sikhpride

Gurtej Singh is a well known Sikh teacher, scholar, writer and administrator. He was born in 1947. After obtaining his masters in History from Panjab University, Chandigarh, he taught History at Panjab University, Chandigarh, Lyallpur Khalsa College, Jalandhar and Gurmat College, Patiala to graduate and post graduate students. As a Civil servant, he joined IPS in 1970 (He was a topper in IPS) and then shifted to IAS in 1971 and worked in that capacity till 1983. He was appointed as Professor of Sikhism by SGPC from 1982 to March 2005 and he gave his services accordingly. He also entered politics by joining Shiromani Akali Dal and was party’s General Secretary and Spokesman from 1989 to 1991 and again from 1995 to 1997 (during the latter period, it was known as Shiromani Akali Dal Panthak). He also contested for Indian Parliament from Faridkot Constituency in 1991 (aborted elections). The name and fame which he got as a teacher, administrator and then as a Panthak leader made him a role model. In whatever capacity he worked, his special interest was always Sikh history and culture. He has written a number of books in Punjabi and English. To name some of the books, Kich Suniya Kichh Kahiye (1994), collection of Punjabi Essays- Theological, Political and Cultural, Bhagat Singh and Sikh Chetna (2000) Punjabi, edited (also contains several essays written by him, Var Shah Mohammed: Sanjhe Punjab Da Dard, an attempt and understanding the deeper import of Shah Muhammad Immortal poem on the Sikh British Wars and Sikh code in Guru Granth Sahib. He has also translated Rattan Singh Bhangu’s Sri Guru Panth Parkash, 19th Century Text written in a mixture of Punjabi, Khadi Boli and Braj (2015). His book Chakravyuh: Web of Indian Secularism is an interpretation of the role of Sikh leadership from 2000-2015. This historical work highlights the will of Darshan Singh Pheruman and other documents of contemporary history bringing out the plight of Sikhs-colonised Punjab. Above all, he prepared the Sikh Marriage Act which was promulgated in Pakistan as Sikh Marriage Ordinance 2008. Similar bill on the same subject drafted for India was introduced in the Indian Lok Sabha on 26.02.2016. In addition, he has authored several research papers on culture, religion, history and current happenings, contributed various articles and forewords for a number of books, contributed articles for leading newspapers, journals and magazines of Punjabi and English. He has been interviewed many times on Radio and Television on various Panthak issues, human rights matters, environmental concerns and political events. He is a votary of self determined political status for the Sikhs or the Sikh Homeland of Sirdar Kapur Singh’s conception and socially advocates a caste-less non-exploitative, egalitarian society. Such an intellectual scholar having a deep concern and dedication for the Sikh religion and its followers is an asset for the society, the Sikh community in particular. This Gursikh role model lives in Chandigarh and his Email Id is akalsahaigurtejsingh@yahoo.com.