The highest Sikh Minister Jathedar) in the world, Jathedar Manjit Singh is visiting San Jose to deliver sermon to the local Sikh congregation on May 21, 1995, Jathedar Manjit Singh is the acting Jathedar (Highest Minister) of Sri Akal Takhat Sahib, Amritsar and Jathedar of Takhat Sri Kesgarh Sahib, Anandpur Sahib (the birthplace of Khalsa, the Sikh Nation) which is files one of the five highest seats of Sikh authority, The Akal Takht (the seat of Timeless God) shrine is the highest spiritual and temporal authority of the Sikhs. It is part of the Golden. Temple complex and was destroyed by the Indian army in an infamous ‘Attack called Operation Blue Star in Tune 1984 that left several thousand innocent pilgrims dead.
The position of the Jathedar of Akal Takhat among the Sikhs, in many ‘ways, is like that of the Pope among the Roman Catholics, He has the power to issue a Hukamnama (Edict) which applies to the entire Sikh Nation and is generally accepted by all the Sikhs all over the world.
Jathedar Bhai Manjit Singh (43) is the youngest and the most highly educated Sikh Minister ever to occupy this august Sikh religious position, Jathedar Manjit Singh (a former professor) was born in a town called Morinda, district Ropar in Punjab, India. His father was a government Official and his mother was a teacher. After finishing high school in 1967, Jathedar Manjit Singh joined the Shahid Sikh Missionary College at Amritsar, at the age of 18, he was appointed a Minister in a well-known Gurdwara (Sikh Temple) in Bombay. His next appointment was at Nanak Matta in the Uttar Pradesh state in India where Jathedar Manjit Singh became the Principal of Gurmat Vidyala (School of Sikhism), Jathedar Manjit Singh has got to M.A. degrees (Punjabi Literature and Religion) from Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab, India. He has also weight M.A. Punjabi classes. He received a two-year diploma in Sikhism from Shahid Sikh Missionary College, Amritsar and another two-year diploma in Sikh classical music from Sangeet Vidyala (School of classical music), Delhi. He presided over the Parliament of World Religions in Chicago couple of years ago.
Jathedar Manjit Singh has been a Sikh preacher for the last 26 years. In ‘addition to preaching in different parts of India, he has preached in many countries such as Singapore, Afghanistan, Malaysia, UK, Canada, and USA.
This US tour of the Sikh High Minister is the second part of his visit to England where he was invited to attend a Religions and Conservation Summit at the Windsor Palace by Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh (husband of Her Majesty, the Queen of England). The Sikh High Minister is committed to the environmental preservation program. He will be visiting about a dozen Sikh Gurdwaras and attending two Sikh conferences in California.
“We are very fortunate to have our highest religious figure in San Joso, His presence will result in unity and harmony in our community,” said Bhai Jit Singh Bainiwal, President, and Sikh Gurdwara San Jose. Jathedar Manjit Singh is an accomplished Indian classical musician and singer of Sikh hymns. He has a very charming personality and is known for his dedication to humanity and the Sikh community. Jathedar Manjit Singh, along with his four children and wife, lives in Punjab, India.
Article extracted from this publication >> May 12, 1995
