Sikh Takht chief passes away

Giani Mal Singh, the Jathedar (chief) of Takht Keshgarh Sahib, passed away in Mohali town near here on Tuesday.

He was admitted to Sri Guru Harkrishan Sahib Sohana Eye and Super Specialty Charitable Hospital in Mohali district. He had undergone surgery for brain tumour last year.

He became the Jathedar of Takht Keshgarh Sahib -- the second most important shrine in Sikh religion after the Golden Temple (Harmandar Sahib) -- in August 2013.

Mal Singh, one of the five Sikh high priests (head of one of the five Takhts or religious seats), was injured when a "granthi" (Sikh priest) had attacked him with a sharp-edged weapon on October 6, 2015.

Takht Keshgarh Sahib is the shrine in Anandpur Sahib, 85 km from here, where Khalsa Panth -- the present-day Sikh religion -- was founded by Guru Gobind Singh on April 13, 1699.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has expressed grief over the sad demise of the Jathedar.

The Chief Minister described Mal Singh as "a great Sikh scholar and a theologian, who was well versed with Gumat, Gurbani and Sikh tenets".

--IANS

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