The Akal Takht on Tuesday declared a US-based Sikh publisher, Thaminder Singh Anand, a “tankhaiya” (guilty of religious misconduct) for making distortions in the Gurbani (hymns) . Terming it a gross violation of Sikh Rehat Maryada (code of conduct), a blanket prohibition has been put on the text published by him.
The distortion had come to light recently, leading to objections from Sikh bodies across the world. The Akal Takht, which is the highest temporal seat of Sikhism, listened to various stakeholders from the community on Tuesday before reaching its decision.
In another decision, the Akal Takht directed Oankar Singh to instantaneously stop the work done in the name of 'Gurbani Sedhan' . He has been further directed to appear personally before the Akal Takht within a span of one month to explicate his intents and submit the whole record he possessed.
Hukmnama for dr onkar singh
Jathedar announced the ‘hukumnama’ from the podium of the Akal Takht stating that Thaminder was held guilty of twisting the verses of Gurbani and printing the copies in an unauthorised manner and also uploading them on website SikhBookClub.com in PDF format.
On the recommendation of a committee of sikh scholars concerning the request for writing holy 'saroops' of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, it has been decided that this could be done only after procuring a letter of permission and achieving the necessities of the rules approved by the Akal Takht.
Additionally, about 21 Gurbani apps also got examined by the Akal Takht and several errors were detected in the text of 'Nitnem' alone. It has been decided that Gurbani apps should be rectified within a month, failing which legal action would be taken “The SGPC is directed to get these errors removed within one month or get these apps banned through legal measures,” said the Akal Takht acting Jathedar who was accompanied by Takht Patna Sahib Jathedar Giani Ranjit Singh and Takht Kesgarh Sahib Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh in the highest presidium of Sikhs. The distortion had become known only recently, leading to objections from Sikh bodies across the world. The Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikhism, heeded to several patrons from the community on Tuesday before the decision could be reached. Pronouncing the decision, acting Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh said: “Thaminder Singh is held guilty of making changes in the Gurbani on his own. Considering the sentiments of the Panth, Akal Takht Sahib bans offline and online publishing of Gurbani by him. He is directed to appear before the Takht, give his explanation and disclose the persons behind him within a month. He is also directed to present related records at the Takht. Until he does it,
he will remain a ‘tankhaiya’. All the Sikhs are directed to shun all kinds of relations or cooperation with him.”
Jathedar sahibaan asked the SGPC, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) and other Sikh organisations to pledge co-operative efforts in the struggle for release of Sikh prisoners who remain behind bars even after the completion of their jail term. They also asked a Sikh man who has climbed atop a mobile tower in Moga district to seek the release of Sikh prisoners to end his protest, citing that “committing suicide” was not part of the religion.
Devoted critics of the Badals-led Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), which controls the SGPC, also attended the meeting, including former parallel Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib and incumbent Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (ad hoc) president Baljit Singh Daduwal. Daduwal had earlier refused to recognise the Takht jathedars appointed by the SGPC.
DSGMC president Harmeet Singh Kalka, who along with other members of the committee lately split ways with the SAD, was also present. Besides them, SGPC chief Harjinder Singh Dhami and Damdami Taksal chief Harnam Singh Khalsa also articulated their opinions.