Pak Sikh body president Sham Singh passes away

New Delhi, March 27

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Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) president Sardar Sham Singh breathed his last today at the Combined Military Hospital in Lahore.

He was the first president of the PSGPC, formed by the Pakistan Government in 1998, and was elected for various terms to head the bodies that look after Sikh shrines across the neighbouring country, especially Pakistani Punjab.

Born on December 11, 1936, Sham Singh, an agriculturist who hailed from 62 Chak Kadrabad village in Ukara tehsil of Faisalabad, was chosen to head the body which was carved out by the Pakistan Government to take control of gurdwaras which were earlier being looked after by the Amritsar-headquartered Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the premier body of the Sikhs.

The PSGPC was brought under the Pakistan Evacuee Trust Property Board, which was then headed by former ISI chief Javed Nasir.

Sham Singh would be remembered for the facelift of gurdwaras and bringing a large number of pilgrims from across the world to visit Pakistan.

Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib, Gurdwara Bebe Nanaki, Gurdwara Janam Asthan Guru Ram Dass and others were declared open for pilgrims, unlike earlier times when Pakistan allowed devotees to visit only a couple of gurdwaras in the country, where there are about 172 Sikh shrines.

Sham Singh’s tenure was marked by controversies. After his appointment as the PSGPC chief, the then SGPC president, Bibi Jagir Kaur, stopped sending jathas to Pakistan in protest.

She also objected to the appointment of Sham Singh as the PSGPC president. But many Sikh organisations, including the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC), American Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (AGPC), Sikh Committee of Switzerland, and others endorsed the Pakistan committee and Sham Singh as its president.

Later, the SGPC also recognised the PSGPC, though the two committees still hold different opinions over the dates of celebrating Sikh events.

Sham Singh was firm on observing Sikh functions according to the original Nanakshahi calendar, which was released by the Akal Takht in 2003, whereas the SGPC has adopted the amended but controversial Sikh calendar.

Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh, SGPC chief secretary Harcharan Singh and DSGMC chief Manjit Singh GK condoled the death.

AGPC chief Jaswant Singh Hoti and coordinator Pritpal Singh recalled Sham Singh’s services, saying that he was able to protect Sikh shrines and worked hard to safeguard the interests of Sikhs in Pakistan.

Paramjit Singh Sarna, president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Delhi), said Sham Singh was a pillar of strength for Sikhs in Pakistan.

Sham Singh is survived by his son, Sikandar Singh, and daughter Simran Kaur, who live in Pakistan.

Condolences were also expressed by Daljit Singh Bedi, secretary, public relations, SGPC, and Kanwarpal Singh of the Dal Khalsa.

Talking to ANI from Pakistan, Sikandar Singh said his father was ill for several months and he breathed his last early this morning.

He said his father wished to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple but was not able to visit Amritsar due to health problems.

Sham Singh used to actively participate in Muslim, Hindu, Christian and Sikh inter-faith meetings organised in Lahore and other cities of Pakistan. He was involved in the arrangements for the stay of Sikh pilgrims from India to celebrate Gurpurbs and other Sikh functions. ANI

Votary of Hindu-Sikh unity

Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president Sham Singh had recently emerged as a votary of Hindu-Sikh unity. A group of Indian pilgrims that took part in Mahashivratri celebrations at Shri Katasraj in West 

Punjab on March 7 recalled that Sham Singh had travelled 300 km from Lahore to attend the event despite health problems. The pilgrims said he had recited verses from Guru Granth Sahib to underline that names of Hindu Gods 

figured prominently in the Sikh holy book. Speaking on 

the occasion, he had also slammed political leaders for attempts to create divisions between Hindus and Sikhs. “We have been offering board and lodging facilities to our Hindu brothers from India at Gurdwara Dera Sahib, Lahore,” he had said. —Raj Sadosh

SGPC chief, other Sikh leaders mourn death

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and other Sikh organisations have expressed grief over the death of PSGPC president Sham Singh. SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar said Sham Singh had put Pakistan’s gurdwaras on the world map. “Even though the population of Sikhs in Pakistan is meagre, the committee under Sham Singh did a marvellous job in the gurdwaras’ upkeep and management.” Dal Khalsa leader Kanwarpal Singh said Sham Singh had helped Sikhs across the globe  connect with historical 

gurdwaras in Pakistan. Former Delhi Gurdwara Management Committee president Paramjit Singh Sarna also mourned the death. Sham Singh was appointed PSGPC president by Pakistan Evacuee Trust Property Board in 1998. 

He was re-appointed in 2008. The SGPC had initially criticised his appointment as the management of Pakistan’s Sikh shrines was under its control prior to 1998. —Manmeet Singh Gill