AMRITSAR: The Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committees (SGPC) Sept.25th honored the Iate Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and the assassins of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and former Army Chief, Gen A.S. Vaidya, on the concluding day of the First World Sikh Convention, here. The conventional so honored Bhai Amrik Singh, former chief of the All India Sikh ‘Students Federation and a close aide of Sant Bhindranwale, who died in the Golden Temple complex during the Operation Bluestar in 1984, The SGPC president, Gurcharan Singh Tohra, was named the ‘Khalsa of the Year 1995’, by the ‘Sikhs living in the Western hemisphere, ‘The SGPC honored Satwant Singh.

Kehar Singh and Beant Singh, the assassins of the late Prime Minister along with Harjinder Singh Jinda and Sukhdev Singh Sukha, hanged for the murder of General Vaidya. They were among the 100odd persons honored by the SGPC for their significant contribution to the Sikh history and culture in the last 100 years.

Speaking on the occasion, the Akal Takht ‘acting jathedar, Prof Manjit Singh, announced that from now on, the five Jathedars would jointly take all decisions regarding the panth. Saying that this resolution had been endorsed by the jathedars of the two Takht is outside Punjab, he said that earlier, only the jathedars of the Akal Takht, Takht Keshgarh Sahib and Takht Damdamia Sahib took the decisions while the head priests of the Golden Temple and the Akal Takht were included merely to complete the quorum of five.

 It was for the first time in Sikh history that the jathedars of all the five Takhts of the Sikhs attended a convention.

 Calling upon the Sikhs to shun the caste system, Prof Majit desist from identifying  themselves on the basis of caste, He said that according to a resolution passed by the Pracharak Sabha,’ the original reht maryada’ of the ‘Akal Takht would be restored shortly.

Prof Manjit Singh also asked all the Sikhs to seek guidance from the Akal ‘Takht and to practice and propagate the principles of Sikhism as laid down in the Guru Granth Sahib.

Mr. Tohra, who was presented the award by Prof. Manjit Singh, on behalf of the Sikhs living abroad, represented by Harbhajan Singh Yogi, expressed satisfaction with the convention and said that contrary to expectations, no single political leader had been projected at the meet. Neither had it raked up any controversy.

The citation, that was presented along with a siropa and a shawl, mentioned that the award was being given in recognition of Tohra’s services to the panth. It said that he had successfully and gracefully Ted the Sikhs to work for world peace and the elevation of humanity.

Later, Tohra said that the World Sikh Council would be set up in a couple of days and a committee would be formed to plan the setting up of the World Sikh University. He said the council would have its headquarters somewhere in Europe but, for the time being, it would function from Amritsar.

Others who received the awards as part of the Sanmaan Samaroh,” organized at the Manjit Sahib Diwan Hall included the Tate Master Tara Singh, Baba Kharak Singh, Sant Fatch Singh, Sadhu Singh Hamdard and Giani Shadi Singh. Another significant awardee was Fauja Singh, who Jed the Akhand Kirtani Jatha procession against the Nirankaris in 1978, that resulted in the killing of 13 Sikhs, This single act is held responsible for the turmoil in Punjab during the last 17 years. ‘An unprecedented step was the joint decision by the five jathedars to take back into the panthic fold a Sikh scholar, Giani Gurmukh Singh, who was excommunicated by the Akal Takht in 1887, when it was under the control of the Mahants, Later, Giani Gurmukh Singh died without being pardoned by the Akal Takht. While announcing his rehabilitation Monday, theacting jathedar, apologized for the excommunications, saying that it was a ‘grievous mistake.”

The others who were honored on the occasion included the noted Sikh historian, Mr, Arthur McCaulfe, whose award was received by historian Noel King and the famous painter, late Sir Sobha Singh. The army officers who were awarded included, Air Commodore Mehar Singh, Lt. Gen. Kulwant Singh, Lt. General Bikram Singh and Subedar Karam Singh, Kapur Singh, Giani Kartar Singh and Giani Bhag Singh were among the eminent educationists who were honored.

Later, the SGPC secretary, Manjit Singh Calcutta, clarified that since a decision to honor the eminent persons had been taken late, all of them could not be informed. He added that awards would be sent to those whose next of kin could not make it to the convention.

Article extracted from this publication >>  September 29, 1995