Tohra (Patiala), April 11
Harvesting
stopped in this part of Punjab today to allow more than one lakh people to pray
for and remember Akali patriarch Gurcharan Singh Tohra at his native village
here. People trudged to the huge ‘pandal’ set up in fields on the outskirts of
this village on foot, tractor trailers, cars, jeeps and trucks to attend the
‘bhog’ ceremony of the ‘son of the soil’.
It was truly a solemn affair with
the Tohra family itself organising the “bhog” ceremony of the late SGPC chief.
After the culmination of the “akhand path” at around 10 a.m. “kirtan” was
organised for about three hours by prominent ‘ragis’ of the state.
Immediately
after the end of the ‘kirtan’, Akal Takht Jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti
announced the decision to confer the “Panth Ratan” Award on Tohra. A resolution
to this effect was read out on the occasion which was followed by slogans of
“Bole so nihal, Sat Sri Akal”. The Jathedar said the decision of the Tohra
family to follow the Sikh “rehat maryada” (religious code) by disposing off the
entire ‘angitha’ (remains following cremation) instead of following the “phul
chugna” (collection of bones) ceremony should serve as a lesson for everybody.
He appealed to the community to do likewise and not take the ashes of their near
and dear ones to Haridwar or Kiratpur Sahib but dispose them off at the nearest
source of water.
After this a memento was given to Ms Joginder Kaur, widow of
the late SGPC President, on behalf of the SGPC. ‘Siropas’ were also presented to
Ms Joginder Kaur by Jathedar Vedanti, Giani Balwant Singh of Damdama Sahib,
Jathedar Iqbal Singh of Patna Sahib, Jathedar Rattan Singh of Hazur Sahib,
Jathedar Tarlochan Singh of Kesgarh Sahib and Mohan Singh, Head Granthi of
Harmandar Sahib.
After the presentation of the ‘siropas’ the scene shifted to
the political stage which was set up adjacent to the stage on which the Guru
Granth Sahib had been placed. The stage, on which leaders from all political
parties were seated, was placed at a lower level. Tohra’s confidant Maheshinder
Singh Grewal took over the proceedings following which tributes were paid to the
late SGPC chief by politicians from all major parties in the state for more than
three hours.
Union Minister Arun Shourie read out a condolence message sent by
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The Prime Minister in his message said the
death of the SGPC chief was a personal loss for him and the country and that
Tohra had maintained a fine balance between religion and politics throughout his
life. While speaking about a demand asking for the establishment of a Special
Institute for Cancer and Heart Diseases in memory of Tohra, he said he would
take up the issue with the Prime Minister today itself.
The Chief Minister,
Capt Amarinder Singh, who was accompanied by a dozen members of the Congress
Legislature Party, including six ministers and Pradesh Congress President H.S.
Hanspal, said the state government would also take up the issue of establishment
of the medical institute. The Chief Minister said he would also take up the
issue with the Centre, adding that the state government could also go ahead on
its own if the people of Tohra village were ready to give land for the purpose.
The Chief Minister also announced that he would recommend the late SGPC
leader’s name for a national honour. He said noted Punjabi academician Dr Balkar
Singh had already been entrusted with the responsibility of coming out with a
book on Tohra in six months’ time.
SAD president Parkash Singh Badal thanked
political leaders from various parties who were present on the occasion. He said
Tohra was the only personality in Sikh history who had done unparalleled ‘seva’
in religious, social and political spheres. He also presented a “dastar”
(turban) to the late SGPC chief’s son-in-law Harmel Singh Tohra besides
expressing his love and respect to the family.
