Previous “Panth Rattans”

The title Panth “Rattan” literally means “Jewel” of the Panth (nation) and is a title of honour and distinction for the excellent and meritorious service rendered by any individual to the Sikh panth. died. Tohra was scrupulously honest in money matters. Also, Historically, Gurcharan Singh unlike other politicians he was Tohra was the first Sikh who a puritan: he did not drink, did received this honour from the not stay in five‐star hotels; did Akal Takath. Tohra’s Sahib’s not own a car or a bungalow. contributions to the panth in his role as the President of the He remained head of SGPC for Shiromani Gurdwara a record 27 years, and was one Prabhandak Committee were of the most influential and immense. controversial Sikh leaders of the 20th century. He started off Gurcharan Singh Tohra was as SGPC chief way back in 1973 born in 1924 in Patiala district. by initiating kar seva at the He was a man of modest Golden Temple sarovar. That is learning. However he had a how he closed his life 31 years very good command of the later. Punjabi language and the Sikh scriptures. He made his debut Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra was in Sikh politics while he was in the most celebrated leader of his mid‐twenties. the Khalsa Panth for about four decades. Despite the fact that Tohra Ji was elected member of he was not well read, he had the SGPC in 1960. In 1973 he the superb knack to give a new was elected its president for the slant, twist or turn to any first time. And he was re‐ political debate, controversy, elected 26 times till the day he movement and agitation. In Sahib on March 25. This proved fact, he was the last Panthic fatal and he died of a heart leader of his genre. attack in New Delhi on 31 March 2004 at the age of 79. To head the mini‐parliament of the Sikh Panth for such a long Master Tara Singh period – with only small breaks in between — is a signal Prior to Mr Tohra, Master Tara achievement in itself. He made Singh was the only other Sikh it all the more glorious with who was known by the several accomplishments like honopur of “Panth Rattan”. restoring the glory of Akal Master Tara Singh was born on Takht. The length of his service 24 June 1885 at Rawalpindi, as the SGPC head is matched Punjab. by his longevity as a parliamentarian. Just before his He was a prominent Sikh death he was elected to the political and religious leader in Rajya Sabha for a record sixth the first half of the 20th time. It is a pity that he had to century. He was instrumental go even before his term could in organizing the Shiromani begin. Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee, in organizing Sikhs Mr Tohra neither accumulated politically, and guided the any wealth nor made any Sikhs during the Partition of personal property. The India, and later led their ancestral house and land in demand for a Sikh‐majority Tohra village were all that he state in Punjab, India. had to show for more than half a century in public life. The In the case of Master Ji cash‐rich SGPC could not have however, the honour and asked for a more upright designation of “Panth Rattan” custodian. was not presented to him by the Akal Takht or any He had a heart attack after institution. doing kar seva at Harminder Master Tara Singh took over against British imperialism. the reigns of the SGPC from Strategy of combining the 1930 and with that, the movement of Sikhs for the importance of the Shiromani liberation of Gurdwaras and Akali Dal increased in Sikh his goal of protecting interests affairs. His thought process, of the Sikh community with the ideology and leadership style struggle against British were shaped and conditioned imperialism. by a strong desire to protect the distinct Sikh, socio‐cultural He was also able to enlist the identity and to promote Sikh support of the Indian National interest and aspirations which Congress for the struggle of were directly linked with the Sikhs. independence of the country. The greatest assets of Master Under his leadership the Tara Singh, which ensured his primary political objective of leadership during this period Shiromani Akali Dal became was his continued ability to the pursuit of greater political equate the Shiromani Akali leverage for the Sikhs as a Dal with the Khalsa Panth. community. His popularity as against the During his time, Master Tara other leaders could also be Singh clearly emerged as the attributed to the fact that undisputed leader of the although he combined the Sikhs. struggle of the Sikh community with the National The success of Master Tara Movement, yet, he always Singh in emerging as a gave priority to the cause of powerful leader of the Sikh the panth. community could be made possible only by his He did not hesitate to reject the unrelenting pursuit of Sikh ‘Nehru Report’ as it did not interests. To safeguard Sikh comply with the Sikh interests. interests he joined the struggle His ascendancy was also possible due to his control over the SGPC and Shiromani Akali as well as the movements Dal, which provided him with started by the Indian National organizational structure and Congress for liberation of the patronage to consolidate his country, he acquired the image position. It also gave him the of a hero. effective media for political communication. He was able to project himself as a selfless, honest and an incorruptible leader who was not interested in power but was dedicated to the cause of his community. Thus after the ‘Gurdwara Reform Movement’ from the cluster of leaders it was Master Tara Singh who was able to emerge as a leader, to provide leadership to the community for the next turbulent years, which were once more to change the course of the Sikh community and the history of the country.

He passed away on 22 As the SGPC had emerged as November 1967 at Chandigarh. the religious parliament of the Sikhs, the dominance over it gave him the legislate authority to be the chief representative of the community. His dominant and charismatic personality also helped him to emerge supreme. By his gallant and fearless participation in ‘Gurdwara Reform Movement’