Latest News from Jathedars

Patna priests reject Akal Takht Gurmatta Impeach Vedanti, 4 other high priests

The Sikh clergy of Patna Sahib today impeached Jathedars of all three Takhts of Punjab (Akal Takht, Takht Damdama Sahib and Takht Kesgarh Sahib), besides the Head Granthi and Granthi of the Golden Temple, debarring them from taking part in any panthic activities.
Takht Patna Sahib has also rejected the Gurmatta passed by Sikh high priests at Akal Takht on June 6. The action of the Takht has created chaos in the panthic circles. Earlier, Takht Patna Sahib had excommunicated Prof Darshan Singh, former Jathedar of Akal Takht. His excommunication was rejected through the Gurmatta passed by Akal Takht on June 6.
The Patna Sikh clergy took serious view of the humiliation of Giani Iqbal Singh, who was roughed up and not allowed to attend the Akal Takht meeting held here to mark Ghallughara Divas.
Declaring them “mahan doshi” (guilty of religious misconduct) for rejecting the directives of the Sikh clergy of Patna Sahib, Giani Iqbal Singh, Jathedar, Patna Sahib, and other four high priests resolved that the high priests of Punjab had tried to denigrate Takht Patna Sahib.
The Gurmatta of Takht Patna Sahib reiterates that the Takht is the temporal authority of the Sikhs since it is related to the birth of the Tenth Sikh Master, Guru Gobind Singh.
The Gurmatta further states that Prof Darshan Singh was declared Tankhaya and was cleared of serious charges by Akal Takht under a “deep-rooted” conspiracy.

Latest about AC units at Darbar Sahib

ACs at Golden Temple
UT resident files petition in HC

The protests being raised by both Sikh and heritage conservationists across the world against the installation of two giant four ton air-conditioners (ACs) in the Golden Temple sanctum sanctorum took a leap ahead with the recent writ petition filed by a city resident Malkit Singh Jandiala.
The petitioner Malkit Singh, who is also the convener of the “Gurmat Sangeet Society”, has filed the writ in the Punjab and Haryana High Court and it will be taken up after the vacations on July 3.
Surprisingly, the SGPC had passed a resolution for installation of the ACs - one in the sanctum sanctorum and the other on the first floor of the Golden Temple.
Sikhs all over the world and heritage experts expressed dissent towards it as the decorations on the wall would get damaged while installing them.
The variation in micro climate because of the installation of the ACs would also damage the decorations.
The walls in Golden Temple are decorated with in-laid marble panel, frescoes or clad with gilded copper embossed sheets.
However, the greatest threat from these six-feet monsters is to the beautiful frescoes and heritage building.
Interestingly, the resolution of installing the ACs, security cameras and mobile jammers in the shrine was passed by the SGPC for the benefit of its granthis and VVIP visitors.
The decision was reportedly taken on the request Surinder Kaur Badal, the Punjab CM’s wife, who is a regular visitor at the gurdwara every month.
The resolution has been criticised worldwide by many organisations. Conservationists are of the view that the walls of Harminder Sahib are made of burnt bricks and lime mortar and hence there was no need to install ACs.

