Takht Kesgarh Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj takes charge amid protocol row

In the backdrop of the controversy over the “arbitrary” removal of Takht jathedars, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj today assumed charge as the Jathedar of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib at Anandpur Sahib and later as the officiating Jathedar of Akal Takht in Amritsar amid opposition from Sikh and Nihang organisations.

As per the Sikh tradition of “dastarbandi” (installation ceremony), the head granthi of the Golden Temple is supposed to present the “dastar” (turban) to a newly appointed Jathedar. In case he is not available, he has to appoint a granthi of the Golden Temple as his representative to perform the ritual.

This is followed by representatives of various Sikh and Nihang organisations, the SGPC president and top officials presenting the ‘dastar’ separately to the new appointee as a mark of respect.

However, Giani Raghbir Singh and Giani Sultan Singh, who were removed as the jathedars of Akal Takht and Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, respectively, by the SGPC and continue to hold the charge of the head granthi and the granthi of the Golden Temple, respectively, were conspicuous by their absence today. Similarly, there was no representative from Sikh organisations.

Though the SGPC had announced the schedule for today’s installation ceremony at Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, the ceremony at Akal Takht was held in the evening unannounced, drawing criticism.

At Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, the SGPC conducted the ceremony much in advance in view of a call given by several Nihang and Damdami Taksal organisations to disrupt the event. Initially scheduled for 10 am, the ceremony was conducted around 2.30 am.

The head granthi of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, Giani Joginder Singh, offered “ardas” following which the Panj Pyaras presented the “dastar” to Giani Kuldeep Singh after which he assumed charge.

Another “lapse” pointed out by Sikh intellectuals was that the installation ceremony was held much ahead of the “parkash of the Guru Granth Sahib saroop” at the Takht, which is around 4.15 am.

However, the SGPC claimed that the ceremony was held in the presence of the “saroop”.

In the evening, Giani Kuldeep Singh paid obeisance at the Golden Temple before proceeding towards Akal Takht where the panj pyaras performed ardas and presented him the “dastar” after which he took over the charge.

Reacting to the development, Giani Harpreet Singh, in a video message, said neither the “granth” nor the ‘panth’ was present at the events today.

He questioned the SGPC over “violation” of Sikh traditions and “maryada”.

“It is for the first time in the 100-year-old history that the Takht Jathedar assumed charge in the absence of the head granthis of the Golden Temple and Akal Takht.”

Giani Harpreet Singh was unceremoniously removed as the jathedar of Takht Sri Damdama Sahib by the SGPC on February 10, holding him guilty of “moral turpitude”.

On March 7, the SGPC appointed Giani Kuldeep Singh as the jathedar of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib and also gave him the charge of acting Jathedar of Akal Takht.

The appointment was made after the SGPC terminated the services of Giani Raghbir Singh and Giani Sultan Singh as the jathedars of Akal Takht and Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, respectively.

Meanwhile, in his address, Giani Kuldeep Singh called upon the Sikh community to unite.

On the edicts pronounced by the five high priests on December 2, he said the “hukamnamas” issued from Akal Takht “remain unalterable”.