Latest news with #GuruNanakJahaz
Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra's son attends Guru Nanak Jahaz Remembrance Day event in Canada city
Bathinda: Slain human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra's son Janmeet Singh participated in the proclamation by Surrey city council in British Columbia, Canada, declaring July 23 as Guru Nanak Jahaz Remembrance Day. Janmeet Singh's great-grandfather (Jaswant Singh Khalra's grandfather), Harnam Singh, was one of the 376 passengers aboard the Japanese steamship Komagata Maru (Guru Nanak Jahaz) when it reached Vancouver on May 23, 1914. He was arrested when the vessel reached India on Sept 27, 1914. The declaration at Surrey City Hall was attended by a host of dignitaries, including members of Parliament Sukh Dhaliwal and Gurbax Singh Saini, along with British Columbia legislative assembly members Amina Shah, Garry Begg, Mandeep Singh Dhaliwal, Harman Bhangu, and Jody Toor. Surrey councillor Harry Bains formally presented a copy of the proclamation to Janmeet Singh. Notable attendees also included researcher and Ragi Bhai Baldeep Singh, and former Pakistani MP Rai Aziz Ullah Khan, whose family are custodians of the 17th-century Ganga Sagar, a copper urn belonging to tenth Sikh master Guru Gobind Singh. Gurvinder Singh Dhaliwal from the Guru Nanak Jahaz Heritage Society, the driving force behind the proclamation, spoke about the historical significance of the steamship. Wearing a "Guru Nanak Jahaz" imprinted tee, Dhaliwal recounted how the passengers were denied entry and kept near Vancouver for two months before their forced return. It was further emphasised the importance of rectifying past wrongs and re-naming the vessel Guru Nanak Jahaz, as it was renamed by the passengers, led by Baba Gurdit Singh, after religious ceremonies.
Time of India
7 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Declare July 23 as ‘Guru Nanak Jahaz Remembrance Day': Akal Takht jathedar
1 2 3 Bathinda/Amritsar: Officiating jathedar of Akal Takht Sahib, Giani Kuldip Singh Gargaj, has called upon Sikh institutions and the central and Punjab govt to officially declare July 23 as 'Guru Nanak Jahaz Remembrance Day'. This date coincides with the forced return of passengers on the Guru Nanak Jahaz (Komagata Maru) from Vancouver in Canada on July 23, 1914. The Canadian city of Surrey has proclaimed July 23 as Guru Nanak Jahaz Remembrance Day. Earlier, the city of Vancouver declared Guru Nanak Jahaz Remembrance Day on May 23, when 376 passengers aboard the vessel arrived in Vancouver. Jathedar Gargaj said that on this day in 1914, under the leadership of Ghadar revolutionary Baba Gurdit Singh, a large group of Punjabis — mostly Sikhs — seeking a better future arrived in Canada. However, they were forcibly turned away, which was a grave violation of human rights. He stated that this episode is now officially recognised in Canadian cities such as Surrey and Vancouver as Guru Nanak Jahaz Remembrance Day, which he hailed as a significant step towards acknowledging historical truth. This day commemorates a major struggle against racism and in defence of human rights, led by Baba Gurdit Singh, who in 1914 founded the Guru Nanak Steamship Company. He chartered a Japanese vessel from Komagata Maru Company, renamed it Guru Nanak Jahaz, and challenged Canada's then-racist immigration laws. Jathedar Gargaj emphasised that historical sources clearly show that the journey from Hong Kong to Canada was deeply spiritual, marked by the presence of Guru Granth Sahib, Akand Panth Sahib, and the Nishan Sahib (Sikh flag) on board, embodying the values of Sri Guru Nanak Dev. He expressed regret that in India, history books still refer to the ship as Komagata Maru, despite Baba Gurdit Singh naming it Guru Nanak Jahaz, a fact verified in his autobiographical book, Guru Nanak Jahaz. He appealed to universities, academic institutions, and gurdwara management bodies across India to do justice to this history by adopting the correct name — Guru Nanak Jahaz — in textbooks and curricula. Teaching this name instead of Komagata Maru would be both historically accurate and morally just, he said. Such efforts, he added, would present true history and serve as a source of spiritual inspiration for future generations. Jathedar Gargaj said this event played a crucial role in the early 20th-century freedom movement and helped awaken the spirit of independence in the country. Baba Gurdit Singh, he added, must always be remembered among the great heroes of India's freedom struggle. He expressed gratitude to the city councils of Vancouver and Surrey for recognising July 23 not as Komagata Maru Day, but as Guru Nanak Jahaz Remembrance Day.
Indian Express
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Calls grow for national recognition of Komagata Maru ship as ‘Guru Nanak Jahaz'
Akal Takht Acting Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj and Rajya Sabha member Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal have demanded the Centre and the Punjab Government declare July 23 Guru Nanak Jahaz Remembrance Day to honour the participants of the 1914 voyage led by Baba Gurdit Singh, also known as Komagata Maru. In a message issued from Amritsar on the 111th anniversary of the forced return of the ship from Canada, Gargajj said, 'I call upon all Sikh institutions, the Government of India, and the Punjab Government to declare July 23 as 'Guru Nanak Jahaz Remembrance Day'.' Gargajj said this would recognise Baba Gurdit Singh's 'major struggle against racism and in defense of human rights'. Gargajj emphasised that Baba Gurdit Singh had named the ship Guru Nanak Jahaz, not Komagata Maru, a fact documented in the leader's autobiographical book. 'It is regrettable that history books in India continue to use the colonial name, ignoring the fact that Baba Gurdit Singh renamed the ship Guru Nanak Jahaz,' he said. 'This journey was deeply spiritual, with Sri Guru Granth Sahib and the Nishan Sahib on board.' Gargajj further noted that the Canadian cities of Surrey and Vancouver had already designated July 23 as Guru Nanak Jahaz Remembrance Day. 'India must do the same,' he added. Separately, in New Delhi, MP Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal submitted a request to the deputy chairman of the Rajya Sabha seeking national recognition for the date. He wrote, 'We request that July 23rd be observed annually at the national level to remember the sacrifices of the martyrs aboard the Guru Nanak Jahaz.' Seechewal noted that the ship had sailed from Hong Kong to Canada carrying 376 passengers, mostly Sikhs, and that the Canadian authorities denied them entry, forcing the ship to return on July 23, 1914. Upon its return to India, British forces opened fire on the passengers at Budge Budge Ghat in Kolkata, killing 19 and sentencing others to penal colonies. Seechewal cited works by Baba Gurdit Singh and historian Dr Gurdev Singh Sidhu, both of which identify the ship as Guru Nanak Jahaz. 'The name holds cultural and religious importance,' he wrote, urging Parliament to pass a motion to honour the legacy of the ship and its passengers. Both leaders called for the ship's history to be taught accurately in Indian schools and universities, and for the name Guru Nanak Jahaz to replace Komagata Maru in textbooks and public discourse. Raj Singh Bhandal, who leads the Guru Nanak Jahaz Heritage Society, has been at the forefront of the campaign in Canada and is extending the efforts to India. 'Names are very important in history,' Bhandal said. 'The ship's name was changed many times, and it was named Guru Nanak Jahaz after Baba Gurdit Singh bought it.' According to Bhandal, the journey was not just about immigration but was inspired by the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev. 'The inspiration behind the fight that Baba Gurdit Singh and others led against the British was Guru Nanak Dev Ji. We hope that the Indian government will make this correction that would help the coming generations understand history better,' he said.
