Content on SGPC’s new website stirs controversy

GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 30

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee’s move to remove religious and informative content from its upgrade website has invited criticism from devotees. A complaint reached Akal Takht alleging that files of ‘puratan katha kirtan’ (ancient ballads) have been removed in the upgraded version.

Activist Prof Sarchand Singh of the Sikh Federation said ‘Rashbhinna kirtan’ and stories related to ‘Hukumnama’ command immense importance as devotees keenly listen and download them, but now these have been deleted. He also objected the decision to convert format of the website into English by replacing Gurmukhi.

“Nowhere is any information about the Sikh philosophy, ideology, history or doctrines of Sikh Gurus. Ironically, photographs of celebrities visiting the Golden Temple feature on its opening page. Why PDF files of books on the Sikh history, Gurbani and philosophy have been removed. Even telephone numbers of Singh Sahibs, members and office-bearers of the SGPC are missing. Similarly, details of important days and festivals, too, have been reoved,” he said.

Countering the allegations, Sukhminder Singh, additional secretary, SGPC, said as work on the website was still on, the entire data of old website, including Sikh principles, Sikh rehat maryada, recorded kirtan, katha, mukhwak and books would be made available on a new format.

He said SGPC chief Jagir Kaur had constituted a committee of experts comprising Dr Balwant Singh Dhillon, Dr Paramvir Singh, Principal Prabhjot Kaur, Dr Inderjit Singh Gogoani, Dr Amarjit Singh and Dr Jogeshwar Singh, who have been supervising the content. “Numerous books related to the Sikhism will also be uploaded on new website,” he said. He said the new portal would centralise all institutions, departments and trusts of the SGPC.