Breaking News Flash

Takht Hazoor Sahib rejects Akal Takht Gurmatta

In a jolt to Jathedar, Akal Takht, Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, Takht Hazoor Sahib today decided, in principle, to reject the Gurmatta passed by the Sikh clergy at Akal Takht on June 6.
Jathedar, Patna Sahib, Giani Iqbal Singh had already rejected the religious resolutions passed at a meeting of Sikh high priests at Akal Takht secretariat. Talking to The Tribune from Abchal Nagar (Maharashtra), Giani Kulwant Singh, Jathedar, Takht Hazoor Sahib, said any decision without the presence of the representatives of all five Takhts had no value.
He said it was a matter of concern that Takht Hazoor Sahib and Takht Patna Sahib were not invited to the meeting of Akal Takht to take arbitrary decisions without opposition.
Takht Hazoor Sahib has deputed senior functionaries to collect facts, including the copy of the controversial Gurmatta. The meeting of Sikh high priests at Akal Takht on June 6 had put undeclared ban on the entry of Giani Iqbal Singh on the pretext that he had been misusing his authority as Jathedar. Takht Hazoor Sahib believes the controversial decisions taken at Akal Takht secretariat, including appeal made to Sikh masses to ignore the decisions of Giani Iqbal Singh, are “most unfortunate” which aim at dividing the Sikh clerics.
Takht Hazoor Sahib has also supported the stand of Giani Iqbal Singh and other Sikh high priests of Takht Patna Sahib on Dasam Granth. Both Takhts believe Dasam Granth was penned by Guru Gobind Singh.
Jathedar Kulwant Singh has also taken a serious view of allowing breakaway group of dera Wadbhag Singh to join Sikhism. He said a formal decision regarding Dera Wadbhag Singh would be taken by Takht Hazoor Sahib shortly.
Coming heavily on Jathedar Vedanti, Bhai Ranjit Singh, a former Jathedar, Akal Takht, has said the Sikhs had snapped ties with Baba Wadbhag Singh and his followers during Guru’s period. He said time had come to remove Vedanti as Jathedar, Akal Takht, for his alleged violation of the Maryada.
Bhai Ranjit Singh called upon Sikh masses to reject Giani Vedanti as Jathedar. He alleged it was for the first time Akal Takht has put its official stamp on a religious dera working in violation of the established Sikh Maryada since the period of the Sikh Gurus.

The month of June full of martyrdom for sikhs - Part 4

7th June

GurSikhs from rural Punjab marched to defend Sri Darbar Sahib despite the heavy presence of armed forces, living up to Sant Jarnail Singh Ji's words "Don't Spare anyone who insults Guru Ji!"
The Sikh soldier rebellion began, they wanted to stop the attack of Sri Darbar Sahib. They were fired upon with helicopers and thousands of Sikh marchers were shot dead. Several thousand Sikhs, including women and small children were arrested.
The army deliberately set fire to the Sikh Reference Library. Valuable archives and material of significant historical importance were destroyed in this fire. This was yet another extremely sad incident. The army claims that the library caught fire during crossfire. The fire was deliberately set by the army either on June 7 or 8.

Bhindranwale is still alive in the hearts of all the Sikhs.

News Flash

Sri Dasam Granth Sahib is an inseparable Scripture of the Sikh Panth

A special meeting of the Singh Sahibans took place as scheduled on June 6th at Sri Akal Takht Sahib. The conclave was called by Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti and SGPC President Avtar Makkar, and had several crucial pending topics on its agenda. A meeting between the Sikh Jathedars had been long overdue after Jathedar Vedanti returned from his lengthy overseas parchar tour.
According to the press release by the Akal Takht Sahib secretariat, several important gumattas were reportedly passed in the meeting.
Most notably, Sri Akal Takht Sahib re-iterated its stand on the validity of Sri Dasam Granth and warned the scripture’s detractors to cease and desist from their mischievous parchar.
Some of the Gurmattas include:
· Pronouncement of the Supremacy of Sri Akal Takht Sahib over the other four Takhts.
· Sri Dasam Granth being an inseparable Scripture of the Sikh Panth
· Sikh Sangat asked not to criticize Sri Dasam Granth and its contents.
· Ragi Darshan Singh, Sikh institutions and organizations warned not to utilize Panthic stages for Anti-Sikh Parchar.

Giani Iqbal Singh banned

Giani Iqbal Singh, Jathedar Takhat Sri Patna Sahib, surprisingly, was not allowed to attend the scheduled meeting by the Akal Takht Sahib Management and SGPC task force, meanwhile ex-Jathedar Kewal Singh of Takht Sri Damdama Sahib was allowed in and out of the complex without restrictions.
There were several tense moments with heated verbal exchanges between Giani Iqbal Singh and the task force employee who ridiculed Giani Iqbal Singh over the charges of bigamy that are shadowing him. Giani Iqbal Singh reportedly left in disgust after realizing his presence would not be entertained by Vedanti and other attendees.
Last week, while announcing the meeting jointly with SGPC President Avtar Makkar, Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti told members of the press that amongst several important issues, the ‘issue’ of Sri Dasam Granth was to be the key aspect of the meeting. In addition, while invalidating Giani Iqbal Singh’s right to excommunicate other Sikhs, Jathedar Vedanti upheld that the controversies related to of Prof. Darshan Singh were also to be discussed at the meeting.
Jathedar Vedanti termed the revised controversy on Dasam Granth Sahib as very unfortunate. He had previously asked all Panthic groups to remain away from indulging in any controversial issues during the 300th anniversary of Guru Granth Sahib Ji’s Guruship, but this mandate passed by Akal Takhat Sahib was completely rejected by mischievous persons to divert the Khalsa Panth's attention.
During another meeting at Fatehgarh Sahib, Makkar announced that a committee of Sikh Scholars has been established which will further work to raise awareness of Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s Granth within Sikh circles—especially amongst those that deny it’s authenticity. When asked about Jathedar Vedanti’s stand on Khalistan, Avtar Makkar said that this issue was not discussed in the meeting. According to Makkar, the meeting was called at Fatehgarh Sahib to discuss the issue of Prof. Davinderpal Singh Bhullar and Bibi Parveen Kaur who have been wrongfully arrested by the police.

