Bhai Sahiba Congratulates SGPC on Moving Forward

August 9, 2005

Respected Sat Sangat Ji,

Wahe Guru Ji Ka Khalsa, Wahe Guru Ji Ki Fateh.

For many hundreds of years, the Harimander Sahib has been a most sacred temple on this earth. In the darkness, it has shone as a light of hope and justice for people around the world. It is with much happiness, then, that I extend my congratulations to the SGPC and its President Bibi Jagir Kaur for the timely steps they are taking to secure the rights of Sikh women within the Harimandir Sahib. I applaud the move by the SGPC yesterday to allow Sikh women to perform kirtan at Darbar Sahib and also to take part in carrying the Palki Sahib during Sukhasan of the Siri Guru Granth Sahib.

Sikh Dharma International, under the guidance of my late husband Siri Singh Sahib Bhai Sahib Harbhajan Singh Khalsa Yogiji, has been in the forefront of this fight for women’s rights at Darbar Sahib for the last ten years. In 1996, then-acting Jathedar of the Akal Takhat, Singh Sahib Bhai Manjit Singh issued a Hukamnama granting Sikh women the right to perform seva at Harimander Sahib. On March 10, 1996, with the full support and blessing of the Siri Singh Sahib, it was my blessing to lead a group of women to the Harimandir Sahib to perform seva. The group was comprised of Sikh women from around the world. Unfortunately, there was so much anger in the crowd and so much resistance to our presence that we could not come back again after that night. It has been in my heart and in my prayers ever since that this injustice against the Sikh women be corrected.

In February of 2003, I issued a letter calling for signatures to encourage the Jathedars to correct this situation. Over 8000 people signed the petition, and the signatures were presented to the Sikh leadership. Although it has taken two years for the SGPC to act, we are grateful to God and Guru that they are listening to the will of the Panth and supporting the rights of Sikh women.

May this action begin a revolution for Sikh women to be treated with the dignity and respect given to them by their Gurus in every Gurdwara in the world.

In the Name of the Cosmos which prevails through everyBODY and the Holy Nam which holds the world.

      Humbly Yours,

      Bibi Inderjit Kaur
      Bhai Sahiba

      Sikh Dharma International

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