SGPC 15-member panel to scrutinise Sikh history syllabi

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 21

Following the alleged dilution of Sikh history in the curriculum of classes XI and XII, the SGPC on Monday constituted a 15-member panel to scrutinise such issues in Punjab and other states.

Earlier, the Punjab CM had formed a six-member oversight committee headed by eminent historian Prof Kirpal Singh. It had two representatives from the SGPC too. The SGPC had recommended the names of Sikh scholar Dr Balwant Singh Dhillon of GNDU and Dr Inderjeet Singh Gagoani, principal of Khalsa College Senior Secondary School, Amritsar.

These two members have also been included in the SGPC’s sub-committee on Monday. The panel will be headed by Dr Tejinder Kaur Dhaliwal.

The others members are SGPC member and Secretary Education Wing Bibi Kiranjot Kaur; principal of Khalsa College, Patiala, Dr Dharminder Singh; Chief Khalsa Diwan’s Dr Dharamvir Singh; Sikh history research board’s scholar Amarjit Kaur; Shaheed Sikh Missionary College Amritsar’s Prof Manjit Kaur, Nankana Sahib Public School, Ludhiana, principal Harmeet Kaur; assistant director education SGPC Satwant Kaur; Baba Budha Sahib Public Senior Secondary School, Bir Sahib principal Taranjit Singh; former DPI, PSEB Balbir Singh Dhol; former DPI, PSEB Darshan Kaur; Principal Dr Preet Mohinderpal Singh; Prof Baldev Singh Baluana and Harjinder Kaur.

SGPC president Gobind Singh Longowal said that the task given to this committee is to review the school syllabus pertaining to Sikh history of not only Punjab, but also other states. “This committee will monitor the Sikh history syllabus of school boards outside Punjab too. It will report to the SGPC if any lapses are found. The next course of action will be decided accordingly,” he said. Longowal appealed that if anyone comes across any distortion of Sikh history in the syllabus of any class, the matter should immediately be brought into the notice of the SGPC.

On the same pattern, another committee will be constituted to keep a vigil on the higher secondary syllabus.