Amritsar, May 22:
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) organised Gurmat Samagam (religious congregation) at Gurdwara Sri Manji Sahib Diwan Hall to commemorate the martyrs of Saka (massacre) of Gurdwara Sri Paonta Sahib, that took place on May 22, 1964, during the struggle to free this shrine from the possession of sinful mahants.
After the bhog (concluding ceremony) of Sri Akhand Path Sahib, hazuri raagi jatha of Bhai Satnam Singh Kuharka connected the Sangat with Gurbani Kirtan and the holy hukamnama was recited by Granthi of Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib, Giani Gurminder Singh.
Addressing on this occasion, SGPC President Advocate S. Harjinder Singh said that before the independence of the country, many Sakas (massacres) took place, in which, countless martyrdoms of Sikhs happened.
“Sikhs happily endured the tyranny when there was British rule but the Sikhs can never forget the pain of Sakas that took place in the independent India. Such a painful Saka took place at Gurdwara Sri Paonta Sahib, in which, 11 Singhs (associated Sikhs) of Misl Shaheedan Tarna Dal were martyred. The Sikh Qaum will always remember the sacrifice made by the Singhs of Tarna Dal Harian Velan to free the holy shrine of the Guru”, said S. Harjinder Singh.
On this occasion, Jathedar of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, Giani Raghbir Singh appreciated the Panthak services done by Head of Misl Shaheedan Tarna Dal Harian Velan, Baba Nihal Singh. He said in the struggle to free Gurdwara Sri Paonta Sahib from the possession of mahants, Baba Nihal Singh was also seriously injured and the Panth gave him the title of “Jinda Shaheed” (living martyr). He said it is our responsibility to remember the martyrs and the communities that forget their martyrs, ends their existence.
In the congregation, Baba Nihal Singh shared the incidents that took place during the Saka. He thanked SGPC for organising the Gurmat Samagam every year in the memory of the martyrs and motivated all the jathebandis (organisations) of the Sikh panth to do work with unity in the Panthak interests.
SGPC honoured Baba Nihal Singh Harian Velan with the Siropao (robe of honour).
Those present on this occasion included SGPC executive committee member S. Harjap Singh, member Bhai Rajinder Singh, Bhai Manjit Singh, Advocate S. Bhagwant Singh, Bhai Ram Singh, S. Jarnail Singh, Bhai Ajaib Singh, Baba Naurang Singh, Bibi Jaspal Kaur, SGPC additional secretary S. Paramjit Singh, S. Partap Singh, S. Bijai Singh, assistant secretary S. Kulwinder Singh, S. Balwinder Singh, S. Harjit Singh, S. Gurinder Singh, S. Harjinder Singh, S. Nirvail Singh, manager Sri Darbar Sahib S. Sulakhan Singh, former secretary S. Sukhdev Singh, superintendent S. Malkeet Singh and a large number of Sangat.