GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 24

While an earlier move to set up a ‘Sikh Censor Board’ ensuring the compliance of rehat maryada in making films on Gurus and religion could not be materialised, the SGPC’s recent initiative of setting up a panel to make films on an identical subject matter has been challenged before Akal Takht.

As part of the 400th birth anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur, SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur had conceptualised a project to make films on the life of the ninth Guru and the little-known Sikhs who were associated with the Gurus during that era, including Baba Makhan Shah Lubana, Bhai Lakhi Shah Vanjara, Bhai Mati Das, Bhai Sati Das, Bhai Dayala and others. A list of 12 films was made and five scripts were prepared.

For the purpose, it was decided to form a panel which included Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh, and Takht Kesgarh Sahib Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh, to prepare and approve the scripts for making religious films in future too.

But the move has been opposed by Sikh Federation activist Prof Sarchand Singh, who has submitted a complaint at the Akal Takht secretariat.

He has cited the SGPC’s resolution dated February 20, 1934, that speaks against making films on historical anecdotes of Gurus, followed by other resolutions dated August 7, 1940 and May 30, 2003, which prohibited anyone to portray themselves as Gurus, Panj Pyare and Sahibzadas.

“It is a pity that the SGPC itself is violating its resolutions. We strongly oppose the move of the SGPC to make films on Gurus. It is an irony that the Akal Takht jathedar was included in the panel. When the jathedar of the highest temporal seat would be involved in it, where can one submit his complaint? We demand the SGPC should withdraw its move,” he said.

Legally, Akal Takht cannot intervene in movies as these come under the Central Board of Film Certification, but the backdrop of the idea was to keep an eye on the movies related to the Sikh religion.