News & Views
4rd Dr Kharak Singh Memorial Lecture - A Report
The fourth lecture in memory of Late Dr Kharak Singh, one of the distinguished founders of Institute of Sikh Studies was held on February 18, 2023 in the Conference Hall of the Institute. Two well-researched and thought provoking lectures were delivered by the two eminent & well-known modern scholars of Sikh Studies, i.e Dr Chamkaur Singh, Director, Tohra Institute of Advance Studies of Sikhism and Dr Gurmail Singh, Head, Department of Religoius Studies, Punjabi University, Patiala on the subject of “Gurbani Vyakhiyakari: Prampara ate Varatman”. It is well-known that from the early days of Guru Nanak Dev Ji to the present time, interpretations of Gurbani by different Sikh sects and seminaries has been continuously carried on during different phases of Sikh history.
Dr. Chamkaur Singh, while pointing out various flaws in the interpretation of Gurbani by the some modern interpreters, said that earlier Gurbani interpreters like Bhai Gurdas, Bhai Mani Singh, Baba Deep Singh etc. were more privileged to very close proximity to Guru Sahiban and had better understanding of Gurbani. Bhai Gurdas is considered the first interpreter of Gurbani and his writings are considered key to understanding the Sikh Holy Scripture. Similarly, Bhai Mani Singh and Baba Deep Singh enjoyed the company of Guru Tegh Bahadur and Guru Gobind Singh ji, therefore these devout Sikhs were more conversant with Guru Sahiban’s experience and their interpretation of Gurbani is more close to Gurus’ thought and vision. But today’s Vayakhyakars explore Gurbani in the style of story-tellers under shadow of Katha-kahani system and the real meaning of Gurbani Shabad is buried under the story tilling narrative.
Dr Gurmail Singh, in his presiding remarks said that the scholars like Dr Taran Singh have divided Gurbani vyakhiyakari into 6 traditional modes or Prampras. These are 1. Udasi Prampara, 2. Nirmala, 3. Sewapanthi, 4. Giani, 5. Singh Sabhai and 6. Misc. The earliest centers places of Gurbani santhia or interpretation were established by the Gurus themselves, which functioned like Taksals Mints. The work like study of Gurbani, its preservation, making copies, and interpretation had been done in these Taksals. Later, Bhai Lahna ji (Guru Anged Dev) performed the first service at Kartarpur Sahib under the guidance of Guru Nanak, with the help of Baba Budha Ji, Bhai Mansukh, Bhai Bhagirth and other devout Sikhs.
The lecture started with a welcome address by the Lt Gen R.S. Sujlana, President of the Institute of Sikh Studies and concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr Paramjit Singh, Secretary of the Institute. Prof Kulwant Singh (retd) was the anchor. It was attended by several scholars like S Bir Devinder Singh, Dr Hardev Singh Virk, Bhai Ashok Singh, Dr Ajaib Singh Brar etc.
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Dr Rattan Singh Jaggi receives Padma Shri from President Murmu: 7 Reasons why the Veteran Punjabi Author is a Literary Titan
New Delhi: 95-year-old Punjabi scholar and author Dr Rattan Singh Jaggi received the Padma Shri from President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday. The Patiala-based writer is a stalwart in the Punjabi and Hindi literary circles and was selected for the civilian award in the ‘literature and education’ category.
Here are seven things to know about Dr Rattan Singh Jaggi as the nation honoured his seven-decade-long contributions to the field of literature and academia. Realizing the need for an encyclopedia to answer the queries on the Guru Granth Sahib, Dr Jaggi authored “Guru Granth Vishavkosh (Encyclopedia)” in 2002, reports said. It was later published by the Punjabi University.
Dr Rattan Singh Jaggi has translated Tulsi Ramayan (Ramcharitmanas) into Punjabi. Dr Rattan Singh Jaggi comes with the experience of having contributed more than 70 years of his life to serving and promoting Punjabi, Hindi and Gurmat literature.
His first book titled ‘Pauranic Study of the Dasam Granth’ was published in 1965. Since then, he has published over 139 books on a variety of subjects, the Hindustan Times said in a report.
