Chandigarh: The Akal Takht Tuesday summoned Punjab Tourism Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond for an alleged sacrilegious depiction of Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Sikh Guru, in a wall painting at the newly built memorial of Sikh general Bhai Jeewan Singh at Anandpur Sahib.
The memorial was inaugurated by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann last month as part of a series of events organised by his government to mark 350 years of the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Sikh guru.
The Akal Takht, the highest temporal body of Sikhs, is recognised as the keeper of Sikh code of conduct (rahat maryada) and traditions.
Issuing a show cause notice to Sond, the Akal Takht secretariat sought an explanation on the circumstances and manner in which the painting was commissioned and installed at the memorial. The AAP leader has been asked to appear before the Akal Takht within a week.
A similar notice has also been issued to the director of the department of tourism, and he has been asked to submit a written response.
The identical notices, released to the press by the Akal Takht secretariat, states that the painting shows Guru Gobind Singh standing and baptising the five beloved (Panj Pyare) by granting them “amrit” to drink.
“Guru Gobind Singh Ji has been shown standing wearing a pair of shoes. One of the five Singhs whom Guru Sahib is granting amrit too is also not receiving amrit in the bir asan posture (Sikh martial posture where the left knee is up and the right knee is on the ground). Also, the utensil and khanda (small sword) used for the preparation of the amrit shown is incorrect,” states the notice.
The notice adds that two thrones are shown in the background in the painting, but it’s not clear what “do those thrones mean?”
“Even the flag hoisted (on a tent) in the painting is not the one used by Sikhs traditionally,” adds the notice.
The notice says the painting’s installation at the memorial is in violation of the “Sikh code of conduct, their traditions, principles, and (it) hurts Sikh sentiments.”
The move comes amid an ongoing tussle between the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and the Punjab government over the observance of the 350 years of the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur.
The SGPC has repeatedly suggested that the government support the events being organised by the SGPC, but the Punjab government has decided to hold a large-scale event of its own on 24 November.
The SGPC, seen as being controlled by the Shiromani Akali Dal, has contended that it was “solely entitled” to host such events and the Punjab government holding parallel events amounted to their interfering in religious matters.
The Mann-led AAP government has on more than one occasions ignored the SGPC’s suggestions on the matter.
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The ninth guru
Guru Tegh Bahadur is the ninth guru of the Sikhs and was executed on orders of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in New Delhi on 24 November 1675. Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib and Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib in Delhi were built to mark the place of execution and cremation of Guru Tegh Bahadur, respectively.
The execution of Guru Tegh Bahadur is considered one of the more solemn events that changed the course of Sikh history, culminating in the creation of the Khalsa in 1699 by Guru Tegh Bahadur’s son, Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th guru of the Sikhs.
The Anandpur Sahib memorial
Built over five-acre land, the memorial at Anandpur Sahib is dedicated to the life of Sikh general and Guru Gobind Singh’s companion Bhai Jeewan Singh. He was given the name “Bhai Jaita” after Guru Gobind Singh initiated him into the Khalsa.
Bhai Jeewan Singh was also given the honour of being addressed by Guru Gobind Singh as “Ranghareta guru ka beta (this man of the Ranghar caste is the Guru’s own son)”. Bhai Jeewan Singh had recovered the severed head of Guru Tegh Bahadur and brought it to Anandpur Sahib for cremation.
The Anandpur Sahib memorial has two curved buildings that house a museum showcasing artefacts and paintings, including oil-on-canvas work and wall-embossed reliefs. There are some mixed works of oil and digital art.
The paintings depict various events in the life of the ninth and tenth Guru, covering the period between the late 17th and early 18th century. Two halls in the museums are designed to give an immersive experience to visitors with audio-video elements.
This is the second time that the Akal Takht has summoned a minister for alleged sacrilege in the run up to the observance of 350 years of martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur.
In July, the Education and Languages Minister Harjot Bains was summoned by the Akal Takht. The languages department had organised a recital of hymns in Srinagar but the event sparked outrage after a video of the audience seen dancing to folk songs there went viral.
Bains had presented himself before the Akal Takht and was declared a Tankhaiya, a religious sinner. Bains was handed the punishment for turning a “solemn and spiritual” event into a “song and dance” show.
Bains was asked to undergo multiple religious punishments, including getting approach roads to some prominent gurdwaras cleaned and repaired, and cleaning shoes at Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib in New Delhi for two days to atone for his “mistake”.
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)
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