Gurbachan Singh
Encyclopedia
Baba Gurbachan Singh was the leader of the Sant Nirankari sect, considered to be heterodox by mainstream Sikh. He was declared Satguru
by his predecessor Baba Avtar Singh in 1962.
He should not be confused with Gurbachan Singh Manochahal.
and other parts of the Indian sub-continent gathered a congregation at Amritsar
. A few orthodox Sikhs of Akhand Kirtani Jatha
and Damdami Taksal
marched from the Darbar Sahib
to protest Nirankari congregation, who they considered heterodox. In the resulting violence, 13 individuals including Jatha
leader Bhai Fauja Singh
were killed, while Sixty four followers of the Nirankari mission were arrested.
On April 13, 1978 detained members of Nirankari sect were released, after formal charges against them were rejected by the session-Judge of Karnal
, who stated in his judgement "The case of the prosecution was intrinsically wrong. It was all frame-up and after thought."
On 25 September 1978, Gurbachan Singh arrived in Kanpur. A group of protesters arrived at the Nirankari Bhawan to protest his presence On 28 September 1978, anticipating fresh trouble, then Punjab Government
of barred Nirankari Chief Gurbachan Singh from entering Punjab for six months. The Supreme Court
later revoked the ban.
On October 6, 1978, a Hukumnama by the Jathedar
of Akal Takht
was issued, calling upon Sikhs to socially boycott the Nirankaris.
In 1980, a Ranjit Singh, a member of the Akhand Kirtani Jatha managed to obtain employment at the Nirankari headquarters in Delhi
as a carpenter. On the evening of April 24, 1980, he waited with an automatic rifle in a room of the guest house. Ranjit Singh shot Gurbachan Singh through a window when he returned from a public function at about 11pm. Ranjit Singh managed to escape.
named twenty people for the murder, including several known associates of Bhindranwale, who was also charged with conspiracy to murder.
Ranjit Singh surrendered in 1983, and was in jail for 13 years. In 1990, while still in Tihar Jail
, he was named the Akal Takht Jathedar, and took over the post when he was released in 1996.
According to a Hindustan Times
report, Ranjit Singh said about the murder: "I have no regrets. I did it for the Panth
(Nation)."
In 1997, the Delhi High Court
upheld his conviction and cancelled bail. Ranjit Singh refused to surrender. The government quickly ordered a remission of the remaining part of his sentence to avoid a confrontation.
Satguru
Satguru does not merely mean true guru. The term is distinguished from other forms of gurus, such as musical instructors, scriptural teachers, parents, and so on...
by his predecessor Baba Avtar Singh in 1962.
He should not be confused with Gurbachan Singh Manochahal.
Events of 1978-1980
In 1978, the Nirankari mission from DelhiDelhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
and other parts of the Indian sub-continent gathered a congregation at Amritsar
Amritsar
Amritsar is a city in the northern part of India and is the administrative headquarters of Amritsar district in the state of Punjab, India. The 2001 Indian census reported the population of the city to be over 1,500,000, with that of the entire district numbering 3,695,077...
. A few orthodox Sikhs of Akhand Kirtani Jatha
Akhand Kirtani Jatha
The Akhand Kirtani Jatha is a jatha of Sikhs....
and Damdami Taksal
Damdami Taksal
The Damdami Taksal is a 300 years old educational organization said to have been founded by the tenth Sikh Master, Guru Gobind Singh. According to the Damdami Taksal, it was entrusted with the responsibility of teaching the reading , analysis and recitation of the Sikh scriptures by Guru Gobind...
marched from the Darbar Sahib
Darbar Sahib
Darbar Sahib refers to the main hall within a Sikh gurdwara. This hall is where the holy text, current and perpetual Guru of the Sikhs, the Guru Granth Sahib is placed on a takhat or throne in a prominent central position in the hall....
to protest Nirankari congregation, who they considered heterodox. In the resulting violence, 13 individuals including Jatha
Jatha
Jatha is a term used to describe a group of Sikh volunteers coming together for a specific purpose, which can vary from armed combat to peaceful agitation....
leader Bhai Fauja Singh
Bhai Fauja Singh
Fauja Singh was one of 13 Sikhs killed during a protest against the Nirankaris in 1978. The Sikhs opposed to the Nirankaris consider him a martyr....
were killed, while Sixty four followers of the Nirankari mission were arrested.