Don't Misuse Stages for creating Controversy : Ex-SGPC Member

The former secretary of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Manjit Singh Calcutta, criticized Ragi Darshan Singh for raking up unnecessarily over the issue of Sri Dasam Granth during the 300th year centenary of Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
In an exclusive interview with Panthic Weekly, the former chief secretary of SGPC, who was once a close confident of Akali stalwart Gurcharan Singh Tohra, denounced the use of Gurdwara stages for controversial subjects and issues.
He stated that when Ragi Darshan Singh was the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, he had never raised any issues against the Granth, but now seems to be doing so needlessly. He reiterated that the Ragi himself used to recite Dasam Bani on his (commercial) cassettes and was even promoting the yatra to Hemkunt Sahib, the Himalayan site mentioned in Sri Dasam Granth where Guru Gobind Singh Ji meditated in his previous life.

Sardar Manjit Singh reiterated that the negative attacks on Sri Dasam Granth needed to stop along with others issues that were creating division within the Panth, and stressed he has always tried to persuade those who were falling into this trap. Such issues are to be solved by Panthic representation at Sri Akal Takht Sahib and not on our local stages.

Ghallughara Divas

The slogan of “Khalistan and Bhindranwale zindabad’ were raised in front of Akal Takht by SAD (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann to mark the 24th anniversary of Operation Bluestar here today even as Ghallughara Divas passed off peacefully. Though the SGPC had deployed its task force to deal with any untoward incident, some youths were seen attending the function with firearms.
However, Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, Jathedar of the Takht, in his message delivered from the Takht, urged the Sikhs to beware of those forces who planned to challenge the age-old Sikh institutions for ulterior motives. The Jathedar honoured kin of many slain militant leaders, including Sant Bhindranwale, Major-Gen Shabeg Singh and Bhai Amrik Singh at the Takht.
Jathedar Vedanti asked the Sikhs to come on a single platform in a real tribute to all those who had made supreme sacrifice during Operation Bluestar.
Giani Iqbal Singh, Jathedar of Patna Sahib, was also sitting at Akal Takht when Jathedar Vedanti criticised those who had been challenging the age-old Sikh institutions.
After the ardas at the Takht, the SAD (A) president criticised the ruling Akali Dal for continuing alliance with the BJP despite the fact that L.K. Advani, former Deputy Prime Minister, had confessed in his autobiography that the BJP had provoked the Central government for ordering Operation Bluestar. He said Advani had also used derogatory remarks against Sant Bhindranwale in the book.
The All-India Sikh Students Federation, led by Karnail Singh Pirmohammad, oranised a “Khalsa Insaaf March” to mark the anniversary of the operation.
The Akal Purkh Ki Fauj, headed by SGPC member Jaswinder Singh Advocate, organised a blood camp outside the Golden Temple complex to pay tributes to those Sikhs who were killed in the operation.
Meanwhile, Dal Khalsa activists assembled outside the main entrance of Darbar Sahib and pledged to carry on with the struggle for “Khalsa Raj” in a democratic manner.
The Khalsa march was organised by the All-India Sikh Students federation, Damdami Taksal, Sikhs for Justice and Riots Victims Society from Gurdwara Shaheed Baba Deep Singh.


