>Gotitbro at 23:53, 17 January 2020

2020-01-17T23:53:21Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix = Honorable Jathedar
| name = Gurbachan Singh
| native_name = {{small|ਮਾਨਯੋਗ ਜੱਥੇਦਾਰ}}<br>{{Lang|pa|ਗਿਆਨੀ ਗੁਰਬਚਨ ਸਿੰਘ}}
| image =
| image_size = 230px
| office = [[Jathedar of Akal Takht|30th Jathedar of Akal Takht]]
| term_start = 6 August 2008
| term_end = 18 October 2018
| predecessor = Joginder Singh Vedanti
| successor = Giani Harpreet Singh
| residence =
| birth_name = Gurbachan Singh
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1948|04|06}}
| birth_place = Chakk Baja, [[Sri Muktsar Sahib|Muktsar]], [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], India
| death_date =
| death_place =
| spouse =
| relations =
| children =
| mother =
| alma_mater =
| known_for =
}}
{{Sikhism sidebar}}

'''Giani Gurbachan Singh''' (born on 6 April 1948 at Chakk Baja in [[Muktsar]], [[Punjab (region)|Punjab]], was the 30th [[Jathedar of Akal Takht]].<ref name=Tribune>{{cite news|last1=Correspondent|first1=Tribune India|title=At Sarbat Khalsa, hardliners appoint Beant-killer Hawara Akal Takht chief|url= http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/community/at-sarbat-khalsa-hardliners-appoint-beant-killer-hawara-akal-takht-chief/157138.html|accessdate=7 December 2015|agency=Tribune India|issue=11 November 2015}}</ref><ref>[http://akaltakhtsahib.com/jatehdar-sahib/ About Jathedar Gurbachan Singh]</ref><ref>[https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/why-a-road-safety-rule-has-upset-some-sikhs-5283799/ Why a road-safety rule has upset some Sikhs]</ref>

==Elevation as Jathedar of Akal Takht==
Singh joined [[Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee]] (SGPC) as a [[Sewadar]] at Muktsar. He served 36 years at SGPC beginning in 1972 and became head priest at [[Amritsar]] before becoming Jathedar on 6 August 2008.

==Issues==

On 5 December 2011, [[Jathedar]]s of all five [[Panj Takht|Takhts]] including Jathedar of Akal Takht, Giani Gurbachan Singh awarded Panth Rattan Fakhr-e-Qaum (literally "Jewel of the community, pride of the nation") to [[List of Chief Ministers of Punjab (India)|Chief Minister of Punjab]], [[Parkash Singh Badal]]. He was awarded this title at [[Akal Takht]] for his service towards the [[Sikh|Sikh Nation]] by creating many memorials pertaining to [[Sikhism|Sikhi]] such as [[Virasat-e-Khalsa]], besides being imprisoned for long time and having faced atrocities during various Akali movements. A [[Sarbat Khalsa]] held by Sikh organisations on 10 November 2015 stated that it was withdrawing the award due to allegations of Civil Rights Violations and failure to recognize the oppression faced by the [[Sikhs]] of [[Punjab (region)|Punjab]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Correspondent|first1=HT|title=Sarbat Khalsa appoints Jagtar Singh Hawara as Akal Takht jathedar|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/sarbat-khalsa-bhog-ceremony-of-akhand-path-performed-people-start-reaching-the-venue/story-4a7kGuwRRCaP8pPa6zugSL.html|accessdate=10 November 2015|agency=Hindustan Times|issue=10 November 2015}}</ref>

In October 2015, the [[Panj Pyare]] of [[Akal Takht]] (Bhai Satnam Singh Khanda, Bhai Mangal Singh, Bhai Tarlok Singh, Bhai Satnam Singh and Bhai Major Singh) issued a summon to the [[Jathedar]]s of the five [[Panj Takht|Takhats]] (Giani Gurbachan Singh, Giani Mal Singh, Giani Gurmukh Singh, Giani Iqbal Singh, Giani Ram Singh) to clarify their position on the pardoning of [[Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh]] for [[imitation]] of the [[Guru Gobind Singh|10th Sikh Guru]].<ref>{{cite news|title=kal Takht Sahib Punj Piare Summon Appointed Jathedars|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PExQMBPLls|access-date=15 October 2016|work=Sikh24 News & Updates|date=21 October 2015}}</ref> After the [[Jathedar]]s refused to recognize the summon, the [[Panj Pyare]] of [[Akal Takht]] directed the [[Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee]] (SGPC) to relieve the [[Jathedar]]s from their duties.<ref>{{cite news|title=231015 Sikh Channel News: Panj Pyare issue Gurmata regarding Panj Takht Jathedars.|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFcnW2jJIkI|access-date=15 October 2016|work=Sikh Channel|date=24 October 2015}}</ref> The SGPC ignored the [[Gurmata]] and suspended the [[Panj Pyare]] from [[Akal Takht]].<ref>{{cite news|title=SGPC President's decision to suspend Akal Takht 'Panj Piare' draws flak|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/SGPC-Presidents-decision-to-suspend-Akal-Takht-Panj-Piare-draws-flak/articleshow/49495225.cms|access-date=16 October 2016|work=The Times of India|date=22 October 2015}}</ref>

A [[Sarbat Khalsa]] convened by radical Sikh organisations appointed [[Jagtar Singh Hawara]] as the jathedar of Akal Takht. [[SGPC]] President [[Avtar Singh Makkar]] however stated that its convening was against the principles of Sikhism and its decisions were null and void. He added that the removal of jathedars came under [[Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925]] and no one could challenge the SGPC's authority.<ref>[https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/community/at-sarbat-khalsa-hardliners-appoint-hawara-akal-takht-jathedar/156857.html At Sarbat Khalsa, hardliners appoint Hawara Akal Takht Jathedar]</ref>

On 18 October 2018, Gurbachan Singh resigned from his post and the search for the next Jathedar was underway.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/sgpc-emergency-meet-on-monday-to-take-call-on-new-takht-jathedar/story-9eC5IJt98tQBJUi7CMsIIN.html | title=SGPC emergency meet on Monday to take call on new Takht jathedar | date=20 October 2018 | newspaper=Hindustan Times | accessdate=30 December 2018 }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Singh, Giani Gurbachan}}
[[Category:1948 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian religious leaders]]
[[Category:Jathedars of Akal Takht]]

{{sikh-bio-stub}}

Giani Gurbachan Singh - Revision history

>Gotitbro at 23:53, 17 January 2020