Renowned historian asks Akal Takht to re-implement original Nanakshahi Calendar

Canada-based historian and calendar expert Pal Singh Purewal on Thursday said the Akal Takht should re-implement the original Nanakshahi Calendar.

This calendar was created by Purewal and was adopted for the first time in 2003 by the Akal Takht. This had led to the departure of Sikhs from the earlier Bikrami calendar under which all the Hindu festivals and dates are observed.

The major section of the Sikhs wanted their own calendar, thus the creation of the Nanakshahi Calendar. However, later a number of amendments were introduced by the Shiormani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, but a section of Sikhs had been opposing the same.

Now that controversy has cropped up again on the issue, dividing the community over implementation of the original calendar or bringing the changes.

"The Bikrami Calendar is Hindu calendar which has been in use by the Sikhs. The year of advent of Guru Nanak Sahib is 1526 Bikrami Samvat. This means that the calendar had been there long time before Guru Nanak Sahib. We cannot say that we share Bikrami calendar. Sharing implies that we are part owners, which we are not. By using a borrowed thing the ownership does not pass on to the borrower," said Purewal.

"Sharing implies that we are part owners, which we are not. By using a borrowed thing the ownership does not pass on to the borrower. All western scholars call it as Hindu calendar," he added.

The historian further stated that the Sikhs had a distinct identity before the Nanakshahi Calendar, but that it was incomplete.

"Calendar is a necessary and important part of the identity of any nation. Nanakshahi Calendar removed this deficiency," he said.

He further elaborated that the Bikrami calendar was very defective.