Sikh Women’s Right to do Seva at Darbar Sahib

Sikhs Worldwide Rejoice at the Return of Sikh Women’s Right to do Seva at Darbar Sahib

New York –

Sikhs worldwide are rejoicing today at the decision of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Commitee, SGPC, the apex body of Sikhs, to restore Sikh women’s rights to do seva, devotional service, at Sri Darbar Sahib in Amritsar, Panjab, often referred to as the ‘Golden Temple’.

The Dharam Parcahar Committee, a subcommittee of the SGPC, which advises the apex body on religious matters, made this decision yesterday after the issue was raised by the SGPC president, Bibi Jagir Kaur, who had given an undertaking on assuming office last year that she will seek to restore Sikh women’s seva rights at Sri Darbar Sahib, the sanctum sanctorum of the Sikh shrine in Amritsar, Panjab.

Speaking during a telephone interview with VOICES FOR FREEDOM, Bibi Jagir Kaur said, “Women jethas (groups) who have been trained in doing gurmat sangeet (singing of devotional songs in the classical tradition) and who meet the norms required at Darbar’s Sahib, will be treated in the same way as any men’s jetha.”

“I have received calls from at least 2 keertan jethas in Panjab and we welcome applications from any women jetha around to world who meet the requirements,” she added.

“The Keertan seva will begin as soon as a women jetha is selected and in accordance with the ongoing rota,” Bibi Jagir Kaur said.

Women devotees will also be allowed to participate in the Sukhasan ceremony with immediate effect. The Sukhasan ceremony is the ceremonial procession for the carrying of the Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Sikh scriptures, to Sri Darbar Sahib in the morning and evening.

“We will not be making any arrangements to give special protection to women during these ceremonies, because the women are very safe in full view of the congregation,” she added scotching sceptics in the past who said that it was not safe for Sikh women to participate in these crowded ceremonies where a lot of jostling takes place.

The problems facing Sikh women sevadars came into the view of the world Sikh community during the Sikh Women’s Seva Rights campaign of 2003 that was led by VOICES FOR FREEDOM after two Amritdhari Sikh women, Mejindarpal Kaur and Lakhbir Kaur from the United Kingdom, were refused the right to participate in the Sukhasan procession at Sri Darbar Sahib. The following day they lodged a complaint with the Akal Takhat Jathedar and the SGPC seeking an immediate restoration of the right of Sikh women to undertake all types of seva.

“Sikh women have always enjoyed equality under Sikh principles but there was an anomaly being practised at Sri Darbar Sahib which has come to an end today. There is no darkness, just delay. I am happy that Bibi Ji has kept her promises and that keertan and sukhasan sevas have been rightfully restored for Sikh women,” said Mejindarpal Kaur today. “I have faith that with time and Guru ji’s kirpa, our community will continue to move towards equality and unity,” she added.

Bibi Kiranjot Kaur, an SGPC member who has also been in the forefront of the campaign to accord Sikh women their right to do keertan seva at Darbar Sahib, said, “In 1940, the SGPC had taken a decision that Sikh women shall not be discriminated at Sri Darbar Sahib. But it took us until today to implement this decision.”

“We are very happy as it is an auspicious occasion. Even though Sikh women enjoy an equal status with men under the Sikh religion, there is no evidence from living memory and recorded history of women doing keertan at Sri Darbar Sahib.” She added.

I will request SGPC to call on Sikh organisations and sangat from all over the world to be present at Sri Darbar Sahib on the day the first female jetha does keertan at Darbar Sahib.” She added.

Bibi Inderjeet Kaur, Bhai Sahiba of the Sikh Dharma of the Western Hemisphere said, “I congratulate Bibi Jagir Kaur for delivering equality to all Sikh women.”

She said that the female students of the Miri Piri academy in Amritsar, which is run by the Sikh Dharma , will step up their efforts to become conversant with Gurbani and the gurmat sangeet traditions, “so that they could one day qualify to do keertan at Sri Darbar Sahib.”

Issued by:

Ranjit Singh

Director

VOICES FOR FREEDOM

Tel: 001 646 219 2863