The Multifarious Faces of Sikhism
throughout Sikh History
Page 1 of 10
Shromani
Gurdwara Parbandak Committee (S.G.P.C.)
Time of origin: informally 1920, but
1925, formally (with passing of Gurdwara Act
1st Jan 1925)
It is this form of Sikhism, which today is
presented as the orthodox form of Sikhism throughout
the world. The term ‘Shromani’
means ‘the highest’: ‘Gurdwara’
refers to a Sikh temple: ‘Parbandak’
meaning ‘caretaker’.
Teja Singh Samundri Hall
The headquarters of the Shromani Gurdwara Parbandak
Committee in Amritsar
The Shromani Gurdwara Parbandak Committee (S.G.P.C.)
is a Sikh institution set up to look after Sikh
shrines and came into being with the passing
of the Punjab Gurdwara Act by the British in
1925. The act itself came about as a result
of the Gurdwara Reform movement of the 1920s.
The movement itself rose from the growing number
of Sikhs possessing the Tat Khalsa Singh Sabhia
mentality, and, the brainwashing of the Sikh
masses. As the populace began to be re-educated
to follow Tat Khalsa Singh Sabhia doctrine,
they began to see that many individuals, such
as the Udhasis in particular, did not fit the
Tat Khalsa Singh Sabhia criteria of the term
‘Sikh’. In addition,
this also lead many of these brainwashed Sikhs
to believe that the Gurdwaras, maintained by
Udhasi ‘Mahants’
(caretakers), were not being run according to
their newly formulated ideals.
Mahants
A Gurdwara linked to Akali Guru Nanak Dev Ji
which once existed
in Deccan that was looked after by Udasi Mahants,
circa late 19th century
These sentiments of the pro-Tat Khalsa Singh
Sabhia masses eventually lead to Mahants being
kicked out of Gurdwaras and their new doctrine
being applied to the functioning of the Gurdwaras.
These actions were initially given impetus due
to the discovery of a small handful of corrupt
Mahants. This entire episode came to be known
as ‘Gurdwara Sudhar Lehr’
(Gurdwara Reform Movement). The reformers themselves
adopted the term ‘Akali’.
Dr. Trilochan speaks of how the S.G.P.C. utilized‘Akali’:
‘During the Gurdwara
Reform Movement, the Sikh leaders started
a paper named Akali. From the paper
and its policy the leaders began to be called
Akalis, in view of which they formed the
present Akali party. These Nihang
Akalis should not be confused with the members
of the Akali party.’
The Turban And The Sword’, by Dr.
Trilochan Singh, Pa.402
Kartar Singh Virk (aka Kartar Singh Jhabbar)
One of the leading members of the Gurdwara Reform
Movement