During the 550th Parkash Purb celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev, the Punjab Government got a volume titled “Guru Nanak Bani: Paathatey Vyakhya” prepared by Dr Jaggi in Punjabi and Hindi, and had it distributed, news reports said. (Courtesy: Times Now, Mar 22, 2023)
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President Murmu pays obeisance at Golden Temple in Amritsar, SGPC Submits memo on ‘Bandi Singhs’, HSGPC
President Droupadi Murmu paid obeisance at the Golden Temple here on Thursday. Tight security arrangements were made in the city for the president’s day-long visit.
Accompanied by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) chief Harjinder Singh Dhami, the president paid obeisance at sanctum sanctorum of the Golden Temple and listened to “kirtan”. She also took “karah prasad”. This was her first visit to the city after becoming the president.
After paying obeisance, she went to the “langar hall” (community kitchen) and visited the area where utensils are washed. Afterwards, she went to the Information Centre of the Golden Temple where she was presented a robe of honour, a set of Sikh religious books, a replica of the Golden Temple, and a set of woolen shawls.
In the visitors book at the Golden Temple, the President wrote “I am happy to visit Sri Harmandar Sahib and pay obeisance at the holy temple. This holy place with beautiful architecture and divine serenity around it evokes feelings of calmness and harmony. I prayed for peace, progress and prosperity of the country. It was great to see the volunteers working tirelessly in the spirit of service and devotion specially during Langar. May the teachings of Sikh Gurus continue to inspire us to practice brotherhood and unity”
The president is also scheduled to visit Jallianwala Bagh, Durgiana Temple and Bhagwan Valmiki Ram Tirath Sthal.
During her visit to the Golden Temple, the president was given two memorandums by the SGPC, the apex religious body of the Sikhs, including one pertaining to the release of Sikh political prisoners, its general secretary Gurcharan Singh Grewal said.
The SGPC has been seeking the release of Sikh prisoners who, it claims, continue to be in jails despite completion of their sentences.
On the “Bandi Singhs”, the SGPC has been demanding the release of Sikh prisoners through democratic means for a long time, Harjinder Singh Dhami said in the memorandum.
“...we feel that by not releasing the Sikh prisoners, they are being discriminated against and their human rights are being violated grossly in the world’s largest democracy,” he said.
“We demand from you to take cognizance of this important issue of release of Sikh prisoners and give necessary directions to the Government of India and concerned State Governments for their release,” Dhami wrote to the president.
Another memorandum pertained to the setting up of a separate Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee for management of affairs of gurdwaras in Haryana.
Notably, the Supreme Court last year had upheld the constitutional validity of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara (Management) Act, 2014, under which a separate committee was formed to manage the affairs of gurdwaras in Haryana.
Afterwards, the Haryana government nominated an ad-hoc gurdwara panel in December last year.
“In February 2022, using the police force and administration, the Haryana government’s nominated gurdwara panel took illegal possession of the historical Gurdwara Sahibs in the state, which are still notified under the management of SGPC under Section 85 of the Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925.
“Nowhere, in its order, the Supreme Court gave liberty to the Haryana government to forcibly take over the management of gurdwaras of the state under SGPC management,” read the memorandum.
“...we request you to intervene in this matter and instruct the Government of India to ensure that the managements of Gurdwara Sahibs of Haryana state which are still notified under the Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925, are returned to the SGPC besides repealing the HSGMC Act, 2014,” read the memorandum.
Earlier, upon her arrival at the airport here in the afternoon, the president was received by Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit, Chief Minister Mann, Union Minister Som Prakash, and Congress MP from Amritsar Gurjeet Singh Aujla. PTI (Courtesy: The Tribune, March 9, 2023)
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Punjabi will soon be Taught in Australian Public Schools
Chandigarh, January 9. Punjabi is all set to be taught in public schools of Western Australia. As per the WA government statement, development of Punjabi curriculum for WA schools will commence this year and syllabuses will be developed for pre-primary to Year 12.
Education and Training Minister Sue Ellery said a Punjabi curriculum will be developed and made available to Western Australian schools. “Punjabi will be fully developed in Western Australia by the School Curriculum and Standards Authority for pre-primary to Year 12 students,” she stated. Curriculum writers will develop syllabuses and support materials for schools.
