Global Sikh outrage as Indian Govt coopt sacred Sikh institution
Global Sikh protest has erupted after Maharashtra (India) State authorities took control of one of the Sikh faith’s most sacred institutions, in a move seen as a major power play within India’s efforts to subjugate Sikhs.
On 8th February Indian government amendments to the 1956 Nanded Sikh Gurdwara Sachkhand Sri Hazur Abchalnagar Sahib Act allowed 12 of 17 members of the Takht Sri Hazur Sahib Gurdwara’s management board to be appointed by the Maharashtra State. Punjabi-Sikh diaspora focused outlet Baaz called the decision an example of “government overreach and interference in Sikh institutions in India”.
Takht Sri Hazur Sahib is one of the panj takht (five seats of authority for Sikhs) and is of great historical importance to Sikhs, being the place of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s (the tenth Sikh Guru) joti jot (leaving of this world). The decades old Act allowed Hazur Sahib to be controlled by the Gurdwara Sachkhand Board, meaning that sevadaars (selfless servants) of Hazur Sahib were in control of the sacred institution.
The new amendment would mean that now only three members of the board would be elected from within the Gurdwara itself, and leading Sikh institution SGPC (Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee) could only nominate two, which has been reduced from four. The remaining dozen board members would be appointed by the State, which would mean approximately 70% of the members would be made up of Indian State representatives, although they are expected to be of the Sikh faith.
The nomination of Chief Khalsa Diwan (faith leader position) of Hazuri Sachkhand Diwan has also been abolished and two Sikh MPs who used to be board members will no longer hold their posts.
This has raised concerns that the government would be able to make important decisions on areas not under the domain of Indian politics, such as the maryada (Sikh Religious Protocols) of Hazur Sahib.
In an announcement in Hazur Sahib by faith leader Baba Ram Singh Ji, under the authority of Jathedar Baba Kulwant Singh Ji (faith head of the Gurdwara) on Friday (09.02.2024), a call was given for a morcha (protest) against the government’s interference.
The peaceful protest by the sangat of Hazur Sahib began immediately, with several thousand people gathering against the BJP (Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s far-right party) Maharashtra government’s actions.
Throughout the protest, chants of “Khalistan! Zindabad!” (long live Khalistan) were heard. Social media has been abuzz with advocation of sovereignty, with many citing this issue as yet another example of interference from the government in Sikh affairs, emphasising the need for Khalistan (independent Sikh state).
As part of the large-scale protest, shopkeepers also kept their stalls closed in Nanded.
Harjinder Singh Dhami, President of SGPC (Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee), led a delegation to Nanded to join the protest. Other members of the delegation included Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Daljit Singh Cheema and SGPC general secretary Rajinder Singh Mehta.
It is reported that MP Vikramjit Singh Sahney has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting him to immediately advise the Chief Minister of Maharashtra not to interfere in the management of Gurdwaras.
This is not the first time that Indian authorities have tried to interfere in the running of Hazur Sahib. In 2015, the BJP Maharashtra government curtailed the authority of the Gurdwara Sachkhand Board in Nanded by amending Section 11 of the 1956 Act. This allowed the government to directly appoint the president of the board, a role which board members previously elected.
SGPC opposed this at the time but were unsuccessful and the amendment was imposed. In 2015 BJP MLA Tara Singh became the first government appointee in the president position, in what many Sikhs consider a form of infiltration into the community. The BJP’s alignment with RSS (Hindu extremist) ideology has long been considered a direct threat to Sikhs of India.
As well as the historical prestige and wider influence Hazur Sahib is known to have, the Gurdwara is also associated with the Nihung Singh faction of the Sikh faith. Nihung Singhs are a specific military-faction within the Sikh faith, with a reputation as soldiers across India too. Known to be heavily armed, Nihung Singhs have long actively worked across India to maintain apt protocol in Sikh spaces and beyond.
Various Sikh orgs from across the world immediately expressed complete opposition to the decision.
No state appointed members of the Gurdwara board have yet been announced. Further announcements regarding protests are expected.
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