On April 13, 1978 detained members of Nirankari sect were released, after formal charges against them were rejected by the session-Judge of Karnal
Karnal
Karnal is an important city and the headquarters of Karnal District in the Indian state of Haryana.Karnal is said to have been founded by the Kauravas in the Mahabharata era for the king Karna, a mythological hero and a key figure in the epic tale...
, who stated in his judgement "The case of the prosecution was intrinsically wrong. It was all frame-up and after thought."
On 25 September 1978, Gurbachan Singh arrived in Kanpur. A group of protesters arrived at the Nirankari Bhawan to protest his presence On 28 September 1978, anticipating fresh trouble, then Punjab Government
Punjab Government
Punjab Government may refer to:*Government of Punjab *Government of Punjab...
of barred Nirankari Chief Gurbachan Singh from entering Punjab for six months. The Supreme Court
Supreme Court of India
The Supreme Court of India is the highest judicial forum and final court of appeal as established by Part V, Chapter IV of the Constitution of India...
later revoked the ban.
On October 6, 1978, a Hukumnama by the Jathedar
Jathedar
Jathedar means "leader" and refers to a leader of a jatha . Among the Sikhs, a Jathedar is an ordained leader of the clergy and leads a Takht, a sacred and authoritative seat....
of Akal Takht
Akal Takht
The Akal Takht of the Timeless One or Seat of God. It is one of the five seats of temporal authority of the Sikhs equivalent to any parliament of world sovereign country. Akal means The Timeless One - another term for God. Takht means 'seat' or 'throne' in Persian...
was issued, calling upon Sikhs to socially boycott the Nirankaris.
In 1980, a Ranjit Singh, a member of the Akhand Kirtani Jatha managed to obtain employment at the Nirankari headquarters in Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
as a carpenter. On the evening of April 24, 1980, he waited with an automatic rifle in a room of the guest house. Ranjit Singh shot Gurbachan Singh through a window when he returned from a public function at about 11pm. Ranjit Singh managed to escape.
Aftermath
The First Information ReportFirst Information Report
A First Information Report or FIR is a written document prepared by the police in India, Pakistan and Japan when they receive information about the commission of a cognizable offence. It is a report of information that reaches the police first in point of time and that is why it is called the First...
named twenty people for the murder, including several known associates of Bhindranwale, who was also charged with conspiracy to murder.
Ranjit Singh surrendered in 1983, and was in jail for 13 years. In 1990, while still in Tihar Jail
Tihar Jail
Tihar Prisons , also called Tihar Jail and Tihar Ashram , is the largest complex of prisons in South Asia. It is located at Tihar village, approximately 7 km from Chanakya Puri, to the west of New Delhi, India. The surrounding area is called Hari Nagar.The prison is maintained as a...
, he was named the Akal Takht Jathedar, and took over the post when he was released in 1996.
According to a Hindustan Times
Hindustan Times
Hindustan Times is an Indian English-language daily newspaper founded in 1924 with roots in the Indian independence movement of the period ....
report, Ranjit Singh said about the murder: "I have no regrets. I did it for the Panth
Panth
Panthan is the term used for several religious traditions in India.A panth is founded by a guru or an acharya, and is often led by scholars or senior practitioners of the tradition.Some of the major panthas in India are:...
(Nation)."
In 1997, the Delhi High Court
Delhi High Court
The High Court of Delhi was established on 31 October 1966. The High Court of Delhi was established with four judges. They were Chief Justice K. S. Hegde, Justice I. D. Dua, Justice H. R. Khanna and Justice S. K. Kapur.-History:...
upheld his conviction and cancelled bail. Ranjit Singh refused to surrender. The government quickly ordered a remission of the remaining part of his sentence to avoid a confrontation.