Political Rifts Eclipsed Guru Teg Bahadur's 350th Martyrdom Anniversary
The 350th anniversary of the martyrdom of Guru Teg Bahadur, which concluded on Tuesday, was a fragmented affair marked by public sparring and a distinct lack of coordination among key Sikh bodies and governments. Instead of a unified commemoration, separate functions were organized by the Punjab government, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), and the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC), revealing deep-seated political divisions.
Separate Functions and Public Spats
Akal Takht's acting jathedar, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, and SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami notably did not attend any function in Delhi, the city where the ninth Sikh Guru was executed. The bitterness was already public, with the SGPC and the Aam Aadmi Party's Punjab government exchanging sharp statements. They held completely separate events at Anandpur Sahib, with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann taking a dig at the acting jathedar, who responded in a dismissive manner.
In Delhi, the state government and the DSGMC jointly organized a major three-day event at the Red Fort. The concluding function on Tuesday late evening was attended by President Draupadi Murmu. DSGMC president Harmeet Singh Kalka confirmed that invitations were personally extended to both the Akal Takht jathedar and the SGPC chief, with a specific time slot reserved for the jathedar's speech during the President's presence. Similarly, Delhi minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa stated he invited the jathedar on behalf of the Delhi government. However, the jathedar cited his commitments at Anandpur Sahib, while Dhami did not respond to calls.
A History of Competitive Commemorations
This lack of unity is not a new phenomenon. The rivalry between the SGPC, controlled by the Sukhbir Singh Badal-led Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), and the DSGMC, which is close to the BJP, has been brewing for some time. A month prior, the DSGMC passed a resolution to terminate the membership of three former presidents who are leaders of the Delhi unit of Sukhbir's SAD.
This pattern of political one-upmanship has overshadowed important Sikh anniversaries for decades. Starting from the tercentenary of the foundation of the Khalsa in 1999, competitiveness has eclipsed most major Sikh centenaries. Former MP Tarlochan Singh argued that while there was sparring in the past, events were at least held in one town. This time, the Punjab government and SGPC focused on Anandpur Sahib, while Delhi, with its greater historical significance to the martyrdom, was not a common focus. This fragmentation prevents the Sikh community from presenting a unified message to the world.
Similar separateness was observed during the 550th anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev at Sultanpur Lodhi and the 350th birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh at Patna Sahib. The BJP government in Haryana also organized its own separate functions, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi attending the main event in Kurukshetra. Ultimately, how these sacred occasions are observed is increasingly decided by political affiliations rather than the larger interests of the community.
