AGRA: About 1,000 Untouchables of Jaunpur village and nearby hamlets were converted to Sikhism at a four day Sikh Samagam which concluded here recently. Each convert bowed before the Guru Granth Sahib is acceptance of the new religion. In return, the Sikh priests presented them with siropa, kirpan and steel bracelet. The entire congregation had a joint feast. This conversion was jointly sponsored by the Uttar Pradesh Akali Dal youth wing and the SGPC. It was conducted under the stewardship of Baba Niranjan Singh, head priest of Guru Katal Gurud wara here. It was announced that all those who had embraced Sikhism would be taken to the Guru Katal Gurdwara to teach them other modalities of the religion. This mass conversion is stated to be a sequel to the riots at Panwari village ‘on June 23 when some upper caste Hindus had tried to stop a wedding procession of the Jatay (Untouchables). (Times of India).
Article extracted from this publication >> December 14, 1990
