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{{Short description|Indian Sikh leader (1928–2008)}}
{{Unbalanced|date=June 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name =
| office1 = [[Nihang|13th Jathedar of Buddha Dal]]
| honorific_prefix = [[Jathedar]]
| native_name = {{Lang|pa|ਅਕਾਲੀ ਸੰਤਾ ਸਿੰਘ}}
| image = Photograph of Santa Singh, former Jathedar of Budha Dal.webp
| title =
| alongside =
| predecessor1 = [[Akali Chet Singh]]
| successor1 = [[Akali Surjit Singh]] (Disputed with Baba Balbir Singh)
| birth_name = Pashaura Singh
| birth_date = 1928
| birth_place = [[Gujranwala]], [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab]]
| death_date = 8 May 2008 (age 80)
| death_place =
| spouse =
| relations =
| children =
| alma_mater =
| image_size =
| term_start1 = 1968
| term_end1 = 2008
| mother =
| father =
| known_for = 13th Jathedar of Buddha Dal
| caption =
}}

{{Sikhism sidebar}}
'''Pashaura Singh '''(1928–2008) also known as '''Santa Singh''' or to [[Nihang|Nihang Sikhs]] as '''Jathedar Akali Baba Santa Singh Ji Nihang 96 Crori''' was the 13th Jathedar of [[Budha Dal]], succeeding [[Akali Chet Singh]].

== Early life ==
He was born as Pashaura Singh in Gujranwala.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-12-12 |title=13) Akali Baba Santa Singh Ji |url=https://gb.budhadal.org/baba-santa-singh-ji/ |access-date=2022-09-02 |website=Shiromani Panth Akali Budha Dal |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Religious career ==

=== Sarbloh Granth ===
The [[Sarbloh Granth]] was first published in the mid-20th century by Santa Singh. He had major influence over bringing its teachings to the wider Sikh community.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Singh |first1=Santa |title=Sri Sarbloh Granth Sahib Ji |last2=Singh Ji |first2=Guru Gobind |publisher=B Chattar Singh Amritsar |year=2003}}</ref>

=== Reconciliation with the Sikh community ===
In 2001, Santa Singh accepted the “tankhah” (punishment for religious misconduct) pronounced by Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, the Jathedar of the [[Akal Takht]].

Also in the same year, the followers of Santa Singh have said he had made the choice to reintegrate himself with the Sikh Panth. They asserted that his decision would serve as a source of motivation for Sikhs. Udhe Singh (Secretary of Budha Dal and nephew of Baba Santa Singh), Maharaj Singh, Partap Singh, Prithipal Singh, the personal assistant to Jathedar Vedanti, played pivotal roles in facilitating Santa Singh's reconnection with the Sikh community.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Walia |first=Varinder |date=17 March 2001 |title=Baba Santa Singh accepts 'tankhah' |work=The Tribune |url=https://m.tribuneindia.com/2001/20010318/punjab1.htm |archive-date=3 June 2023 |access-date=3 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603031244/https://m.tribuneindia.com/2001/20010318/punjab1.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Differences in Sikh religious, social and political views ==
=== Political views ===
Santa Singh was an avid supporter of [[Indian National Congress]] and was close to many leaders. He had been dubbed by many Sikhs as a "government stooge".<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=We are the real heirs of the Sikh shrines and traditions: Baba Santa Singh |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/19840815-we-are-the-real-heirs-of-the-sikh-shrines-and-traditions-baba-santa-singh-803744-1984-08-14 |access-date=2023-06-03 |website=India Today |date=15 August 1984 |language=en}}</ref>

In the early 70s Santa Singh became close with [[President of India|India's President]] [[Zail Singh]]. Zail Singh even gifted Santa Singh a car. After this Santa and fellow Nihangs regularly attended Congress rallies and blessed [[Indira Gandhi]] before her elections.<ref name=":0" />

In the aftermath of [[Operation Blue Star]] he attended a Congress rally organised by Indira Gandhi. This led to heavy criticism by Sikh leaders.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hazarika |first=Sanjoy |date=1984-08-13 |title=SIKH REBEL IS CHALLENGING RELIGION'S LEADERS |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/08/13/world/sikh-rebel-is-challenging-religion-s-leaders.html |access-date=2023-06-03 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

Santa Singh was said to be close with [[Home Minister]] and Congress leader [[Buta Singh]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Now, Akalis, Congress woo Nihangs |url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/now-akalis-congress-woo-nihangs/311885/ |access-date=2023-06-03 |work=Indian Express}}</ref>