Wadhbhag sect plea accepted

In a bid to bring the sect promoted by Baba Wadhbhag Singh to the mainstream of the Sikh religion, Akal Takht today accepted the plea of Bhai Swarnjit Singh, vice-president of the Singh Managing Sewa Committee, Tap Asthan Gurdwara Manji Sahib, Himachal Pradesh. He submitted himself at the Takht and accepted that he would abide by the tenets of Guru Granth Sahib.
The resolution adopted by the Takht pointed out that Baba Wadhbhag Singh had been involved in some controversial literature and now Bhai Swarnjit Singh had come forward to literally wipe out the old controversies and return to the panthic fold.

The month of June full of martyrdom for sikhs - Part 3

6th June

Indian Army occupied the Sikh Shrines, archives, libraries, museums. Most of them were later set abalze.
The fascist Indian Armed Forces, under the orders of Indira Gandhi (then prime minister) and Zail Singh (then President) launched the final assault on the Golden Temple complex.
Today, the whole Sikh Nation salutes all those GurSikh martyrs who gave their lives while protecting the sanctity of Sri Akal Takhat and Sri Darbar Sahib. So many GurSikhs were killed that although the army paid Rs. 50 for picking up a dead body and loading it onto the awaiting trucks, there weren't enough people to get this work done. People clearing dead bodies were also given permission for retain all valuables recovered from the body. The most notable GurSikhs included Jarnail Singh Bhindrawalae, Amrik Singh and General Shahbeg Singh.
Giani Puran Singh, Darbar Sahib's high priest, was told by the soldiers that the bodies of Bhindranwalae, Amrik Singh and General Shahbeg Singh were found in the courtyard of Sri Akal Takhat. Ropes were tied to the body of Gen. Shahbeg Singh. His body seemed to have been dragged from Sri Akal Takhat.
Additionally, the indian army occupied the Sikh Shrines, archives, libraries, and museums. Most of them were later set abalze and 37 other Gurdwaras were attacked.

The month of June full of martyrdom for sikhs - Part 2

5th June 1984

A fierce battle in the Sri Darbar Sahib Complex continued as the Sri Akal Takhat was attacked with heavy artillery and tanks.

"Even if it results in my body being cut to small pieces I shall still fight against injustice."

"Please come under the fold of Satguru (the one and only True God), take Amrit read the Bani (Scriptures) and talk among yourselves of the Panth and of the Kesari Nishan Sahib (the Sikh flag) and of your true leader the Guru Granth Sahib Ji .....and when the time comes for confrontation don't kill the poor, don't molest the women and don't trouble the old, but don 't spare anyone who insults Guru Ji!" - The words of Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhinderwale

The month of June full of martyrdom for sikhs - Part 1

4th June in History

1984 Operation Bluestar: Indian armed forces invaded Sri Darbar Sahib, Amritsar and many other shrines.Thousands of Sikhs killed. The security forces started firing upon the Golden Temple complex. GurSikh freedom fighters responded with fire. Despite Indian army's repeated notice of surrender, GurSikh freedom fighters refused and giercely faced their onslaught. The army sorrounded the Golden Temple complex and started firing at 4:50 AM. Thousands of Sikhs were killed. Additionally, many other shrines were also attacked. There was a media blackout in Punjab at this time, thousands of sikhs men killed, sikh women raped and children abused and killed.

Breif History of Operation Bluestar

June 3, 1984, the Martyrdom day of Guru Arjan Dev: that was the day the Army chose to surround Golden temple. The onslaught started two days later on the night of June 5 around 7 p.m. The total number of people killed during Operation Blue Star at Sri Darbar Sahib, Amritsar, Punjab and other gurudwaras as well as the marching villagers and Army deserters is more than 12,000 in numbers.

Mary Anne Weaver a British correspondent in her report to Sunday Times, London June 17, 1984, observed "not since independence has the Army been used in such numbers"

The rest of Punjab was flooded with soldiers to put down internal rebellion. The specially picked and trained Indian soldiers were supported by tanks and armoured personnel carriers and yet it took them more than 72 hours of continuous all-out battle to gain control of the shrine which was defended by followers of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. Brahm Chellany, the only foreign correspondent who managed to remain in Amritsar after the government had ordered them out, reported the statements of doctors and police officials that many of the Sikhs killed in the attack had been shot at point-blank range with their hands behind their backs. Some of these bodies with hands tied behind the back were photographed. This is also borne out by the testimonies of survivors. While the Darbar Sahib was under attack, other Army units were battling their way into many other gurudwaras in Punjab.

