Giani Harpreet Singh is a Sikh priest who became the acting Akal Takht Jathedar (the highest spokesperson of the Sikh community) in 2018.
Wiki/Biography
Giani Harpreet Singh was born in May 1972 (age 50; as of 2022) in Jidbahar town, Muktsar district, Punjab. He studied in a public school till 12th grade. Thereafter, he studied at Guru Kashi Gurmat College in Damdama Sahib. In an interview, when talking about his educational experience, he said:
After becoming a granthi, I completed all my higher education. “
After completing a one-year diploma course in theology from Panjab University, Patiala, he received an MA in Comparative Religious Studies from Panjab University. He later pursued a PhD on a comparative study of the teachings of the Quran, the holy text of Muslims, and the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy text of Sikhs.
appearance
Height (approximately): 5′8″
Hair color: black
Eye color: black
family
Parents and siblings
Not much information is available about his parents and siblings. His late father was a Grandi from Gurudwara village.
wife and children
He is married and has two daughters.
Profession
At the age of 24, Harpreet Singh started working as a pracharak (missionary) for the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) in 1997. Sri Muktsar Sahib, 1998, Punjab. In May 2017, he was promoted as Jathedar of Takhat Sri Damdama Sahib. A Jathedar is the ordained head of the Sikh clergy who leads the Takht (a sacred and authoritative seat). In 2018, following the resignation of Giani Gurbachan Singh, Giani Harpreet Singh was appointed as acting Jathedar of Akal Takht at Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple). Gurbachan Singh was jailed for pardoning Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim for blasphemy in 2015 The Christian community lashed out at the latter for appearing in a robe similar to that of Guru Gobind Singh.
dispute
An appeal to Sikhs to ‘save sorrow’
After Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) suffered a crushing defeat in the 2022 assembly elections, Harpreet Singh appealed to all Akali factions through a video message to Akal Takht and appealed to them to forget their differences and work together for the betterment of the party. Harpreet came under strong criticism from former Akal Takht Jashidhar Ranjit Singh, who highlighted that Harpreet had called Sikhs “badtameez” in his video message, i.e. no polite. Further, Ranjit Singh called Harpreet a disgrace to the revered status of Akal Takht Jathedar, claiming that Harpreet tirelessly advocated The politics of Parkash Singh Badal, a Harpreet slave of the Badal family. Ranjit Singh stressed that Jasedah should not be concerned about SAD as Jasedah should be apolitical.
Under fire for promoting weapons among Sikhs (2022)
On May 23, 2022, Giani Harpreet Singh said that in view of the current situation, every Sikh should have licensed modern weapons. Jani said in the video message,
The teachings of Guru Hargobind Sahib are still relevant. Especially for Sikh boys and girls, the orders of Guru Hargobind Sahib need to be followed. They are supposed to be trained in “gatka” (a traditional martial art), swordsmanship and shooting. Every Sikh should also try to own licensed modern weapons as times and circumstances are always evolving. “
The remarks of Jani Harpreet Singh were slammed by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who said the interim leader of the Sikh community should convey a message of peace and brotherhood. Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Waring termed Harpreet’s remarks as a hoax and demanded his removal from the Jasdal post. He was speaking on the occasion of Gadi Dewas, the guru of Hargobind Sahib, the sixth Guru of Sikhism, who waged war against the barbaric Mughals by arming and training Sikhs, brought changes to Sikhism.
Political leanings
Giani Harpreet Singh leans towards the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).
Facts/Trivia
- Muhammad Habib, who conducted his doctoral research under the supervision of Giani Harpreet Singh, said in an interview about Harpreet Singh:
He is very humble. Even after taking over as Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib, he came to me like other students. I think his understanding of other religions will help him function better. “
- 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 by the Sarbat Khalsa (official parliamentary session of Khalsa) out. Jagtar Singh Khawala, infamous for the assassination of former Punjab Chief Minister Bit Singh, was lodged in Tihar Jail when his appointment was approved. SGPC Chairman Avtar Singh Makkar condemned the Sarbat Khalsa and declared its decision on the announcement null and void. Thereafter, Harpreet Singh was appointed as Akal Takht Jathedar by SGPC.
- Opposition to Giani Harpreet Singh was so great that orthodox Sikhs refused to accept Harpreet during events at the Golden Temple to commemorate the anniversary of Indira Gandhi’s murder Robes of honor presented.
- Harpreet was the second Jathedar of Akal Takht, appointed by Muktsar. The first was Jani Gurbachan Singh. Interestingly, both served in the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Muktsar.
- On September 28, 2021, Giani Harpreet Singh met Dr. Aamer Ahmed, Chairman, Evacuation Trust Property Board (ETPB) and expressed his views on ETPB and PSGPC Appreciate the efforts made to ensure the upkeep of the gurdwara in Pakistan.
Giani Harpreet Singh meets Dr. Aamer Ahmed
- In September 2020, Harpreet Singh publicly punished SGPC Chairman Gobind Singh Longowal and executive committee members for their failure to check misappropriation in their publishing arm, leading to the disappearance of 328 Guru Granth Sahib saroops; saroops are physical copies of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Also called Bir in Punjabi. Jani Harpreet Singh announced the punishment on the spot and said,
Now do the Parkarma of Darbar Sahib sarovar (circle the holy pond), recite Satnam-Waheguru and then appear here again. Do this without talking to each other and with your hands folded. “
After the above penalties were completed, he announced the remaining penalties and stated:
You will be directed to perform an Akhand Path (continuous chanting of Guru Granth Sahib) at Gurdwara Ramsar Sahib to express pashchatap (regret and remorse) over the fire incident in 2016 which resulted in the saroop being burnt. Hold the other Akand road at Akal Takht. While Akhand Path is underway in Takht, SGPC officials and executive members will clean the streets leading to Darbar Sahib from Saragarhi Serai to Ghantaghar Chowk. “
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education