Giani Gurbachan Singh
{{Short description|Jathedar of Akal Takht (2008–2018)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Gurbachan Singh
| honorific_prefix = Giani
| office = Jathedar of the Akal Takht{{efn|The Sarbat Khalsa in 2015 appointed Jagtar Singh Hawara as the jathedar and Dhian Singh Mand as the acting jathedar since Hawara was imprisoned. The SGPC however refused to recognise its decisions.[https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/community/at-sarbat-khalsa-hardliners-appoint-hawara-akal-takht-jathedar/156857.html At Sarbat Khalsa, hardliners appoint Hawara Akal Takht Jathedar]}}
| term_start = 6 August 2008
| term_end = 18 October 2018
(Disputed with Dhian Singh Mand from 10 November 2015)
| predecessor = Joginder Singh Vedanti
| birth_name = Gurbachan Singh
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1948|04|06}}
| birth_place = Chakk Baja, East Punjab, India
| appointer = SGPC
| succeeded = Giani Harpreet Singh
}}
Giani Gurbachan Singh (born 6 April 1948) is a Sikh preacher who served as the jathedar of the Akal Takht from 2008 to 2018.
Early life
Gurbachan Singh was born in village Chakk Baja of Muktsar, Punjab, India on 6 April 1948.{{cite news |last1=Singh |first1=Surjit |title=Controversies and flip-flops mar Akal Takht jathedar's tenure |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/controversies-and-flip-flops-mar-akal-takht-jathedar-s-tenure/story-AnoJiriYZuNJT7lDEmz83K.html |access-date=15 December 2022 |agency=Hindustan Times |date=19 October 2018 |language=en}} He joined Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee as a granthi on 29 February 1972 of Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Muktsar, where he became the head granthi in 1996.{{cite news |last1=Singh |first1=Manvir |title=Hall of Shame: Giani Gurbachan Singh - appointed Jathedar of Akal Takht Sahib |url=https://www.sikh24.com/2015/10/03/hall-of-shame-giani-gurbachan-singh-appointed-jathedar-of-akal-takht-sahib/ |access-date=15 December 2022 |agency=Sikh24.com |date=3 October 2015}}
Jathedar of the Akal Takht (2008-2018)
Subsequent to the dismissal of Joginder Singh Vedanti, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee appointed Singh as the jathedar of the Akal Takht on 06 August 2008.{{cite news |last1=Singh |first1=Onkar |title=Praising PM led to Akal Takht top priest's removal |url=https://www.rediff.com/news/2008/aug/06onkar.htm |access-date=15 December 2022 |agency=Rediff News |date=6 August 2008}}
=Honoring Parkash Singh Badal=
Along with jathedars of the other four takhts, Singh awarded the titles of Panth Rattan (jewel of the community) and Fakhr-e-Qaum (pride of the nation) to then Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. He was awarded this title from the Akal Takht for his service to the Sikh community, for imprisonment and atrocities faced during various Akali movements and for building Virasat-e-Khalsa.{{cite news |last1=Paul |first1=PJ |title=Grandiose title for Parkash Singh Badal sparks storm |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/grandiose-title-for-parkash-singh-badal-sparks-storm/articleshow/10887100.cms |access-date=15 December 2022 |work=The Times of India |agency=The Times of India |date=27 November 2011 |language=en}} A Sarbat Khalsa held on 10 November 2015 withdrew the title due to allegations of civil rights violations and failure to recognize the oppression faced by the Sikhs in Punjab.{{cite news|last1=Correspondent|first1=HT|title=Sarbat Khalsa appoints Jagtar Singh Hawara as Akal Takht jathedar|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/sarbat-khalsa-bhog-ceremony-of-akhand-path-performed-people-start-reaching-the-venue/story-4a7kGuwRRCaP8pPa6zugSL.html|accessdate=10 November 2015|agency=Hindustan Times|issue=10 November 2015}}
=Pardoning Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh=