"The Army which had suffered a heavy toll in three days of battle went berserk and killed every Sikh who could be found inside the temple complex. They were hauled out of the rooms, brought to corridors on the circumference of the temple and with their hands tied behind their back, were shot in cold blood. Among the victims were many old men women and children."

The Latest - AC units at Shi Darbar Sahib

Saadh Sangat Ji the SGPC has gone a step too far to destroy Darbar Sahib. SGPC president Makhar has declined calls to remove the AC units.

After having withdrawn its plan to install Air Conditioners in Sri Harmandir Sahib Complex last May, the Shiromani Gurdwara Committee has gone ahead with the abandoned plans by installing two heavy duty Air Conditioners in the upper floor of Sri Harmandir Sahib. This move by the SGPC has drawn flack as these developments were made without consultation from any Sikh experts.

"The move came after ‘commands’ from Surinder Badal, wife of Parkash Badal (SAD), as she visits Sri Harmandir Sahib frequently."

While talking to the press, a high profile SGPC member alleged that the move came after ‘commands’ from Bibi Surinder Badal, wife of Parkash Badal (SAD), as she visits Sri Harmandir Sahib frequently. Furthermore, according to the SGPC President Avtar Makkar, since several VIPs pay homage at the complex throughout the year, the air conditioners were installed to better accommodate the foreigners. Avtar Makkar has held that the installation of air conditioners was done without modifying the centuries old complex in any way. However, a panel of experts opposing the move has argued that varying temperatures within the complex will surely prove to be dangerous to the magnificent and unmatched frescos and delicate art work. Adding to the list of those opposed to the SGPC move, Balwinder Singh from Guru Nanak Dev University has argued that the work is against the heritage of the Sri Harmandir Sahib. He added that the complex was built in a way to provide a natural cooling effect and installation of AC’s will be hazardous.

Initially, Gurmit Rai, a renowned heritage conservationist and Director of Cultural Resource Conservation Initiative had also openly condemned the plans of the SGPC last year. Ms. Rai argued that installing the air-conditioner would damage the floor and the walls of the building while the compressor that has to be installed outside could cause electric hazards and noise problems.

Several SGPC members had also expressed their concerns over the installation of the air conditioners. Bibi Kiranjot Kaur, executive member of the SGPC, said the air-conditioners were not needed and instead suggested that higher SGPC officials work on eradicating the pollution problem near Darbar Sahib, as that would automatically solve the high temperature issue. Former SGPC member Manjit Singh Calcutta also denounced the plan as terrible. He said that the Sikhs visited Harmandir Sahib to seek spiritual security and not physical relief.

AC units at Shi Darbar Sahib - The Whole Story below

Sikhs wakeup our Shiromani Shri Harmandir Sahib is being modernised, different from how the Gurus had it years ago. Now the SGPC have gone as far as installing Air-Conditioning units in Darbar Sahib damaging the holy structure of the Holy Darbar Sahib. The Sikh Panth never asked for this there is no need the way Guru Sahib desgined Darbar Sahib it is always controlling the temperature there, these AC units need to be removed striaght away before they cause even more damage.

Despite world-wide criticism from Panthic circles, the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) has installed two air-conditioners (4 tonnes each), one in sanctum sanctorum and the other on the first floor of the Golden Temple.

The conservationists are of the view that air-conditioning will cause colossal “structural damage” to the ancient holy structure of the Darbar Sahib.They said the devotees visited the Darbar Sahib for spiritual solace and not for physical comforts and, hence, they (devotees) had never made any such demand till date. Conservationists are of the view that the walls of the Harmander Sahib are made of burnt bricks and lime mortar and, hence, there was no need to install ACs.

The senior SGPC officials, including Harbhajan Singh, manager, Darbar Sahib, confirmed the installation of ACs in the sanctum sanctorum. The SGPC had formed a sub-committee to look into the effects of the ACs to the ancient structure when its move had received flak from the Sikh sangat the world over.