In Western Australia, languages education becomes compulsory from Year 3. The pre-primary to Year 10 syllabuses will be available to schools from 2024.
This follows the announcement in 2021 of the development of syllabuses for Hindi, Korean and Tamil, which will be introduced to schools next year.
“With more than 190 languages spoken throughout Western Australia, linguistic diversity is a great strength of our State and provides a range of social, cultural and economic benefits,” said Sue Ellery.
“It is also important that we develop courses that suit the needs of our young people. Last year, the WA Government led the state’s largest ever business delegation to India amid a broader strengthening of our engagement with the country. I am pleased to see the ongoing expansion of languages curriculum for WA students, and the development of Punjabi curriculum is particularly fitting given it could support students in key future employment opportunities,” she stated. (Courtesy: The Tribune, January 10, 2023)
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Most Sikhs in Canada don’t want Khalistan: Herb Dhaliwal
Chandigarh, March 30. Most of the Sikhs in Canada don’t want any Khalistan, said Canada’s first cabinet minister of Indian origin Herb Dhaliwal during an interview with The Tribune correspondent here today.
Replying to a question on the noises against the Indian government, particularly in the Canadian media on pro-Khalistan activist Amritpal Singh, the former minister said, “The demand for Khalistan comes from very small and insignificant groups that have their own purposes.”
A former minister for National Revenue, Minister of Fisheries and Ocean and Minister for Natural Resources between 1997 and 2003, Dhaliwal said, “I have said even before that instead of Khalistan, there is a palpable demand for punishing those behind the 1984 riots. I had raised the issue with former Prime Ministers IK Gujral, Manmohan Singh and Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The wounds of the 1984 riots have not yet healed. People want answers.”
Replying to the incidents of India’s High Commission in Ottawa cancelling its event last week when protesters wielding swords came in response to rumours of the arrest of fugitive Amritpal Singh, Dhaliwal said, “These flags, definitely, don’t reflect the voice of the majority.”
Talking about a heavy rush of Indian students, particularly Punjabis, to Canada, the former cabinet minister, said, “Youngsters are moving to Canada, Australia, the UK, the USA and other places because there are very few opportunities here. There are reports of students being fleeced by certain fake institutes abroad. However, the situation is also a reflection of the desperation among students here. Improvement of the existing system is the only way ahead.”
Dhaliwal feels, “Youngsters, born and brought up in Canada, don’t feel any pull from the land of their ancestors. They love travelling to Machu Picchu, Mexico and European countries instead. Traffic rush and poor sanitary conditions are the biggest drawbacks they quote for not agreeing to travel to India.”
Accepting that there has been a reduction in welfare projects initiated by the NRIs in their land, Dhaliwal said, “On an initiative of the Indo-Canadian Friendship Society of British, headed by Gurdev Singh Gill, we did launch a pilot project of improving sanitation, sewerage and pavers in 20 villages. Beside donations from Canada, Capt Amarinder Singh and Parkash Singh Badal governments provided matching grants for our project.” (Courtesy: The Tribune, March 31, 2023)
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Sheikh Farid: An enduring legacy
Father of Punjabi poetry, Sheikh Farid spoke about people’s travails, and in their own language. In his 850th birth anniversary year, his teachings remain relevant
FOR about three centuries after his death, Baba Farid’s verses had been alive in Punjab, with the mureed and the mystic passing on his message, from generation to generation. Then came Adi Granth, the first official Sikh scripture, which expanded and came to be known as Guru Granth Sahib. Guru Arjan included in it the writings of Sheikh Farid, preserving his message for the times to come. This year marks the 850th birth anniversary of the Sufi mystic and scholars are still trying to re-imagine his times, understand his text, translate his verses and apply his lessons to our cacophonic times.
Baba Farid, also known as Fariduddin Ganjshakar, was born at Multan in 1173 and died at Pakpattan in 1266. These were times of utter despair. Devastating invasions were leaving Punjab bleeding and its people in a wretched state. Farid’s verses were the balm the region needed and what’s more, he spoke in their language, their idiom. (The Tribune: Mar 21, 2023)
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SGPC honours G20 Delegates at Golden Temple in Amritsar
Amritsar, March 17. Welcoming G20 delegates at the Golden Temple, SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami suggested them to frame policies with holistic approach. “Especially on the issue of environment and climate change, strict policies should be devised so that we provide a clean and green planet to our future generations. The Sikh Gurus also taught people to preserve environment in their Gurbani (holy verses),” said Dhami.
