DSGMC Asks for Pardon, Ends Controversial Translations

Bhanu Murti was honored by Avtar Singh Hit previously (File Photo)

Amritsar Sahib - On Tuesday, The Delhi Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) informed the Akal Takhat of the decision to end its controversial role involving the translations of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee by Tamil scholar Bhanu Murti into several different Indian languages.

Acting on the order of the Akal Takhat, Paramjit Singh Sarna, who is president of the DSGMC, along with former chiefs Parladh Singh Chandok and Avtar Singh Hit accompanied by several present and former DSGMC members, presented themselves before the Akal Takhat to inform the Sikh authority of the DSGMC’s decision on the matter. Mr. Sarna and his associates had appeared to also ask for forgiveness and admitted their recklessness in having pursued the matter earlier.

The Jathedar of Akal Takhat, Joginder Singh Vedanti, accepted the apology and directed the guilty parties and their associates to offer ‘karah parshad’ and prayers at Harmandir Sahib, to which the guilty agreed and followed through.

Furthermore, the Akal Takhat clergy also banned the book ‘Rahi Joti’ which was compiled in a ‘dera’ in the Mangoowal village of Sangrur. The clergy stated that the book illustrated ‘Gurbani’ in a grossly distorted form.

The decision to end the Gurbani translations into different languages comes after controversy of its compilation began in the 1970’s after certain Sikh scholars had stated that it was a clear distortion of ‘Gurbani’. The matter was raised again a few years ago, resulting in the Akal Takhat asking the DSGMC to cease working on the project and provide the details of the endeavor.