In October 2015, the five beloved of the Akal Takht: Satnam Singh Khanda, Mangal Singh, Tarlok Singh, Satnam Singh and Major Singh summoned Singh along with jathedars of the other four takhts: Mal Singh, Gurmukh Singh, Iqbal Singh and Ram Singh to clarify their reason for pardoning Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh for the imitation of Guru Gobind Singh in 2007.{{cite news|title=kal Takht Sahib Punj Piare Summon Appointed Jathedars|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PExQMBPLls|access-date=15 October 2016|work=Sikh24 News & Updates|date=21 October 2015}} After the jathedars refused to recognise the summon, the five beloved directed the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee to dismiss the jathedars from their duties.{{cite news|title=231015 Sikh Channel News: Panj Pyare issue Gurmata regarding Panj Takht Jathedars.|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFcnW2jJIkI|access-date=15 October 2016|work=Sikh Channel|date=24 October 2015}} The Shiromani Committee ignored the gurmata and instead suspended the five beloved.{{cite news|title=SGPC President's decision to suspend Akal Takht 'Panj Piare' draws flak|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/SGPC-Presidents-decision-to-suspend-Akal-Takht-Panj-Piare-draws-flak/articleshow/49495225.cms|access-date=16 October 2016|work=The Times of India|date=22 October 2015}} The jatherdars later revoked their decision to pardon Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.{{cite book |last1=Fenech |first1=Louis E. |title=The Cherished Five in Sikh History |date=2021 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-753284-3 |page=158 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mPYTEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA158 |access-date=15 December 2022 |language=en}}
=2015 Sarbat Khalsa=
A Sarbat Khalsa convened by Sikh organisations at Chabba village in Amritsar, Punjab dismissed Singh and declared Jagtar Singh Hawara as the jathedar of Akal Takht on 10 November 2015.{{cite news|last1=Correspondent|first1=HT|title=Sarbat Khalsa appoints Jagtar Singh Hawara as Akal Takht jathedar|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/sarbat-khalsa-bhog-ceremony-of-akhand-path-performed-people-start-reaching-the-venue/story-4a7kGuwRRCaP8pPa6zugSL.html|accessdate=10 November 2015|agency=Hindustan Times|issue=10 November 2015}} Due to the political imprisonment of Hawara, the deliberative assembly appointed Dhian Singh Mand as the acting jathedar.{{cite news |title=Booked for sedition, Giani Dhian Singh Mand sent to police custody |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/booked-for-sedition-giani-dhian-singh-mand-sent-to-police-custody/story-CDvZSQW1shPBWAUlFf5vYP.html |access-date=10 November 2022 |agency=Hindustan Times |date=20 November 2015 |language=en}} However, Avtar Singh Makkar, the then president of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee condemned the convening as against the principles of Sikhism and its decisions null and void.[https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/community/at-sarbat-khalsa-hardliners-appoint-hawara-akal-takht-jathedar/156857.html At Sarbat Khalsa, hardliners appoint Hawara Akal Takht Jathedar]
After being continuously pressured by the Sikhs to resign, Singh gave his resignation citing health reasons to the Shiromani Committee president Gobind Singh Longowal on 18 October 2018.{{cite news |last1=Singh |first1=Surjit |title=Under fire for pardoning Dera Sacha Sauda chief, Akal Takht jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh quits post |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/under-fire-for-pardoning-dera-sacha-sauda-chief-akal-takht-jathedar-giani-gurbachan-singh-quits-post/story-ILwJa47xq3UK1yv9Y4H7eP.html |access-date=13 December 2022 |work=Hindustan Times |agency=Hindustan Times |date=19 October 2018 |language=en}} The Shiromani Committee executive held a meeting at the Teja Singh Samundri Hall in Amritsar and assigned Harpreet Singh as the acting jathedar of the Akal Takht on 22 October 2018.{{cite news |last1=Singh |first1=Surjit |title=Giani Harpreet Singh is Akal Takht acting jathedar |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/giani-harpreet-singh-appointed-acting-jathedar-of-akal-takht/story-SkMVpfzBo7Mj7Ts3W2MC1N.html |access-date=13 December 2022 |work=Hindustan Times |agency=Hindustan Times |date=22 October 2018 |language=en}}
Notes
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References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Singh, Giani Gurbachan}}