M A I N   N E W S

‘Bir’ not historic: Vedanti
Sikh scholars to probe matter
Varinder Walia
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 20
Even as the Dharm Parchar Committee of the SGPC, through a resolution, has decided to make arrangements to bring back the handwritten “bir” from Canada, Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, Jathedar, Akal Takht, has said the “bir” was not a historic one.

The resolution of the Dharm Parchar Committee, received by Akal Takht Secretariat reads, “The meeting resolved to get the matter probed by a panel of Sikh scholars”. It said the right of constituting a five-member inquiry panel had been given to the SGPC panel, adding that the SGPC had the sole right to cremate the old “birs” of Guru Granth Sahib. The Dharm Parchar Committee urged the Jathedar, Akal Tahkt, to issue necessary directives in this regard.

Talking to The Tribune, Jathedar Vedanti, however, said the then manager of the Golden Temple, Mr Ajaib Singh, had recommended to hand over one of the handwritten “birs” from the Sikh reference library to Mr Balbir Singh Changiara for reciting the same at his home, which he (Jathedar Vedanti) refused.

Jathedar Vedanti said he had told him that anything preserved in the Sikh library could not be sent out. However, an old handwritten “bir” which did not bear any date or year of compiling was brought from Goindwal Sahib. Jathedar Vedanti said before Operation Bluestar, the handwritten “bir” having historic significance, used to be preserved in the library and the rest were preserved in the dome of Akal Takht without keeping any record. He said the SGPC had not framed any policy on how to utilise the unrecorded “birs”.

Jathedar Vedanti, however, admitted that the unregistered (without date of its compilation) “bir” was handed over to the Sikh preacher from the SGPC-run printing press.

Eyebrows were raised when the handwritten “bir” was “smuggled” to Canada. “Fake weapons of the Guru’s period were displayed in Canada during the Baisakhi celebrations. Two Akali ministers had accompanied the “Panj Piaras” to Canada. However, after reaching there three of the “Panj Piaras” disappeared.

Jathedar Vedanti, however, admitted that the ‘bir’ handed over to Mr Changiara was best of the lot though it was not a historical one. The ‘bir’ was brought from Goindwal Sahib (where old ‘birs’ are cremated as per Sikh maryada) for binding.