Sikhism doesn’t allow samadhis: Tarlochan amid Manmohan row

The issue of a memorial for late Prime Minister Manmohan Singh continued to dominate the political scene in the national capital as veteran Sikh leader and former chairperson of the National Commission of Minorities (NCM) Tarlochan Singh on Monday said that the Sikh religion did not allow samadhis or memorials for practitioners of the faith.

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Singh, a former Rajya Sabha member, stated this in a letter to Dr Singh’s wife Gursharan Kaur. “You are aware that in Sikh religion, a samadhi is not allowed. Sikh religious leaders have not accepted one for late President Giani Zail Singh either,” Tarlochan said in his letter to Kaur.

In the letter, accessed by The Tribune, Tarlochan Singh has suggested that the community and family of former PM propose an institute of academic excellence in his name.

“An international Dr Manmohan Singh School of Economics or a Dr Manmohan Singh School of Administration should be built at a suitable place in Delhi, where students from various countries can come and study. A permanent exhibition on the life and works of Dr Sahib can be a part of the institute premises,” read the letter.

Speaking to The Tribune, Tarlochan Singh said the Congress’ demand that a memorial be built for Dr Singh had caused a lot of confusion.

The former NCM chief said, “Memorials are not allowed in the Sikh dharma. Tell me one great Sikh leader, in whose name a memorial was ever built? Master Tara Singh, Baldev Singh, none of the great CMs from the community, have a memorial.”