Chandigarh Giving a detailed definition of who a Sehajdhari Sikh is, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) today submitted an affidavit in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The SGPC submitted that the definitions of various words and phrases used in the Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1925, were provided in Section 2. As per Section 2 (10-A), a Sehajdhari Sikh is a person who performs ceremonies according to the Sikh rites; who does not consume tobacco, katha or halal meat; who is not a patit (apostate) and who can recite moolmantar.
The word Sehajdhari consisted of two words: sehaj which means slowly and dhari which means to adopt. Hence, Sehajdhari Sikhs were those who were born in a non-Sikh family and expressed their desire to adopt Sikhism gradually, adopt its tenets with belief in Guru Granth Sahib and the ten Gurus, the affidavit said.
"Once a Sehajdhari becomes a keshadhari Sikh, he under no circumstances by cutting or trimming his/her hair, beard or eyebrows can claim to be a Sehajdhari. Similarly, a person born into a Sikh family cannot claim to be a Sehajdhari by trimming or cutting his/her hair, beard or eyebrows in any manner," the SGPC affidavit said.
Meanwhile, the counsel appearing for Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee tried to bring distinction between a Sehajdhari Sikh and a Sikh. The DSGMC had filed an application in the High Court, seeking intervention to bring clarity on the issue.
Notably, the issue arises out of a petition filed by five students from various parts of Punjab belonging to the Sikh community. They had alleged that they were denied admission to Guru Ram Das Institute affiliated to Baba Farid University on the ground that they trimmed their beard; plucked their eyebrows and did not profess Sikh religion.
Their counsel had contented that there was no distinction between various clans of Sikhs: Amritdhari, Sehajdhari, Keshdhari and others. Taking note of the contentions, the High Court had issued notices to the SGPC, the state of Punjab, Baba Farid University and the institute. Later, the jurisdiction of the petition was widened to states of Haryana, Himachal and Union of India since the Gurdwara Act is applicable there as well.
The word Sehajdhari consisted of two words: sehaj which means slowly and dhari which means to adopt. Hence, Sehajdhari Sikhs were those who were born in a non-Sikh family and expressed their desire to adopt Sikhism gradually, adopt its tenets with belief in Guru Granth Sahib and the ten Gurus, the affidavit said.
"Once a Sehajdhari becomes a keshadhari Sikh, he under no circumstances by cutting or trimming his/her hair, beard or eyebrows can claim to be a Sehajdhari. Similarly, a person born into a Sikh family cannot claim to be a Sehajdhari by trimming or cutting his/her hair, beard or eyebrows in any manner," the SGPC affidavit said.
Meanwhile, the counsel appearing for Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee tried to bring distinction between a Sehajdhari Sikh and a Sikh. The DSGMC had filed an application in the High Court, seeking intervention to bring clarity on the issue.
Notably, the issue arises out of a petition filed by five students from various parts of Punjab belonging to the Sikh community. They had alleged that they were denied admission to Guru Ram Das Institute affiliated to Baba Farid University on the ground that they trimmed their beard; plucked their eyebrows and did not profess Sikh religion.
Their counsel had contented that there was no distinction between various clans of Sikhs: Amritdhari, Sehajdhari, Keshdhari and others. Taking note of the contentions, the High Court had issued notices to the SGPC, the state of Punjab, Baba Farid University and the institute. Later, the jurisdiction of the petition was widened to states of Haryana, Himachal and Union of India since the Gurdwara Act is applicable there as well.
. Jinna sadda man karda ohni mande aa, so appa MANMUKH aa sarre de sarre hi. MANUMKH sikh matlab dabru ghasru sikh :-p. Hun har koi GURMUKH ta nahi hunda, so there is nothing wrong in being MANMUKH, its natural. Just accept it, yes I am MANMUKH. Kinne ta bana paa ke, kakkar paake v Manmukh hi reh jaande aa, just be bold and accept it.
