Dal Khalsa Leaders Releasing Nanakshahi Calandar at Sri Akal Takhat
Amritsar, PUNJAB (March 13, 2011): Marking their dissent, the Dal Khalsa released the copies of the original version of the Nanakshahi calendar and rejected the amended one on the basis that it is more in sync with the Bikrami calendar and concurrent Hindu religious events.
Finding a novel way to convey their point, the party members gathered at Akal Takht on the eve of New Year as per Nanakshahi calendar and released its first copy after performing Ardas over there.
The first copy of the calendar was handed over to Satnam Singh son of S Ajit Singh Tharoo who embraced martyrdom at Akal Takht in June 1984.
The party activists dropped the copy of the calendar along with a fresh petition addressed to the jathedar of the Akal Takht at his official residence.
Dal Khalsa head Harchranjit Singh Dhami said: “The SGPC has killed the letter and spirit of the Nanakshahi calendar by mixing it with Bikrami calendar, which had its roots in Hinduism. We believe the amended version has an imprint of RSS ideology.”
“By putting the seal of the Akal Takht on the so-called amendments in the calendar, you have undermined the unique character and separate identity of the Sikh Nation”, reads the letter addressed to Gaini Gurbachan Singh.
Calling the jathedar to revert to the original Nanakshahi calendar that symbolizes the separate identity of the Sikh people, the memo stated that the modifications have led to confusion and division within the community rather than presenting a united face as claimed by you.
The radical Sikh group views the amendments as “abject surrender in the face of the expansionist designs of Hindu leaders aiming to subsume the Sikh religion.”
The group members distributed copies of the Nanakshahi calendar at Darbar Sahib on which the slogan ‘Azaadi- the only way’ was written with the photograph of destroyed Akal Takht.
Addressing the press conference at party office Mr Dhami accompanied by Satnam Singh and Kanwar Pal Singh said there was a need to do some serious introspection on how to move ahead. It is clear that community stands at a critical point in the history. We are facing challenges and identity crisis in Punjab, India and abroad. It is time to dispel the air of despondency and cynicism, he pointed out.
We will redouble our efforts to deal effectively and credibly with the challenges dogging the identity and rightful political aspirations of the Sikh Nation,” Singh has said in a message, which begins by pointing to the need to take stock of the year gone by and the challenges ahead.
He said theirs organization would be undertaking a Khalsa Parade at Hoshiarpur on March 15 to commemorate the historic event of unfurling of Sikh Flag atop Red Fort, Delhi in 1783. “The aim is to rekindle the spirit of Sikh Nationalism in youth”.