=== Bhang consumption issue ===
In 2001, Santa Singh along with 20 chiefs of Nihang sects, refused to accept the ban on consumption of ''[[bhang]]'' by the [[Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee]].<ref>[http://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20010326/punjab1.htm#3 "Nihangs 'not to accept' ban on bhang"]. ''[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]]''. March 26, 2001.</ref> However, there exists a tradition of Nihang Sikhs using edible cannabis, often in the form of the beverage [[bhang]].<ref name="SinghFenech2014">{{cite book |author1=Pashaura Singh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8I0NAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA378 |title=The Oxford Handbook of Sikh Studies |author2=Louis E. Fenech |date=March 2014 |publisher=OUP Oxford |isbn=978-0-19-969930-8 |pages=378–}}</ref><ref name="SinghHawley2012">{{cite book |author1=Pashaura Singh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4SLhLakpsNsC&pg=PA34 |title=Re-imagining South Asian Religions: Essays in Honour of Professors Harold G. Coward and Ronald W. Neufeldt |author2=Michael Hawley |date=7 December 2012 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=978-90-04-24236-4 |pages=34–}}</ref>

=== Akal Takht reconstruction ===
Santa Singh rebuilt the [[Akal Takht]] after its damage during [[Operation Blue Star]] in 1984. The construction work was done by paid workers.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Chima |first=Jugdep S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sxpBDwAAQBAJ&dq=santa+singh+excommunicated&pg=PT118 |title=The Sikh Separatist Insurgency in India: Political Leadership and Ethnonationalist Movements |date=2010-03-11 |publisher=SAGE Publishing India |isbn=978-93-5150-953-0 |language=en}}</ref> This caused controversy with [[Damdami Taksal]], [[Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee]] and many members of the wider Sikh community.

As a result, Baba Santa Singh was excommunicated by SGPC.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Warrior Sikh excommunicated |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/07/22/Warrior-Sikh-excommunicated/9850459316800/ |access-date=2023-06-03 |website=UPI |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Baba Santa Singh accepts 'tankhah' |url=https://m.tribuneindia.com/2001/20010318/punjab1.htm |access-date=2023-06-03 |website=The Tribune |archive-date=3 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603031244/https://m.tribuneindia.com/2001/20010318/punjab1.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The Akal Takht, was torn down two years later under the orders of Baba Thakur Singh, the leader of the Damdami Taksal, at the [[Sarbat Khalsa|1986 Sarbat Khalsa]].

=== Views on Sikh separatism ===
When asked about Khalistan, Santa Singh said, ''"Isn't the President of India a Sikh? There are so many ministers, generals, officers. There is no discrimination. And in which little district will they make their Khalistan?"<ref name=":0"/>''

When asked to comment about the [[Shiromani Akali Dal|Akali Dal]] claiming they did not oppose Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale out of fear Santa Singh said, ''"Why did they never approach me for help? I would have happily sent in my cavalry. What are all these gallant horsemen for if not for saving the shrines from desecration? It is because they did not ask their own Sikh armies that Mrs. Gandhi had to send in hers"'' <ref name=":0" />

=== SGPC ===
When asked about why he is upset with the [[Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee|SGPC]] Santa Singh said, "''They have been messing about for 60 years. They just make a commotion. I call them Khappoo Singhs (Khap means noise in Punjabi). Their movement has failed and now they are running marches, hiding behind women and children. Why didn't they act when [[Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale|Bhindranwale's]] men were going about defecating and drying underwear on the balconies of the [[Akal Takht]]?''"''<ref name=":0" />''

In 2012, SGPC reversed its initial decision to install Santa Singh portrait in the Central Sikh Museum due to backlash from certain fractions of the community.<ref>{{Cite news |date=9 May 2012 |title=SGPC doesn't install portrait of Santa Singh at museum |work=Hindustan Times |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/sgpc-doesn-t-install-portrait-of-santa-singh-at-museum/story-6GcxjuIkhmdZ1nNWtMZlsN.html}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Budha Dal Jathedars|Akali Chet Singh||Akali Santa Singh|Akali Surjit Singh |}}
{{Cannabis and religion}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Singh, Akali Santa}}
[[Category:Nihang]]
[[Category:Cannabis activists]]
[[Category:Cannabis and Sikhism]]
[[Category:1928 births]]
[[Category:2008 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century Pakistani people]]

Akali Santa Singh - Revision history

Timesofmillionaire: Added new bio more to come