takht, helium humbly responded, “Guru di kirpa (by Guru’s grace),” earlier noting that his accordant engagement successful Panthic programmes and contributions to Sikh sermon whitethorn person contributed to his selection.
The Akal Takht Jathedar holds unmatched spiritual and motivation authorization wrong Sikhism. Yet, caller past has seen this presumption go politically volatile. Former Jathedars, Giani Raghbir Singh and Giani Harpreet Singh, were some removed abruptly—Giani Harpreet Singh pursuing a contention implicit attending a personage engagement, and Giani Raghbir Singh aft issuing ‘tankhah’ (religious punishment) to almighty Akali leaders, including Akali Dal person Sukhbir Singh Badal, for their government’s alleged wrongdoings from 2007 to 2017.
Badal, it is said, was upset that the Akal Takht ordered the removal of the honorary title, ‘Fakhr-e-Qaum’ fixed to his father, the precocious Parkash Singh Badal, erstwhile main curate of Punjab, arsenic portion of his ’tankhah.'
Giani Raghbir Singh’s removal connected March 7 ignited choler crossed the Sikh community, starring to renewed calls for a ceremonial model to govern however Jathedars are appointed oregon removed. Responding to the unrest, the SGPC announced connected March 24 that it would soon make a high-level committee to formulate wide guidelines covering the eligibility, duties, tenure and status of Jathedars. It besides promised to uphold the rule of “one person, 1 position” and to guarantee that views of Sikh sampradas (sectarian bodies) are respected going forward.
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