A Window To Perceptive Journalism

Former Akal Takht heads
welcome stance, many react 

S P Singh

Chandigarh:

Former Akal Takht jathedar Bhai Ranjit Singh today welcomed the statement of dhirmal sect head Karamjit Singh expressing faith in Guru Granth Sahib but said any decision about taking them back into the panth has to be result of collective panthic deliberations.

"Guru ghar is full of bakhshish (the guru's abode is merciful.) but since the sect was excommunicated by none other than the gurus themselves, no single individual can take a decision about their return," Ranjit Singh, who was deposed from the top temporal seat but claims himself to be the legitimate jathedar, told ENS over phone.

Another former jathedar of Akal Takht and president of Akali Dal (Panthic) Jasbir Singh Rode welcomed the statement and appealed to the Akal Takht jathedar and SGPC to initiate steps to resolve the centuries old issue by considering the case of dhirmals.

Sukhdev Singh Bhaur, Senior vice-president of the G S Tohra-led Sarb Hind Akali Dal, welcomed the declaration of the Dhirmalias' head but said the sect should first apply for re-admission into the panth at the Akal Takht and only then can its case be considered. "However, we welcome their statement about belief in the Guru Granth Sahib and baptism," he said.

Several other senior leaders of the G S Tohra-led Sarb Hind Akali Dal also welcomed the declaration of dhirmals sect head.

"The Akal Takht jathedar and the SGPC should now take immediate steps to weave the dhirmals back into the Sikh mainstream. The Sikhism is a living religion and the panth must take into account the fact that the dhirmals have undergone their punishment, having stayed on the periphery of the community for over three centuries," SHAD leaders Jagjit Singh Gaba, Sarabjit Singh Variana and SGPC member of the party Surjit Singh Cheema told ENS here.

They said the dhirmals have refrained from any anti-Sikh activity over the decades and have maintained their Sikh identity despite ostracisation. "It is a good omen for the community and all efforts should be taken to join the sect again with the larger Sikh family," they added.

Senior leader of the ruling Akali Dal and SGPC member Partap Singh Advocate, welcoming the dhirmalias' statement, said he would use his good offices to convince SGPC chief Bibi Jagir Kaur and the Akal Takht jathedar about the need to re-admit the sect members into the panthic fold in the light of their latest stance asserting the supremacy of the Guru Granth Sahib and recognising the baptism.■

 July 9, 2000

Also See:
Ostracised By The Guru 350 Years Earlier, Now A Sect Wants To Return To Mainfold

Print this article

     
Home     Latest Column     SP Singh's Columns     Spice Of Politics     People     This Land Of Ours     Ballot Field     Across Radcliffe     Punjab's Religio-Politics

     
Cinema~Books~Life     Three Lines At A Time     Guest Column     Glossary     Archives     Grapevine    SP Singh     Contact     Search     Site Index     Site Map     Feedback

      © 2006       All rights reserved        Site design by Big Ideas