The Sikh clergy on Saturday decided to introduce major changes in the Nanakshahi calendar adopted in 2003. The Akal Takht has sought a detailed report from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to introduce an amended version of the calendar by January next year. The calendar was introduced in 2003 after much debate.

“We have received valuable suggestions from certain panthic organisations and religious bodies on amendments sought in the calendar. We are forwarding these to the SGPC. The SGPC has also been asked to consult Sikh scholars, thinkers, religious leaders and calendar-makers, and submit a report on the amendments,” Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh said in a written statement issued here on Sunday. He set a deadline of January 5, 2010, the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh, for the revised version to be out.

He said reservations expressed by orthodox Sikh organisations, including the Sant Samaj and Damdammi Taksal, had necessitated a revision of the calendar.

Ever since the calendar was introduced six years ago, there have been controversies over important dates as many Sikh institutions that refused to accept the Nanakshahi calendar were observing major events as per the old Bikrami calendar. The Nanakshahi calendar is a lunar calendar and begins from the birth date of the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak Dev. The calendar was recognised by the state and Central governments immediately in 2003, when Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti was the Akal Takht jathedar and Kirpal Singh Badungar, the SGPC chief.

Various Sikh bodies are, however, opposing the latest move, or at least the manner in which the decision was taken. “Why was the decision to make changes taken in haste? Sikh bodies should have been taken into confidence. Any decision like this can be taken only by calling a Sarbat Khalsa (a congregation of Sikh bodies at the Akal Takht),” said Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee head Parmajit Singh Sarna.

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