AMRITSAR: The acting chief of Damdami Taksal, Baba Thakur Singh, in a signed letter to Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) chief Gurcharan Singh Tohra, has urged him to call a “sarbat Khalsa” to resolve the controversy regarding the maryada (religious tradition) of recitation of certain chaupais at Harmandir Sahib and Raagmala at the Akal Takht.
Rejecting the SGPC’s suggestion for changing of the maryada started by the then Akal Takht chief Jasbir Singh Rode in 1986, Baba Thakur Singh said that though he has great regard for the Akal Takht jathedar, the Damdami Taksal would not accept interference by Manjit Singh, acting jathedar of the Akal Takht because “he represents one section of the Sikh community.” This is the first time that any Sikh Organization has challenged the appointment of Akal Takht Jathedar, Manjit Singh.
Questioning the SGPC’s role, Baba Thakur Singh said that the SGPC role was restricted to managing the affairs of the Sikh gurdwaras.
It holds no authority to change any maryada being observed at any historical Sikh shrine, especially Harmandir Sahib and Akal Takht.
Baba Thakur Singh clarified that he has written his letter in response to Tohra’s letter seeking suggestions for solving the maryada controversy.
Meanwhile, the Damdami Taksal has called a meeting of the “sant samaj” at its headquarters at Mehta Chowk on Aug.8 to resolve the controversy regarding maryada.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 13, 1993
