No move to ‘withdraw’ Sikh Nanakshahi calendar

Amritsar, Punjab: Almost putting an end to the long-standing confusion and prevailing apprehensions in the Sikh circles, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) chief Avtar Singh Makkar has made it clear that there was no move to withdraw the Nanakshahi calendar.

Makkar has also said that the issue of formation of a separate Sikh body for Haryana has ceased to exist as Haryana Sikh Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee(HSGPC-ad hoc) chief Jagdish Singh Jhinda had already supported him on November 25 — the day when Makkar was re-elected as the SGPC chief and was subsequently, congratulated by Jhinda immediately after the election.

Meanwhile, the SGPC has decided to form a new committee comprising Sikh scholars to study the Nanakshahi calendar once again and discuss the need to introduce any fresh amendments in respect of the calendar.

The Canada-based designer of the calendar, Pal Singh Purewal, was also likely to be included in the new committee of scholars. Similarly, representatives of Sikh organisations supporting or opposing the calendar would also be part of the committee, said Avtar Singh.

“The calendar is not going to be withdrawn. Those who are busy spreading any such rumours need to exercise self-restraint. Even at the time of proposed discussions of Sikh scholars on the issue, the feelings and sentiments of the Panth would be taken care of. All technical and religious aspects of the calendar would be examined so that there was no dilemma on the issue, said Makkar, who also addressed a meeting of the existing 11 member-committee on the calendar.

The Sikh leaders and scholars who participated in the meeting included former Akal Takht Jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti, Prof Suba Singh, Kiranjot Kaur, Dr Balwant Singh Dhillon, Dr Darshan Singh from Chandigarh, Principal Amarjit Singh, Dr Gurbachan Singh Bachan, Swarn Singh, Prof Waryam Singh, Rajinder Singh Mehta and Dalmegh Singh.