Panjab Registers Case on Missing 'Saroops'; Nanakshahi Calendar Controversy

A controversy erupted in June 2000 when 328 saroops (tome) of the Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh scripture and charter, GGS) were found missing from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) publication house in Amritsar. Five years later, on 7 Dec, the Panjab Police registered a First Information Report in the case against 16 people, including SGPC’s former chief secretary Roop Singh and the ex-secretary of the Dharam Parchar (religious preaching) Committee Manjit Singh. Panjab Legislative Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan said, ‘Our government will not spare anybody who will commit this type of heinous crime.’ SGPC President Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami has said the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government is interfering in Sikh institutions and is politically motivated. He said that the matter of missing saroops was investigated by Sri Akal Takht Sahib (Eternal Throne, AT) and departmental action has been taken as per the report and recommendations of the investigation. It has been made clear in the AT report that the matter is not about sacrilege but about the misappropriation of money by some SGPC employees. Meanwhile, as Panjab prepares for the Parkash Purab (birth anniversary) of the 10^th Sikh Sovereign Guru Gobind Singh, the long-standing debate over the Nanakshahi Calendar has resurfaced. This has raised questions on when to celebrate the Guru’s birth anniversary or observe the Shaheedi Saptah—the solemn week commemorating the martyrdom of the Guru’s younger Sahibzade (Sovereign's sons) and mother Mata Gujri. Acting AT Jathedar (leader) Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj, has objected to the  fancy-dress competitions dedicated to the martyrdom day of the Sahibzade, ordered by the Child Welfare Council, Panjab—affiliated with the Indian Child Welfare Council. He said it is extremely concerning that both the India and Panjab governments show little seriousness or understanding of Sikh principles, sentiments, and traditions, resulting in officials of government departments issuing arbitrary and anti-Sikh directives. Since 2022, the Bharatiya Janata Party has been marking the Sahibzade martyrdom as Veer Bal Divas (day of brave kids). For Sikhs the sons—though young, are not kids but examples of great bravery and sacrifice—are Babas, wise ones (earlier coverage).