Sukhbir latest in long Sikh list of persons declared ‘tankhaiya’

Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal today joined a long list of people declared ‘tankhaiya’, or guilty of religious misconduct, by the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs, the Akal Takht.

Ironically, back in April 2017, the Akal Takht had declared more than three dozen Sikh political leaders from the Congress and the Akali Dal ‘tankhaiya,’ for seeking votes from the Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda during the Punjab assembly elections – among them, Akali leaders Surjit Singh Rakhra and Sikandar Singh Maluka.

Both Rakhra and Maluka are now in the ‘rebel’ camp against Badal. And one prominent charge levelled against Sukhbir by the rebel group pertains to him having orchestrated the pardon given to Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh for political gains.

Nonetheless, all these leaders appeared before the Akal Takht this morning, which directed them to perform seva in gurdwaras, sweep the road leading to the shrines, wash the parikrama of the Golden Temple, clean shoes, clean toilets and listen to kirtan.

Sukhbir Badal is not alone in his punishment today.

Back in 1979, a former Akali Dal president who later became the president of the SGPC Jagdev Singh Talwandi was declared ‘tankhaiya’ for non-compliance of the orders of the Akal Takht in uniting the multiple Akali factions. Talwandi later apologised and atoned for his mistake.

In 1984, in the wake of Operation Blue Star, when the Army entered the Golden Temple, then President Giani Zail Singh and Union minister Buta Singh were declared ‘tankhaiya’ for their alleged role in allowing the operation to take place. Zail Singh was pardoned on the basis of a written apology, but Buta Singh was excommunicated. He sought forgiveness ten years after.

Then in 1986, after the police flushed out pro-Khalistan terrorists who had returned to the Golden Temple, former Punjab chief minister Surjit Singh Barnala was declared ‘tankhaiya’, for sending police back into the Temple. Five years later, he submitted himself before the Sikh clergy and was made to repent by performing a 21-day ‘sewa’ that included cleaning pilgrims’ shoes and washing utensils at the community kitchen in the shrine. Barnala was pardoned and re-admitted into the Sikh fold.

In 2009, former Jathedar of the Akal Takht Prof. Darshan Singh Khalsa ‘Raagi’ was declared ‘tankhaiya’ and excommunicated a year later. A reputed kirtani (reciter of hymns), Prof Darshan Singh was charged with blasphemy during a public discourse in USA.

In May 2014, former revenue minister and senior SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia had sparked off a blasphemy row after it was alleged that he distorted a Sikh hymn while canvassing for BJP candidate Arun Jaitley in Amritsar during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Majithia appeared before Akal Takht and sought an apology. To repent, he washed utensils and cleaned shoes at the Golden Temple, before he was forgiven.

Similarly, former Akali cabinet minister Sucha Singh Langah was excommunicated after an alleged sleaze video of his went viral in 2017. Although he was acquitted by a court in 2018, he was pardoned by the Akal Takht only after he apologised in 2022.

What is 'Tankhaiya'?

‘Tankhaiya’ means a person is held guilty of religious misconduct. It is pronounced from the highest Sikh temporal Seat, the Akal Takht by the Jathedar. If any Sikh violates the Sikh rehat maryada (code of conduct) or indulges in any anti-Panthic activity, the Jathedar of Akal Takht has the authority to declare him ‘tankhaiya’. Thereafter, the accused has to appear before the Akal Takht amidst Sikh sangat and seek apology publicly for his ‘mistakes’. Then the punishment is decided accordingly by the Jathedar in consultation with the Five High Priests.

What kind of punishment is given?

If someone apologizes after being declared a ‘tankhaiya’, then his punishment is announced by the Jathedar. It is the prerogative of the Jathedar to decide where the punishment is to be served.

The punishment may involve 'sewa', including the cleaning of shoes at 'Joda Ghar' or washing dishes in the langar hall of any of the five Takhts or any other Sikh shrine. After the completion of the punishment, the title ‘tankhaiya’ is removed.