Giani Harpreet Singh is a Sikh priest who became the acting Akal Takht Jathedar (supreme spokesperson of the Sikh community) in 2018.
Contents
Wiki/Biography
Giani Harpreet Singh was born in May 1972 (age 50 years; as of 2022) in Giddarbaha city of Muktsar district, Punjab. He studied in a government school till class 12th. Subsequently, he studied at Guru Kashi Gurmat Sansthan, Damdama Sahib. Talking about his education in an interview, he said,
I have done all my higher education after becoming a granthi.”
After completing a one-year diploma course in Divinity at Punjabi University, Patiala, he earned a master’s degree in Comparative Religious Studies from Punjabi University. Later, he pursued a PhD in comparative study of the teachings of the Quran, the holy scripture of Muslims, and Guru Granth Sahib, the holy scripture of Sikhs.
Physical Appearance
Height (Approx): 5′ 8″
Hair Color: Black
Eye colour: black
Family
parents and siblings
There is not much information available about his parents and siblings. His late father was a granthi in a village gurudwara.
wife and children
He is married and has two daughters.
livelihood
At the age of 24, Harpreet Singh started working as a pracharak for the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) in 1997. He was appointed as the Chief Granthi, the ceremonial reader of Sri Guru Granth Sahib at Sri Darbar Sahib. Sri Muktsar Sahib, Punjab in 1998. In May 2017, he was promoted as Jathedar of Takht Sri Damdama Sahib. A Jathedar is an appointed leader of the Sikh clergy who presides over the Takht, a sacred and official seat. In 2018, following the resignation of Giani Gurbachan Singh from the post, Giani Harpreet Singh was appointed as the acting Jathedar of the Akal Takht, which is located at the Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple). Gurbachan Singh was criticized by the Sikh community for pardoning Dera Sachcha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in a blasphemy case in 2015, when he appeared in attire similar to Guru Gobind Singh.
controversies
Appeal to Sikhs to ‘Save SAD’
After the crushing defeat of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) in the 2022 assembly elections, Harpreet Singh, through a video message, called all the Akali factions at Akal Takht and appealed to them to forget their differences and work together for the betterment of the party. of. , Harpreet received heavy criticism from former Akal Takht Jathedar Ranjit Singh, who highlighted that Harpreet had called Sikhs “badtameez” in the video message. Additionally, Ranjit Singh described Harpreet as a disgrace to the respected post of Akal Takht Jathedar, alleging that Harpreet tirelessly advocated the politics of Prakash Singh Badal and that she was a slave of the Harpreet Badal family. Ranjit Singh stressed that the Jathedar should not show concern for the SAD, as a Jathedar is expected to be apolitical.
Criticized for promoting weapons among Sikhs (2022)
On 23 May 2022, Giani Harpreet Singh said that due to the current circumstances every Sikh should have a licensed modern weapon. In his video message, Giani said,
The teachings of Guru Hargobind Sahib are relevant even today. Especially Sikh boys and girls need to follow the orders of Guru Hargobind Sahib. They should take training in ‘Gatka’ (a traditional martial art), fencing and shooting. And every Sikh should also try to have a licensed modern weapon as such are the times and such are the evolving circumstances.
Giani Harpreet Singh was criticized for his comments by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who said the temporary head of the Sikh community should instead give a message of peace and brotherhood. Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Waring termed Harpreet’s remarks as mischievous and demanded his removal from the post of Jathedar. He made the remarks on the occasion of Guru Gaddi Diwas of the sixth Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Hargobind Sahib, who brought about a transformation in Sikhism by arming and training the Sikhs to wage war against the barbaric Mughals.
political leanings
Giani Harpreet Singh is inclined towards Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).
Facts/General Knowledge
- Muhammad Habib, under whom Giani Harpreet Singh was doing his PhD research, talked about Harpreet in an interview and said,
He is very polite. Even after assuming the post of Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib, he used to come to me like any other student. I think their understanding of other religions will help them do a better job.
- Sikh Youth Federation Bhindranwala opposed the appointment of Harpreet Singh as Akal Takht Jathedar and supported the appointment of Bhai Jagtar Singh Hawara to the post as he was elected to it by the Sarbat Khalsa (Khalsa formal assembly meeting). Jagtar Singh Hawara, who is infamous for being convicted in the murder of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh, was lodged in Tihar jail when his appointment was being supported. SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar condemned Sarbat Khalsa and declared the decisions declaring it invalid. After this, Harpreet Singh was appointed Akal Takht Jathedar by SGPC.
- Giani Harpreet Singh was opposed to such an extent that during a function organized to commemorate the death anniversary of Indira Gandhi’s assassin, orthodox Sikhs refused to accept siropa (dress of honor) from Harpreet at the Golden Temple.
- Harpreet is the second Jathedar of Akal Takht who was appointed from Muktsar; The first is Giani Gurbachan Singh. Interestingly, both of them have served at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Muktsar.
- On 28 September 2021, Giani Harpreet Singh met Dr. Aamer Ahmed, Chairman, Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) and appreciated the efforts of ETPB and PSGPC in ensuring the maintenance of Gurudwaras in Pakistan.
Giani Harpreet Singh in meeting with Dr. Aamer Ahmed
- In September 2020, Harpreet Singh publicly chastised SGPC president Gobind Singh Longowal and executive committee members for failing to investigate misappropriation in its publications department that led to the disappearance of 328 Guru Granth Sahib saroops; Sarup is a physical copy of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, also called Bir in Punjabi. Giani Harpreet Singh pronounced the sentence on the spot and said,
Now, while chanting Satnam-Waheguru, circumambulate Darbar Sahib Sarovar and then be present here. Do not talk to each other and fold your hands while doing so.”
After the above punishment was completed, he announced the remaining punishment and said,
You have been directed to organize an Akhand Path (non-stop recitation of Guru Granth Sahib) at Gurudwara Ramsar Sahib to express regret and repentance for the fire incident of 2016 due to which the saroops were burnt. Organize another Akhand Path at Akal Takht. While the Akhand Paath is going on at the Takht, SGPC officials and executive members will sweep the road leading to Darbar Sahib from Saragarhi Sarai to Ghantaghar Chowk.
Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn