The Global Sikh Council (GSC) is concerned about the confusing reports emerging in the media regarding the transportation of 200 or so old birs of Guru Granth Sahib Ji from Pakistan to Delhi.
The transference of the Birs is part of a broader but much-neglected Panthic concern: the preservation of historical sites and the collection, treatment, preservation, digitization, and archival of Sikh texts and manuscripts. It requires a coherent and unified strategy, not a one-off project calculated to bring short-term political dividends.
The lack of a concerted effort has already witnessed the destruction of the Sikh Reference Library, historical monuments, and artifacts.
As a first step, the GSC recommends forming a team of experts for dating and verifying the manuscripts’ authenticity and recommendations for their handling. Until then, the GSC appeals to the Pakistan Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (PSGPC) to retain control of the documents.
The GSC is committed to preserving Sikh heritage by uniting the community.
Global Sikh Council
Response of SPGC to GSC
