LUDHIANA: The first World Sikh Summit, slated to be held at Amritsar from September 21 10 25 under the auspices of the Akal Takht, has kicked up a major controversy in Sikh circles over the appointment of Mrs, Inderjit Kaur, wife of the controversial Yogi Harbhajan Singh Khalsa, settled in the United States, as convener of the sammelan for western hemisphere. Mrs. Inderjit Kaur has issued a one page appeal to Sikh women abroad to participate in the proposed summit in strength. She has also invited women, who deserve to be honored at the sammelan in recognition of their excellence, to forward their profiles and photographs for the purpose. The appointment of Mrs, Inderjit Kaur has raised many an eyebrow because it is considered as backdoor entry of her husband in the sammelan.
Earlier Some of the key organizers had planned to confer the “Panth Rattan” title on the yogi at the summit but they had to abandon it after a public controversy generated by his writings, particularly criticizing the Akal Takht jathedar.
Equally controversial is the manner of her appointment because who gave her the appointment letter remains a mystery. Dr. Darshan Singh of Panjab University, who is general secretary of the three member organizing committee of the summit, when contacted Jast week, was in the total dark about her appointment and the appeal circulated by her. Similarly, Baba Sucha Singh, who is on the 14member preparatory committee and had first planned to organize the summit at Jawadi Kalan near here but was persuaded by the SGPC and the Akal Takht to hold it jointly with them at Amritsar, too does not know when and how Mrs. Inderjit Kaur came to be appointed. In fact, doubts have already begun to be expressed about the success of what was to be a unique event in Sikh annuals, those made in charge of organizing the event feel disillusioned at the tardy progress in the direction. According to Dr. Darshan Singh and Baba Sucha Singh, so far even the detailed program of the summit, the list of participants, the issues to be highlighted the Sikh image to be projected, foreign delegates to be invited and the personalities to be honored remain to be finalized though hardly two months are left for the Day. The three member organizing committee with Kulraj Singh as convenor has not met for nearly a month. Similarly, Baba Sucha Singh, who is the brain behind the summit, has not been involved in any meeting except once, nor has he been assigned any duty or responsibility for the function. The organizers had earlier decided to organize preparatory conferences in major cities of India, having sizable Sikh population, to mobilize the people. But so far, only one conference to be held at Calcutta from August 1315 has been decided upon and other cities may have to be skipped on account of paucity of time.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 28, 1995
