SGPC fumes over Gurbani distortion on Net, says will act

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 7

While there are constraints on individual and organisations in preparing, printing or distributing the ‘saroop’ of Guru Granth Sahib, there is no such restriction when it comes to creating a digital edition of the holy scripture. Consequently, a “distorted” version of Gurbani has been posted on various web portals and mobile applications, having several grammatical errors and misspelt verses which have changed their meaning.

The issue was raised by California-based Dr Gurinder Singh Grewal, former president of World Sikh News, urging the SGPC to take a lead in launching an authentic digital version of Gurbani on its official platform so that devotees could savour the essence of spirituality in its correct form.

Grewal brought to the notice of SGPC president Gobind Singh Longowal about a service provider who offered ‘altered’ text of Guru Granth Sahib. To substantiate his claims, he also attached the screenshots of Gurbani verses that he had downloaded and underlined the errors it contained.

“I had downloaded a copy of Guru Granth Sahib from a web application titled ‘Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Living Guru of Sikhism’. Initially, I found it to be quite organised and easy to read, but later, I was shocked to find that several words from original script were replaced with Hindi letters. How can the original text of Gurbani be altered? We demand that the SGPC should upload the digital version of the holy scripture on its official website from where the precise version of Gurbani can be offered to download,” he said.

The SGPC expressed gratitude towards Grewal for highlighting the blunders on web portals and promised to work on it.

SGPC chief Secretary Roop Singh said they would launch the digital format of Guru Granth Sahib on the official page of the committee soon. “It is a serious issue which will be addressed on priority. Soon, a sub-committee will be formed to work on the modalities and execute them,” he said.

In a related incident, taking cognisance of the "largest" saroop of Guru Granth Sahib, Akal Takht issued a notice to the managing committee of a Malaysian gurdwara asking it to clarify its stance over indulging in this prohibited practice.