The move to install the ACs was dropped for a few months when renowned conservationist Gurmit Rai and other Sikh scholars had warned that the air-conditioning system, if introduced in the Darbar Sahib, would be an extremely destructive intervention. Sounding a note of warning, she had stated that the air-conditioning system comprised a blower and a compressor and, hence, while the blower would need to be placed on the floor or mounted on the walls inside the building, the compressor would need to be fixed outside.

These blowers could not be mounted on the walls or the roof without damaging the structure and decorations because of drilling holes or inserting mounting system, she had warned.
Veteran SGPC member Manjit Singh Calcutta described the SGPC decision to install ACs as “ill-conceived”.

The roofing system too is a masonry vaults. The surfaces are extremely decorative, with in-layed marble panel, frescoes or clad with gilded copper embossed sheets. Not even a square inch of plain space can be found on the walls and ceilings to place the ACs without damaging the original structure and decorations.

Decorations will also be at risk due to the variation in the micro climate zones (in temperature and humidity) that will be created inside the building as the doors have to be kept open.
It may be recalled that the SGPC had decided to engage the services of consultants to install ACs in the sanctum sanctorum of the Harmander Sahib, apart from installing security cameras and mobile jammers on the shrine premises in April last year. A decision regarding this was taken at a meeting of the sub-committee, chaired by Raghujit Singh Virk, senior vice-president, SGPC. It is learnt that Surinder Kaur Badal, pictured bowing to Pakhandi Saint Ausotosh, wife of the Chief Minister of Punjab, has been taking a keen interest in installing modern gadgets in the Golden Temple complex.

1984 Rally 8th June 2008

Please attend with freinds and family, there is transport arranged from all major gurdwaras in the UK, please come together to remember the great shaheeds of 1984.

1st Barsi Of Shaheed Kamaljit Singh Ji

Shaheed Kamaljit Singh was shaheed fighting for the truth in May 2007 against false Jhoota Saudha Pakhandi Saadh Raam Raheem.
A year later SGPC failed to commemorate the Barsi of the shaheed on a panthic level and instead went back on its words and cancelled the commemoration of the Barsi days before planned.

Guru Amar Daas Ji Maharaaj

"The Unspoken speech of Guru Amar Daas cannot be expressed with only one tongue."

Guru Amar Das Ji Maharaj was the third Guru and became Guru on 26 March 1552 at the age of 73 following in the footsteps of Sri Guru Angad Dev Sahib Ji Maharaj, who left for his heavenly abode on 29 March 1552 aged 48. Guru Amar Das ji was 73 years old when he became the Sikh Guru.

Guru Ji was the eldest son of Sri Tej Bhan Ji a farmer and trader and Mata Lachmi Ji, his devoted mother. He was a shopkeeper and lived in a village called Basarke which is near Amritsar. The third Sikh Guru was married to Mata Mansa Devi and they had four children - Two sons named Bhai Mohan and Bhai Mohri and two daughters named Bibi Dani Ji and younger daughter named Bibi Bhani Ji. Bibi Bhani later married Bhai Jetha who became the fourth Sikh Guru, Guru Ram Das.

The Third Sikh Guru contributed the following to the people of the world:
- All visitors to Gurdwaras were to take Langar (Free Blessed Food) together before seeing the Guru.
- Further abolished the Caste System.
- Guru lifted the status of women and gave them equality with men. He strictly prohibited the practice of Sati (the dying of the wife on her husband's funeral pyre).
- Established a system for management of the increasing size of the Sikh congregations.
- Gift of the prayer called Anand Sahib, which is one of the Five Banis recited daily by Sikhs.
- Established the city of Goindval on the banks of river Bias in 1552 A.D.
- The Guru contributed a total of 907 hymns to the Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
- Before Guru Ji died at the age of 95, he nominated Guru Ram Das Ji Maharaj (Bhai Jetha) as the fourth Guru of the Sikhs.

300 years with Guru Ji

Please vote in the poll "Are you planning on going to Hazoor Sahib in October 2008" in the side bar!

The Hooves of the Blue Horse

Once, Shri Guru Gobind Singh Maharaj was riding his blue horse and going towards Anandgarh, when suddenly out of nowhere Guru Jis horse stopped running. The Guru tried to persuade the horse to carry on but the horse wouldn’t go any further. The Guru tried in many ways to make the horse move but the horse remained stationary. On finding out why the horse had suddenly stopped and didn’t move it was discovered that the field which was to be crossed by the horse was where tobacco was sown.

