SGPC to allow printing of Guru Granth Sahib in foreign countries

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Written by Satinder Bains, Punjabnewsline.com, Chandigarh

Tuesday, 15 January 2008

Shriomani Gurdawara Parbhandak Committee(SGPC) has decided to allow printing of Sikh holy scripture Guru Granth Sahib in foreign countries where Sikhs are settled. This was stated here Monday by SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar at a meeting with NRI Sikhs here. He said that Akal Takht the highest temporal seat of Sikhs and Punjab government has banned printing of Guru Granth Sahib by private publishers to prevent sacrilege of holy book. He said that a new act passed by state government has empowered SGPC to authorise private printers who fulfill the conditions laid by SGPC. Makkar said that SGPC has also decided to install a new printing press to meet the high demand of holy scripture. He said that a printing press at the cost of Rs.4.50 crores would be imported from Germany. He said that SGPC had received complaints that private publishers are not maintaining sanctity of Guru Granth Sahib and even selling the Scripture at high rates. He said that SGPC has fixed payment of Rs.500 per copy. Makkar said that he had formed a committee under the chairmanship of SGPC general secretary Sukhdev Singh Bhaur to find out the ways and means to make available the holy book in foreign countries because it was not possible to transport it from India as per religious rituals. He said that committee has now decided to send the approved script of Guru Granth Sahib in Compact Disc and make arrangement of printing in various countries. Makkar also announced to set up an advisory committee of NRI Sikhs which will assist SGPC in solving religious matters cropping up in other countries. He said that process to co-opt ten foreign Sikhs in SGPC was going on and ball is now in the court of center government. On the persistent demand of NRI Sikhs, SGPC had in 2006 passed a resolution to co-opt foreign Sikhs in the SGPC. Makkar also said that NRI Sikhs had apprised him of problems faced by them and he has assured them to resolve all issues. He said that foreign Sikhs are worried about their religious identity and demanded to create more awareness in foreign countries about religion. He said that he had written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh about turban issue repeatedly raised in France. He said that he had sought time for meeting with French PM coming to India on Jan 24. Comments (1) >> Show/Hide comments lakhvir singh khalsa said:   i personally think that guru granth sahib ji should not be printed at all – it should continue to be written by hand by volunteer sevadaars. we do not need to produce thousands of saroops each year. if written by hand, there are less chances of beadbi and intentional mistakes. January 17, 2008 | url Write comment You must be logged in to post a comment. Please register if you do not have an account yet.

 

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