Controversy over Erroneous 'Mahan Kosh' Disposal

A controversy erupted at Punjabi University on 28 Aug after students spotted large pits being filled with copies of the university's reprinted Gurshabad Ratnakar Mahan Kosh (Sikh Encyclopedia) authored by Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha, first published in 1930. This sparked protests and allegations of 'desecration as it comprised hymns of Gurbani (verses of the Sikh holy text) and other religious texts.' The university clarified it was only complying with state government directions to dispose of the erroneous editions in an 'environment-friendly and biodegradable manner.' The reprinted Mahan Kosh's authenticity was questioned in 2012 after the university reprinted and translated the Mahan Kosh into Panjabi, Hindi, and English between 2006-13—in total 24,950 copies. Sikh scholar Amarjit Singh Dhawan and others first raised complaints of discrepancies then took the matter to court. In July 2017, an expert committee confirmed the presence of errors and recommended a permanent sale ban, pulping of copies, accountability for financial losses, and the creation of review panels for correction. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) also pressed for a ban. Dhawan said, 'There were more than 30K mistakes in the reprinted Mahan Kosh. I welcome the university's decision to destroy these copies.' However, students protested the Mahan Kosh’s burial instead of cremation as per the Sikh code of conduct. Sri Akal Takht Sahib (Eternal Throne) and the SGPC have condemned the university's action. The Patiala police booked the university Vice-Chancellor (VC) Dr. Jagdeep Singh and officials involved in the Mahan Kosh burial. The VC has apologized. The university has suspended Dr. Harinder Pal Singh Kalra, Incharge, Publication Bureau & Press, and Mahinder Bharti, Director, Environment & Biodiversity Department for lapses. This raises the question if the Mahan Kosh is to be considered a holy text or these copies be seen as error-riddled texts which need to be disposed off in any suitable manner. These days, lines from Gurbani are on walls, posters, t-shirts, and apps  which are not holy spaces. The larger issue is the need for an accurate and revised version of the Mahan Kosh in as many languages as possible which remains missing.