Gurmat Parchar Seva

Gurmat Parchar Seva (Nottingham) are planning going to recite 1,000,000 jaap of Mool Mantar, Japji Sahib and Chaupi Sahib before Dhan Siri Guru Granth Sahib ji's 300th Gurgaddi Divas in October 2008. We are reciting these Jaaps to celebrate this auspicious occasion and for Sarbat Da Bhala (goodwill for all mankind). So wherever you are in this world and you would like to take part in this seva, please contact us on

info@thekhalsa.net

It does not matter if you can only recite a few (or even 1) Mool Mantar or Jaap, every little help will be very much appreciated, so please help us to reach our target and obtain Guruji's Blessings. We shall let everyone know how many jaaps have been recited every wednesday.Final total of the Jaap recited, will be included in the Ardaas on the day of Siri Guru Granth Sahib ji's Gurgaddi Divas in October. For more information please contact us Please join in this seva to complete 1,000,000 Jaap. You may do this where ever you are in the world Please publish our request on as many forums and web sites as you can and tell them to contact us on

info@thekhalsa.net

and let your family and friends know by personally speaking to them.

Prof Darshan Singh Ex-Jathedar of Akal Takht excommunicated

In an unprecedented move in the Sikh history, the Sikh clergy of Patna Sahib today excommunicated Prof Darshan Singh, a former Jathedar, Akal Takht, fromthe Sikh Panth.
Declaring him “permanent tankhahiya” (guilty of religious misconduct), the Sikh clergy of Takht Patna Sahib directed the Sikh Panth all over the world to snapties with him.


The two-paged Hukmnama (directive), signed by Giani Iqbal Singh, Jathedar, and four other granthis of Takht Patna Sahib, used extremely harsh language against the former Jathedar, Akal Takht. The step was taken after the deadline fixed by Takht Patna Sahib to appear before it by May 10 to explain his position for opposing Dasam Granth ended.

The development has come at a time when the Sikh Panth has been making preparations for the forthcoming tercentenary of the Gurgaddi Divas of Guru Granth Sahib.

Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee president and former president Parmjit Singh Sarna and Harwinder Singh Sarna described the action against former Jathedar Akal Takht as “most unfortunate”. They said Jathedar Iqbal Singh had no right to take such a step against Prof Darshan Singh who had rendered great service to the community after Operation Bluestar in June 1984 by performing kirtan. He (Prof Darshan Singh) was arrested and tortured in police custody, they said. They alleged that action taken against him was part of “deep-rooted conspiracy”.

Jathedar Iqbal Singh is not keeping good relations with the SGPC and Jathedars of three Takhts in Punjab. This was the reason that he (Iqbal Singh) was not being called in the meetings of Akal Takht for a long time. There was pressure on the SGPC and Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti to summon Giani Iqbal Singh at Akal Takht, yet the former had declined the demand on the pretext that Jathedar of any Takht should not be summoned.

Earlier on May 5, former Jathedar, Akal Takht, Prof Darshan Singh, had refused to appear before the Sikh clergy of Patna Sahib by May 10, the deadline fixed for him to explain his position for opposing Dasam Granth by the Sikh clergy there.

In a fax sent to Giani Iqbal Singh, Jathedar, Patna Sahib, Prof Darshan Singh had challenged the authority of the Sikh clergy of Patna Sahib to summon him. He said Takht Patna Sahib could deal with regional matters pertaining to Sikh religion, while Akal Takht being supreme temporal authority of the Sikhs had the power to touch matters of the entire Sikh community.

The extreme action was taken against Prof Darshan Singh though he had offered to hold debate on the issue of Dasam Granth which he believed was not Bani of Tenth Sikh Master, Guru Gobind Singh. However, he said he could not hold any talk with a person who equated other Granths with holy Guru Granth Sahib.

The latest : Sikhs outraged at Daily Sport headline

Just to let the sangat know. A team of Sikh Lawyers are in the process of challenging the newspaper and have asked me to urge the sangat not to bombard the newspaper with phone calls, emails and letters .They are taking up the case officially and will endeavour to resolve the issue through the correct methods.By contacting the newspaper individually will make the case more difficult for them.May the Truth Prevail in this Dark Age.