News18
23-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
Akal Takht seeks Jul 23 to be declared Guru Nanak Jahaz Remembrance Day
Amritsar, Jul 23 (PTI) Akal Takht's officiating Jathedar, Giani Kuldip Singh Gargaj, on Wednesday called upon the Centre and the Punjab government to declare July 23 Guru Nanak Jahaz Remembrance Day. He said that on this day in 1914, under the leadership of Ghadar revolutionary Baba Gurdit Singh, a large group of Punjabis, mostly Sikhs, seeking a better future, arrived in Canada by ship. But in a grave violation of human rights, they were turned away, he said. On the 111th anniversary of the forced return of the ship from Canada in 1914, Gargaj said the episode has now been officially recognised in Canadian cities, such as Surrey and Vancouver, as Guru Nanak Jahaz Remembrance Day. He hailed the recognition as a significant step toward acknowledging historical truth and a proud moment for the Sikh community. The day commemorates a major struggle against racism, led by Baba Gurdit Singh, who in 1914 founded the Guru Nanak Steamship Company. He chartered a Japanese vessel from the Komagata Maru Company, renamed it Guru Nanak Jahaz, and challenged Canada's then racist immigration laws, he said. Gargaj said the journey from Hong Kong to Canada was 'deeply spiritual," marked by the presence of Guru Granth Sahib, Akand Panth Sahib, and the Nishan Sahib (Sikh flag) on board. Of the 377 passengers, 341 were Sikhs. He expressed regret that in India, history books still refer to the ship as Komagata Maru, despite Baba Gurdit Singh naming it Guru Nanak Jahaz, as he mentioned so in his autobiographical book 'Guru Nanak Jahaz' also. He appealed to universities, academic institutions, and gurdwara management bodies across India to correct the name of the ship to Guru Nanak Jahaz. PTI JMS CHS VN VN view comments First Published: July 23, 2025, 18:00 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
23-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Canada city to honour Komagata Maru Indians with ‘Guru Nanak Jahaz Remembrance Day'
BATHINDA: The Surrey city council in British Columbia, Canada, has declared July 23 as 'Guru Nanak Jahaz Remembrance Day' to honour the 352 Indian passengers aboard the Japanese steamship Komagata Maru, who were turned away from Vancouver port on the same day in 1914. The council's proclamation notes that the day had been named after Guru Nanak Jahaz, as the vessel had been rechristened so before the journey by Baba Gurdit Singh, giving the sojourn political, cultural, and spiritual significance. While the authorities at the time had said the Indians were asked to return as they suspected they were revolutionaries, many had called the decision to be the fallout of strained race relations in the Canadian city. The remembrance day is being observed to mark the 111th anniversary of the the ship being made to return. Earlier, the city council of Vancouver had proclaimed May 23 as Guru Nanak Jahaz (Komagata Maru) Day of Remembrance, as it was on May 23, 1914, that the ship had reached reached Burrard Inlet near Vancouver with 376 Indians, including 340 Sikhs, 24 Muslims, and 12 Hindus. Of them, only 24 could prove prior residency and were allowed entry into Canada. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Learn More - How Watching Videos Can Boost Your Income TheDaddest Undo "Mayor of the city of Surrey, Brenda Locke, will declare the proclamation on July 23, while Vancouver mayor Ken Sim made the proclamation on May 23. The commemoration will include reflections and a shared act of remembrance honouring the passengers' moral courage and the enduring contributions of those who carried this memory forward to the heart of Canadian public life," said Abbotsford resident Gurvinder Singh Dhaliwal, who, along with Raj Singh Bhandal, runs the Guru Nanak Jahaz Heritage Society and is the force behind the proclamations. The proclamation also mentions the Guru Nanak Jahaz as a name of "deep spiritual and cultural meaning", overshadowed by the commonly used name Komagata Maru, which carried 376 persons who were denied disembarkation under exclusionary immigration laws and ultimately forced to depart from Vancouver's Burrard Inlet on July 23, 1914. "Today, descendants and communities across Canada remember this journey as a courageous stand against colonialism at home, only to be met with discrimination and injustice upon arrival," said the proclamation. Surrey is today home to one of the largest Sikh and Punjabi populations in Canada. "The city recognises the Guru Nanak Jahaz passengers' pursuit of dignity, equal opportunity, and justice, which faced discrimination under the Continuous Journey law. Their legacy stands as a continuous inspiration to fight against injustice," said the proclamation.
