Akal Takht- highest Sikh temporal seat - head Gurbachan Singh today conferred 'Shiromani Sewak Award' (the most outstanding religious servant) to Avtar Singh Makkar, president of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandak Committee (SGPC).
The award was given by Gurbachan Singh from the Akal Takht in the presence of several personalities, including people from political and religious fields.
Speaking on the occasion, Gurbachan Singh said Makkar has done wonderful service for the wellbeing of the Sikh community as a president of SGPC for ten consecutive years and Chancellor of Guru Granth Sahib World University.
He said Makkar played an excellent role in helping people during natural disaster in India and foreign countries like Nepal.
Makkar has been outstanding in disseminating the message of Sikh Religion across the nation, Gurbachan Singh said.
In the light of Makkar's brilliant services for Sikh Religion and Sikh community, he has been conferred such a prestigious award, Gurbachan Singh said.
Makkar was first appointed as President of SGPC on November 23, 2005.
He is the first SGPC president to bag 'Shiromani Sewak Award', which came into existence in 1925.
Most renowned SGPC president, the late Jathedar Gurcharan Singh Tohra, who was at the helm for 27 years, didn't receive this award.
Tohra was conferred Panth Rattan Award posthumously by Akal Takht.
