Balwant Singh Nandgarh: Difference between revisions

Balwant Singh was a farmer in [[Nandgarh]], [[Bathinda]], [[Punjab, India]]. In 1997, he became a member of [[Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee]] (SGPC). According to [[Gurcharan Singh Tohra]], Nandgarh was given ticket to contest elections for SGPC because he was the only applicant to introduce himself as "[[Khalsa]]". In 2003, he was made the Jathedar of Takht Sri Damdama Sahib. In 2007, [[Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh]], head of [[Dera Sacha Sauda]] had appeared in an advertisement dressed up as [[Guru Gobind Singh]], 10th [[Sikh guru]]. This resulted in a widespread clashes between Dera followers and Sikhs.<ref>{{cite news|title=No more screenings of 'Messenger of God' in Punjab|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-no-more-screenings-of-messenger-of-god-in-punjab-2053400|accessdate=26 January 2015|work=DNA India|date=17 January 2015}}</ref> Nandgarh formed a Sikh group called [[Ek Noor Khalsa Fauj]] to stop the religious gathering of Dera Sacha Sauda.<ref>{{cite news|title=Punjab withdraws security of Takht Damdama Sahib head|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/bathinda/punjab-goverment-withdraws-security-of-takht-damdama-sahib-head/article1-1297744.aspx|accessdate=26 January 2015|work=Hindustan Times|date=18 December 2014}}</ref>

Nandgarh has supported the 2003 version of [[Nanakshahi calendar]], a [[solar calendar]] also known as the [[Mool Nanakshahi Calendar]] created by [[Pal Singh Purewal]] to determine the dates for various [[Sikhism|Sikh]] events.<ref>https://www.theworldsikhnews.com/nanakshahi-calendar-is-immortal/</ref> In 1999,<ref>https://www.allaboutsikhs.com/sikh-festivals/the-sikh-calendar-gurupurabs-and-festival-dates</ref><ref>[[Nanakshahi calendar]]</ref>{{Circular reference|date=October 2020}} this calendar was adopted by SGPC, replacing the [[Lunar calendar|lunar]] [[Bikrami calendar]]. However, the Nanakshahi calendar created some confusion, as the dates of some festivals such as [[Holi]] and [[Diwali]], and birthdays of [[Guru Nanak]] and [[Guru Gobind Singh]] differed from the corresponding dates in the Bikrami calendar. In 2009, SGPC amended the calendar and fixed the dates of these festivals according to the Bikirami calendar. In 2014–15, according to the amended Nanakshahi calendar, [[Guru Gobind Singh]]'s birthday fell on 28 December 2014, which overlaps with the martyrdom day of his younger sons.<ref name=ie1>{{cite news|title=3 dates create confusion over Guru Gobind Singh’s birth anniversary|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/3-dates-create-confusion-over-guru-gobind-singhs-birth-anniversary/|accessdate=21 January 2014|work=Indian Express|date=27 December 2014}}</ref> To resolve this, SGPC announced 7 January 2015 as the new date for celebrating Guru Gobind Singh's birthday.<ref>{{cite news|title=Calendar conflict born amid three dates for Gurpurb|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/calendar-conflict-born-amid-three-dates-for-gurpurb/9186.html|accessdate=21 January 2015|work=The Tribune|date=18 November 2014}}</ref> Later, SGPC backtracked and re-announced 28 December 2014 as the date for the event. As per the 2003 Nanakshahi calendar, the date of this event was 5 January.<ref>{{cite news|title=Akal Takht does U-turn on Gurpurb date|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/chandigarh/akal-takht-does-u-turn-on-gurpurb-date/article1-1289821.aspx|accessdate=21 January 2015|work=Hindustan Times|date=25 November 2014}}</ref> Nandgarh asked people to celebrate the event on 5 January. He was supported by various other Sikh organizations which demanded that the 2003 Nanakshahi calendar should be re-implemented.<ref>{{cite news|title=Calendar row: Nandgarh stands firm, SAD draws flak|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/calendar-row-nandgarh-stands-firm-sad-draws-flak/19879.html|accessdate=21 January 2015|work=The Tribune|date=19 December 2014}}</ref>