Dear Readers of The Sikh Bulletin,

We are pleased to deliver the latest issue of The Sikh Bulletin - 2025 Issue 1 (January-March 2025). The contributions within this issue are as follows:

1. The Editorial titled Scripted Dramas, Rehabilitating the Badals, Weaponizing the Akal Takhat and Opening a Can of Worms critically examines the events related to the summoning of two-time Punjab Chief Minister and President of Shromani Akali Dal (SAD), Sukhbir Singh Badal, along with all former ministers from the Akali government that served from 2007 to 2017 by the Akal Takhat Clergy on December 2, 2024. Chief Editor Karminder Singh Dhillon, PhD provides an assessment as to whether the entire episode was just another chapter of political manoeuvring by the Badal led SAD and just another act of subservience by the clergy of Akal Takhat.

2. The Shabd Vichar section looks at a shabd of Bhagat Kabir ji in Rag Sorath ਭੂਖੇ ਭਗਤਿ ਨ ਕੀਜੈ ॥ Bhookhay Bhagat Na Keejaiy (SGGS 656). Karminder Singh Dhillon PhD, examines the spiritual messages within the shabd from the Tatt Gurmat perspective.

3. Dr. Devinder Pal Singh, Director, Centre for Understanding Sikhism, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada provides an analysis of a framework contained within Jap Bani known as Panj Khand or the “Five Realms,” in his article titled Journey Through the Five Realms: Insights from Guru Nanak’s Jap Hymns.

4. Dr. Assa Singh Ghuman, Retired Principal, GTB National College, Dakha, Ludhiana provides his perspective on the debate of Katak versus Vaisakh birthdate of Guru Nanak in his essay titled: Katak Ke Vaisakh? Or Both?

5. Dr Karminder Singh PhD provides a rejoinder to Dr. Assa Singh Ghuman’s article in his essay Katak Ke Vaisakh? Or Both? A Response by pointing out the intellectual and philosophical challenges that arise out of the thesis that is presented by Dr Ghuman.

6. Harmanpreet Singh Minhas examines a shabd of Bhagat Kabir Ji that is recorded on page 870 of the SGGS to answer the question “O mind, what words should I speak that reflect and embody the eternal presence of Divine virtues within me?” in his essay titled Reflecting and Embodying the Eternal Presence Of Divine Virtues Within.

7. Karminder Singh Dhillon PhD, comments on an exchange of messages that appeared on the internet pertaining to the ritualistic but common practice amongst some Sikhs of worshipping a lighted lamp, – even if such rituals have no place in Gurbani and the Sikh Rehat Maryada (SRM) in his regular column titled Found on the Internet.

8. Karminder Singh Dhillon PhD, shares a conversation with a reader in his piece An E-Mail Exchange of Interest Regarding The Concept of God in Sikhi.

9. In his regular column titled Gurbani Verse Analysis, Karminder Singh Dhillon, PhD examines the verse ਨਉ ਦਰਵਾਜੇ ਦਸਵਾ ਦੁਆਰੁ ॥ Nao(n) Darvajay Dasva(n) Duar within the context provided by the shabd from which the verse is derived.

10. Karminder Singh Dhillon PhD, pens a critical response to the position taken by a Malaysian organization that women be barred from participating as members of the team of Panj Pyaras that administer the Khande di pahul in his essay titled A Full Karut Mindset On Display.

11. Writer, thinker and member of The Sikh Bulletin’s Editorial Board, Moninder Singh of Canada, ਮਨਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਕਨੇਡਾ in his regular column titled ਖੰਡ ਮੰਡਲ ਵਰਭੰਡ, examines the temporal desires of us human beings on the benchmark of Gurbani in his Punjabi essay titled ਸਾਡੀਆਂ ਇੱਛਾਵਾਂ ਤੇ ਸਚਿਆਰਤਾ ਦਾ ਟੀਚਾ।.

12. Advocate Surinder Singh Kanwar of Australia ਐਡਵੋਕੇਟ ਸੁਰਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਕੰਵਰ ਆਸਟ੍ਰੇਲੀਆ, in his regular column titled ਕੰਵਰ ਦੀ ਕਲਮ ਤੋਂ, offers his view on the tatt gurmat meaning of the shabd in his Punjabi essay titled ਜਿਸ ਦਾ ਸਾਹਿਬੁ ਡਾਢਾ ਹੋਇ॥.

13. Gurcharan Singh Jeonwalla of Canada ਗੁਰਚਰਨ ਸਿੰਘ ਜਿਉਣਵਾਲਾ ਕਨੇਡਾ, in his regular column titled ਜਿਉਣਵਾਲਾ ਜੀ ਲਿਖਦੇ ਹਨ, examines the appropriateness of the notion of ‘The day of completeness of the SGGS’ in his Punjabi essay titled ‘ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ’ ਸੰਪੂਰਣਤਾ ਦਿਵਸ ਕਹਾਣੀ ਫੱਬਦੀ ਨਹੀਂ।.

14. Kulwant Singh Pandori, MLA Mehel Kla, Chairman of Special Rights Committee ਕੁਲਵੰਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਪੰਡੋਰੀ, ਐਮ.ਐਲ. ਏ ਮਹਿਲ ਕਲਾਂ, ਚੇਅਰਮੈਨ ਵਿਸ਼ੇਸ਼ ਅਧਿਕਾਰ ਕਮੇਟੀ laments the tendency amongst Sikhs to neglect their heritage pertaining to historic sacrifices in his Punjabi essay ਗੈਰ ਸਿੱਖ ਤਾਂ ਸ਼ਹਾਦਤਾਂ ਦਾ ਸਤਿਕਾਰ ਕਰਦੇ ਹਨ, ਪਰ ਅਸੀਂ ਕਿਉਂ ਭੁੱਲ ਰਹੇ ਹਾਂ?

15. Prof Emeritus Hardev Singh Virk reviews Exploring the Sikh Roots in Eastern India authored by Jagmohan Singh Gill, Kolkata, who is the General Secretary (Honorary) of Sikh Mission, Kolkata and Member Dharam Parchar Committee, SGPC, Amritsar.

16. Reproduced for the benefit of readers, with courtesy of the authors, are (i) Poems ਸਮੇਂ ਤੋਂ ਸਬਕ by ਰਵਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਕੁੰਦਰਾ, ਕਵੈਂਟਰੀ ਯੂ ਕੇ; and ਤਰਕ ਸੁਣ ਸਾਡੇ ਬਾਬੇ ਦੇ ਵੱਡੇ ਵੱਡੇ ਘਬਰਾਏ by ਸਿੱਧੂ. Also reproduced is a facebook post by former Granthi of Darbar Sahib, Gyani Jagtar Singh Jachak pertaining the inclusion of the Sohni Mahiwal story within the vaars of Bhai Gurdas and the Dasam Granth. Two letters to the Editor by Harjodh Singh and Rajinder Singh Chhabra are also published.

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Warm Regards,
The Editorial Team at The Sikh Bulletin