October 1st: The day to reclaim Akal Thakt Sahib Ji

[SanmukhKaur]

October 1st was the date set by Sikhs to reclaim Akal Thakt Sahib Ji by force if the Indian government does not willingly hand it over. Akal Thakt Sahib Ji was handed back to the Sikhs just two days before the proposed march on September 29th. So, what makes this day so memorable in Sikh history? This was a date decided upon in a Sikh convention attended by millions, this was the date the Indian government didn’t wait for and this the day Sikhs should never forget.

World Sikh Convention was organized by the five head priests at Gurudwara Saheed Baba Deep Singh Ji to shape the future of millions of Sikhs. The Indian Government tried their hardest to keep people from attending by imposing restrictions on this event. Sikhs tired of the games played by the Indian Government ignored all restrictions and gathered in large numbers anyways. At the convention it was decided that on the 1st of October Sikhs by the millions would march to Akal Thakt Sahib Ji and take control of Shri Darbar Sahib Complex by all means. By this time the Sikhs were in no mood to compromise; compromising days were over.

Fearful of what the Sikhs might do, the Indian Government handed over the controls of Akal Thakt Sahib Ji just two days before the proposed march. As the Indian Government left it was clear that the damage done by the government was going to take a long time to rebuilt, in some cases it would be impossible. Akal Thakt Sahib Ji had been rebuilt by the Government without any Sikh involvement, expect for those paid by the thousands of rupees daily to provide cover for the government employees. The Sikhs proving cover had no hand in rebuilding and the rebuilt was done in record month and half. The government had hoped to erase all signs of their wrong deeds before Sikhs were allowed to document it. Also Sikhs had talked about not rebuilding Akal Thakt Sahib Ji to leave it as a reminder for all the treachery of the Indian Government. Either way it was favorable for the Indian Government to keeps Sikhs out and they did with imposing curfews to keeps Sikhs out. The curfew and rebuilt had left many a Sikhs (or atleast all Sikhs that weren’t bought by the Indian Government) quite angry and filled the government with fear. The governments fear and the Sikhs anger had allowed Sikhs to reclaim Akal Thakt Sahib Ji on September 29th.

Though Sikhs reclaimed Akal Thakt Sahib Ji two days before the 1st of October, the 1st will always remind Sikhs of what we are capable of when we unite. The say a Sikh alone can fight thousands and the 1st of October proved that united we can face armies of tens of thousands. Once back at Akal Thakt Sahib Ji it was time to measure the extent of the damage. The Akal Thakt Sahib Ji had been erased off all signs of the attack by the Indian government. The Sikhs set off reversing the damages of the Indian government by rebuilding the Akal Thakt Sahib Ji, to which the government didn’t object because their mission of erasing all signs was already over. It took almost 10 years to rebuild to what the Sikhs found acceptable. October 1st will always be the day that reminds us of the courage Sikhs had to take back what was rightfully theirs.

October 1st will always remind Sikhs of how even the idea of united Sikhs can make the Indian government shake in fear. This day will always remind Sikhs the benefits of being united.

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