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Amritsar , December 6 - Glaring difference of
opinion on the definition of "Sehajdhari Sikh",
prepared by the SGPC executive committee and panel of experts
may put the Shiromani Committee in the spot.
The panel of Sikh experts have clearly concluded , "A person
cannot claim to be a Sehajdhari by trimming/cutting his/her
beard or eyebrows in any manner". The meeting of the panel, held
here on December 4 was necessitated when objections were raised
on the definition of Sehajdhari, passed in the executive
committee meeting of the Shiromani Committee, held on December 3
at Chandigarh. However, some members of the panel alleged the
SGPC ignored the suggestions made by them at the meeting held
under the presidentship of Sukhdev Singh Bhaur, SGPC
general secretary and necessary amendments were not made in the
resolution passed by the executive committee meeting on December
3..
Bhaur, Kiranjot Kaur , G.S.Lamba , Prof Suba Singh and
Dr Jasbir Singh Sabar- all members of the expert panel
of the SGPC said they stood by the definition passed by them on
December 4.
To a question, Kiranjot Kaur , an SGPC member, said the
resolution of the SGPC executive committee about the definition
of Sehajdhari was contrary to the one passed by them (Sikh
expert panel). Editor of Sikh monthly, Sant Sipahi,
G.S.Lamba , one of the six members also expressed shock the
executive body had ignored the recommendations , made by the
experts.
The SGPC executive committee had reiterated the definition given
in the Sikh Gurdwara Act 1925, according to which the Sehajdhari
Sikhs are those who are born in non-Sikh families, but follow
the tenets of Sikhism. A Sehajdhari Sikh is thus a non-Sikh who
performs ceremonies according to Sikh rites; who does not use
tobacco, does not consume halal meat in any form; who is not a "patit"
and who recites the mulmantra of Guru Granth Sahib.
In the resolution passed at a meeting held this evening, the
SGPC pointed out the definition of Sehajdhari given in the
Section 2 (10-A) of the Gurdwara Act states the word "sehajdhari"
consists of two words "sehaj" (slowly) and "dhari" (adopt a
religious path) and hence these are those novices who slowly
move on the path of Sikhism to adopt its doctrine, ethics and
tenets.
A Sehajdhari, therefore, is one who has entered the path of
Sikhism and he will continue to be a Sehajdhari Sikh till he
fully accepts the moral and spiritual vows of Sikhism, to be
called a practising Sikh. The SGPC resolution also made it clear
that when a Sehajdhari Sikh becomes a keshdhari Sikh, but he
chooses to trim his body hair, he will not be a Sehajdhari Sikh.
Similarly, if a person born into a Sikh family (and is a Sikh),
but chooses to disrespect his keshdhari roop he will not turn
into a Sehajdhari Sikh but become a "patit".
However, Lamba and Kiranjot Kaur alleged such
a definition passed by the SGPC executive body would have
far-reaching effects .
Sabar, another member of the expert panel said the
definition of Sehajdhari, passed by the experts should be
accepted in toto.
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