For the first time after the formation of the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee in 1925, Bibi Kiranjot Kaur, a former General Secretary of the SGPC, will arrange kirtan by baptised Sikh women inside the sanctum sanctorum of the Golden Temple next month, despite opposition from orthodox Sikhs.
Talking to The Tribune here today, Bibi Kiranjot Kaur said stopping women from performing seva and kirtan in the sanctum sanctorum was against the tenets of Sikhism, which did not allow gender discrimination. She claimed that jathas of baptised women kirtanias, well versed in gurmat raagas, were available and hence they should be allowed to perform kirtan inside the sanctum sanctorum. She claimed that a large number of Sikh women had asked her to take an initiative in this regard.
The Jathedar, Akal Takht, Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, had stated that women were disallowed to perform seva and kirtan when the Golden Temple was under the control of mahants before the formation of the SGPC in 1925. He, however, had agreed in principle to persuade the orthodox Sikhs not to raise any objection to seva and kirtan by baptised women as per gurmaryada.
Earlier, Bibi Jagir Kaur had announced that she would get baptised Sikh women to perform seva and kirtan in the sanctum sanctorum during her tenure as the SGPC chief. However, this commitment could not be fulfilled as she was unceremoniously removed as SGPC chief.
Bibi Kiranjot Kaur said she would write to the manager, Darbar Sahib, Jathedar, Akal Takht, and the SGPC chief to give permission for arranging kirtan by baptised women inside the sanctum sanctorum shortly. She claimed that she had already mobilised public opinion in this regard.