CHANDIGARH: The World Sikh Conference being organized by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee at Amritsar from September 21-25 would discuss the “identity crisis” being faced by the Sikh com- munity.
Talking to the media persons here, the SGPC president, Gurcharan Singh Tohra, said that the conference would also discuss the political issues but not those directly related to the electoral politics.
He denied that the platform of the conference would be used to project the traditional Akali leaders. He said the invitation had been extended to virtually all Sikh organizations within the country and abroad.
The SGPC secretary, Manjit Singh Calcutta, who was also present, said the main issue under discussion would be ‘Sikhism today: Challenges and Responses. Various issues concerning the Sikh’s history, education, economy and culture would be deliberated upon by the delegates. The organizers expect participation of about 2,000 foreign delegates. The conference would also focus on the problems being faced by the Sikhs outside Punjab. A youth convention would also be part of the conference.
Tohra said that there was a feeling of stagnation and hence the identity crisis. The community was facing some challenges and the same had to be met, he added.
Tohra has already held preparatory meetings with the Sikh representatives in various parts of the country. Prominent Sikhs would be honored at the conference.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 1, 1995