Sikhs outraged at Daily Sport headline

"The Khalsa is my complete image, I dwell in the khalsa."

Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj.

This is disgusting that the British media have placed the image of Guru Gobind Singh his khalsa in newspapers such low class as the daily sport, this is beadbi of the khalsa and the Guru. Khalsa Ji wakeup we are at attack once again. Remember Sant Jarnail Singh Jis words "Don't spare anyone who insults Guru Ji!" Khalsa ji take action; don't just ignore this attack on sikh identity. This is a chain of events in India there is countless crimes against Sikhs and countless times that beadbi has been done of Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaaj now in the United Kingdom our identity is being attacked!

To complain contact Daily Sport Newspaper on 01612 364466 or Daily Sport, 19 Ancoats Street, M60 4BT.

Please feel free to comment and express your views an opinion on what action should be taken regarding this.

Shock and disgust. That is the overall feeling of the Sikh community after coming across the Daily Sport newspaper last Thursday. The headline "BURGER SINGH!" following a double page spread of a Sikh Nihang Singh was splashed across the national newspaper Daily Sport, along with an enlarged image of a half naked woman holding a pint of beer in one hand and tucking into an Indian dish.


The image of the Sikh Nihang has a label alongside it reading "Employee of the month," and an illustrated image of a 5-star ranking placed on his Paag. The image has left the Sikh community feeling hurt and disappointed at how ignorant individuals are towards other cultures and religions. Surely it's clearly obvious that the image itself depicts a religious individual, yet to mock it was taking it one step too far.


This highly offensive image has been portrayed as mocking the Sikh community. The front page tactlessly reads, "EXCLUSIVE World's first curry chain opens in UK." The angle of the article promotes the new food company "Tiffinbites," which is the first fast food curry chain in the UK. Rather than actually promote the new company, the Daily Sport have used a photo of the Nihang Singh, which is totally irrelevant towards the article. The headline is a careless play on words "Burger King," morphing into "Burger Singh."


On the inside on the newspaper, page 4 and 5, the opening paragraph reads, "That'll be chicken tikka masala with fries, please" That's what curry-lovers might be saying soon…"
The front page with its bold headline and the tacky double page spread is hard to miss. It's no surprise that since that edition of the newspaper was out in the newsagents; it has been inundated with calls of complaint and has released the following apology.

"On the 24th April the Daily Sport ran a front page feature announcing news of the UK's first curry chain, launched by Tiffinbites. The front page announcement was supported by a double page feature within the body of the paper.


The Daily Sport newspaper recognises that it unwittingly used words and pictures that may have caused unintended offence amongst the Sikh community and would like to apologise unreservedly to both the individuals concerned as well as the community as a whole.”
An apology in the Daily Sport is expected in a forthcoming issue of the paper. It was only after consistent persistence with the reporters at the newspaper that an apology was finally released, after they realised the seriousness of their mistake and carelessness.

Beadbi of Guru Granth Sahib Ji’s Saroop

New Delhi (KP) — A New Delhi Sikh was attacked by neighbors and the Saroop of Guru Granth Sahib in his house was thrown out in the street after the landlord evicted the Sikh’s family from their second floor apartment in the State Bank Colony near Gurdwara Nanak Pio Sahib.

The Sikh’s apartment had already been emptied due to the eviction but Guru Maharaj’s Saroop had not been moved due to a family emergency. But before this Sikh tenant could bring five Singhs to retrieve the Saroop, the Landlord, Ravi Singal removed the Saroop from the premises and tossed Guru Sahib in the street. The builder, along with nearby neighbors, also physically attacked the Sikh, leaving him battered and bruised.
As the local Sangat found out about this attack, hundreds of Sikhs gathered around the complex, and respectively removed the Sacred Saroop of Guru Sahib. Along with members of the Delhi Sikh Gurdawara Management Committee, they attempted to pressure the local Police to register a FIR complaint against the landlord and local neighbors. The Police declined to take such action against both.
After the Police inaction, hundreds of Sikh youth took it upon themselves to punish the perpetrators and ransacked the builder’s property during the late evening.

Sikhs this is an attack on our Guru Maharaaj and fellow sikh brothers and sisters we must not stand for this, take action immeditaely.