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The Multifarious Faces of Sikhism throughout Sikh History
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Shromani Gurdwara Parbandak Committee (S.G.P.C.) cont'd

Within Budha Dal oral tradition exist the facts with regards to the creation of the S.G.P.C. Akalis. Akali Nihang veterans such as 96 Crore Akali Nihang Baba Santa Singh, Nihang Baba Mehr Singh of Sach Khand Hazoor Sahib, and Akali Nihang Baba Bali Singh of Goindwal, all in their late 80s often recall the events of the early 1900s. These facts are not spoken of within S.G.P.C.-sanctioned historical texts or literature.


96 Crore Singh Sahib Akali Nihang Baba Santa Singh

The present head of the Budha Dal and the Akal Takht (seated left)

The S.G.P.C. Akali movement gathered momentum initially with the incident of Nanakana Sahib that took place on 19th February 1920. An Udasi Mahant named Narain Das was brought to court on the charge of murder of 130 Sikhs. During the trail, the question arose as to who are the true historical custodians of Sikh temples. The elderly Nihang Baba Mehr Singh takes up the story:

‘Nainoo (Narain Das) stood in the dock the judge began to read verdict. Akalis are the masters of this place [Nankana Sahib] - these words that Udasi himself said. They [the British] asked who are these Akalis? Other than Shiromani Panth Akali Nihang Singhs there are no other Akalis [said Narain Das].…..They [the S.G.P.C. Akalis leaders such as Baba Khark Singh] fell at the feet of Budha Dal Jathedar [Baba Teja Singh] saying:
“We have lost [the case against Mahants] only the Panth can save us, you are the only Akalis”.
The Baba was merciful, a ‘Brahm Giani’ (he who knows the Almighty). Baba Teja Singh was Budha Dal’s Jathedar at that time. When they grabbed his feet. They, Teja Singh Samundri, Teja Singh Puchar, and with them was Khark Singh. That Khark Singh who is known as Baba of Sialkot. They fell at the feet. The Baba [Teja Singh] overnight in the villages had cauldrons of colour prepared and had blue turbans and saffron and yellow coloured ‘Cholas’ (traditional Nihang clothing) prepared and bound a ‘Kamarkasa’ (sash bound around waist to hold weapons a essential part of Nihang dress). Then in who’s hand sword came sword in who’s hand came spear, lance, axe, whatever weapon [people got hold of]. “Let all Singhs make court cases all the Gurdwaras are ours” [declared Akali Nihang Baba Teja Singh] …… When the decision came to be made in court [with regards to Nankana Sahib] Baba Teja Singh stood up and said: “These [Sikh temples and their keys] are ours”. The English officer accepting them as of ours [of Akali Nihangs] read out whilst looking at Baba to see if he would say anything. Then the English officer put the keys [of Nanakana Sahib] on the table. On the table he put them so as the true Akalis could take them. Those keys were picked up first by Baba Teja Singh, the Jathedar of Budha Dal. Then the Baba Jathedar of Budha Dal gave those keys to to Khark Singh and said: “You take care of these keys from us. Long as you remain faithful to the ‘Panth’ (Akali Nihang Singh Khalsa), the Panth shall be with you. When you go against the Panth Khalsa it will sort you out itself.
Akali Nihang Baba Mehr Singh, transcript of interview on 18-03-2001


Nanakana Sahib

Birthplace of Akali Guru Nanak Dev Ji and site of the massacre
that took place in 1920 between Mahant Narain Das and the S.G.P.C.

As the ‘Gurdwara Sudhar Lehr’ kicked off, the Akali Nihangs of the Budha Dal and Tarna Dal were in the vanguard. However, the Budha Dal became aware that the S.G.P.C. Akalis had a different agenda. The Budha Dal was primarily concerned with removing corrupt Mahants from Sikh temples. However, the S.G.P.C. Akalis had a long term agenda, which was to replace Sanatan Sikhism with Tat Khalsa Singh Sabhia ideology, and change the entire infrastructure of Sikh Gurdwaras to suit their needs.


Khark Singh
The first President of the S.G.P.C. (1868-1963)

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
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