Sgpc May Make Changes In Nanakshahi Calendar

[Azaad]

The Nanakshahi calendar issue is likely to rake up a controversy in the days to come as the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) leadership is learnt to have made up its mind to effect a number of changes in the calendar. The calendar was implemented in gurdwaras across the world 10 years ago and was endorsed by the SGPC in 2003.

The changes were being effected under pressure from a section of orthodox Sikh organisations, including the Damdami Taksal, which has been opposing the calendar despite the fact that the calendar was duly approved by Akal Takht and the SGPC in spite of stiff opposition by a large number of Sikh organisations from across the world.

A meeting of a section of Sikh intellectuals and religious leaders was held today. While SGPC chief Avtar Singh said more rounds of discussions would be held on the issue, sources in the SGPC pointed out that the SGPC was all set to effect certain changes in the calendar, which was said to be on the verge of rejection in a “secret” meeting of the Sikh high priests at the Golden Temple on Diwali.

Avtar Singh said a 10-member committee based on members from the two sides - those who were supporting the calendar and those who were opposing it - will be formed. It will be making a decision about the proposed amendments in the calendar. “The Sikh leaders and intellectuals held discussion today. We are going to announce a committee soon,” said Avtar Singh.

On the other hand, Damdami Taksal chief Harnam Singh Dhumma and other religious head said the calendar was “misleading” in respect of various important dates like in case of some gurpurbs and hence, it should be subjected to some changes.

Dr Pal Singh Purewal, architect of the calendar, has been asserting that there was no ambiguity in respect of the calendar and that certain “vested interests” were behind initiating the controversy over the issue. Leaders of a number of major Sikh organisations like the Dal Khalsa abstained from the meeting, as they have been saying that the calendar did not need any changes.

[BhForce]

Is Purewal a doctor of medicine or of calendars (i.e., astronomer?)

[Singh, Mahan]

Dr. Purewal has spent about 25 years researching the calendar. The anomalies which the Sant Samaj is pointing out are because of the three dates which were kept in the calendar as are in Bikarmi (Vikarmi) Calendar by the jathedars to please the Sant Samaj. Now Sant Samaj is making an issue of those dates as being anomalies and want ti ditch the Calendar in favour of the old Bikrami Calendar. They don’t seem to understand that Nanakshahi Calendar is based on “Solar year” where as the Bikrami Calendar is based on “Lunar year”. So the beginning of the month (Sangrand) is going to fall on relatively different days. And therefore the difference (interval) of number of days of those three dates ( which have been left there to match the days on the Bikrami Calendar) is going to be different from the difference (interval) in days from the 1st of the month (Sangrand) in the Bikrami Calendar. Sant Samaj wants those days ( and few more days ) to fall after the same number of days after the Sangrand of Nanakshahi calendar as the Sangrand of Bikrami Calandar (Lunar Calandar) . This is not possible as the dates for those three days are calculated according to Lunar year (Bikrami Calendar) where as the Sangrands (1st of the month) in Nanakshahi calendar is calculated according to the "Solar year".

Posted below is another article on it

Nanakshahi calendar has no anomalies: Purewal

Varinder Singh

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 14

Defending the Nanakshahi calendar, the Canada-based Sikh scholar and designer of the calendar, Pal Singh Purewal, has asserted that there was no need to effect any changes in the calendar as it was based on 30-year-long research and astronomical, astrological and historical calculations.

He said instead of making any changes in the calendar, the SGPC should change the dates of three important and historical religious events --- the Bandi Chhod Divas, Hola Mohalla and the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev --- and observe these days as suggested in the calendar. These dates were left out at the time of introduction of the calendar by the Sikh clergy on the assurance that these would be incorporated later on.

Trying to clear the air on the calendar, Purewal said the controversy around the calendar defied logic as well as science. “The SGPC should not bow to any pressure being exerted by the deras to protect their vested interests. The then Akal Takht Jathedar, Joginder Singh Vedanti, had assured him that these three important days, which were still being observed as per the old Bikrami calendar, would be observed later as per the dates suggested in the Nanakshahi calendar. If they (SGPC) want to change anything, they should change the three dates,” said Purewal, who was accompanied by an SGPC member and veteran Akali leader, Manjit Singh Calcutta, and the Dal Khalsa general secretary, Kanwarpal Singh.

“All dates have been explained. If the derawalas say that there is some ambiguity about the observation of Sangrand, their dilemma will come to an end the moment they stop seeing elsewhere and start following the new calendar. In fact, the derawalas are neither ready to listen to any logic nor they were ready to come out with any objections based on logic. There is no confusion as the calendar is based purely on science and not on hypothesis,” said Purewal. He said there was no question of any compromise as “experts never compromise and the calendar is not a saleable commodity.”

“I have been explaining everything time and again. Even now I am ready to go to the SGPC, if invited by the Sikh body,” said Purewal, who was not invited by the SGPC during its recent meeting on the calendar.

“There are political reasons behind this controversy and there should be no tinkering with the calendar’s framework. More than 90 per cent of the Sikhs have already adopted the calendar. All flaws of Bikrami calendar were removed when this calendar was designed by me. Clashing of certain dates or events was a normal phenomena in any of the calendars and the derawalas are raking up the issue without any basis,” said Purewal.

Source: http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20091115/punjab.htm#3

[squuid]

SAT SHRI AKAAL ,

following pressure working to scrap the Nanakshahi calender

RSS TO  - BJP TO -BADAL TO  - MAKKAR & JATHEDAAR &SO CALLED SANTS( DERAS )-