Dhami also recommended that the policies should ensure that the migration of the young generation to other countries does not take place and the youth were given job opportunities as per their skills in their countries. “We also ask the G20 delegates to look into the matters of human rights and include this issue in coming G20 summits,” he said.
The SGPC organised a special event where the delegates were honoured. Meanwhile, the delegates were also apprised about the Sikh history and the maryada of the Golden Temple that conveys a message of universal communion. Delegates enquired about the management of ‘langar’ and ongoing sewa at the community kitchen of the Golden Temple. (The Tribune: Mar 18, 2023)
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SGPC slams Modi govt over ‘interference’ in Sikh affairs
Amritsar, March 5, Slamming the Narendra Modi government for its alleged anti-Sikh stance, the SGPC’s executive took serious notice of interference in Sikh religious matters by the government.
SGPC demands repeal of Haryana gurdwara Act
The executive meeting was presided over by SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami here on Saturday.
Citing a recent instance, he said Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman hurt the religious sentiments of Sikhs by rejecting the history of Gurdwara Dangmar in Sikkim where Guru Nanak Dev had visited during the third Udasi in 1515-16. He said the Union Minister had violated her constitutional position by making a one-sided statement as the SGPC was contesting the case in the High Court.
He accused the government of deliberately interfering in the Sikh affairs. “First, it interfered in the affairs of Takht Patna Sahib, Takht Hazur Sahib, then Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee and now the Haryana Committee,” he added. (Courtesy: The Tribune: March 6, 2023)
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Mohali park to be Named after Punjabi Writer Dhir
Chandigarh, April 1. The Mohali Municipal Corporation has decided to dedicate the Silvi Park in Phase 10 to late Santokh Singh Dhir, a celebrated Punjabi writer who contributed more than 50 books to Punjabi literature.
The initiative of the civic body is being lauded not only in the tricity’s literary circles but also by whole of Punjab and Punjabi lovers abroad. The MC passed a resolution unanimously in this regard.
It is worth mentioning that Shiromani Punjabi writer Dhir, who was awarded with Sahitya Akademi honour in 1996 for his story collection, ‘Pakhi’, was also a lifetime fellow of Punjabi University, Patiala.
Born on December 2, 1920, at Bassi Pathana, Dhir’s famous works were translated into other languages. His stories “Koi Ek Swar”, “Pakhi”, “Mango” and “Ek Sadharan Aadmi” had been adapted into telefilms by Doordarshan Jalandhar.
Dhir is also the author of classic poem ‘Nikki Sleti Sarak Da Totta’, depicting his noble ideas of world peace.
He spent the last four decades of his active literary life in Phase 10, Mohali, adjacent to Silvi Park, which will now be named after him.
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Ajay Banga sole Nominee for World Bank President
The World Bank has confirmed that Indian-American business leader Ajay Banga is the only candidate nominated for the President position as the nomination period closed today. The World Bank closed a month-long window for nominations for its next president, with no alternatives announced to 63-year-old Banga.
"In accordance with established procedures, the executive directors will conduct a formal interview with the candidate in Washington, DC, and expect to conclude the presidential selection in due course," the bank said in a statement.
In February, US President Joe Biden nominated Ajay Banga to lead the World Bank saying that he is "well equipped" to lead the global institution at "this critical moment in history." No other country proposed an alternate candidate for the prestigious post.
Under an unwritten arrangement, the United States has historically held the presidency of the Washington-based development lender, while the International Monetary Fund has been run by a European.
Banga, 63, was born in India and is a naturalized US citizen. The former Mastercard Inc. chief, Banga currently serves as Vice Chairman at General Atlantic.
If confirmed, Banga would become the first-ever Indian-American and Sikh-American to head either of the two top international financial institutions: the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
Banga is expected to replace the current World Bank president David Malpass, who will step down in June, nearly a year before his term is scheduled to expire.
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