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RESNO, California, USA—Kathakar Sarbjeet Singh Dhunda’s visit to several Northern California Gurdwaras sparked a series of protests and seminars. Dhunda’s programs were disrupted by protesters at two Gurdwaras in Roseville and Fairfield on Wednesday and Thursday. Consequently, Yuba City’s Tierra Buena Gurdwara Sahib cancelled his program on Friday, fearing protests from the local sangat. Dhunda was allowed to speak at Gurdwara Singh Sabha in Fresno where he addressed the sangat twice yesterday, April 10. Dhunda has had a controversial past and has been in the limelight for several reasons due to his questioning of nitnem banis, naam simran, ardas and other Sikh beliefs. Dhunda had to appear at Sri Akal Takht Sahib in February 2012 where he apologized for his blasphemous remarks against kirtan at Sri Harmandir Sahib during a diwan in Canada. He had stated that some of the shabads read inside Sri Harmandir Sahib would be found objectionable even by prostitutes.
Along with protests, two seminars were held to inform the Sikh Sangat of critiques of Dhunda’s views, and also to shed light on Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s bani, which has been the center of the controversy regarding Dhunda for the past several years. The seminars were held in Union City and Fresno on April 9 and 10, and were attended by scholars such as Dr. Harbhajan Singh, Dr. Anurag Singh, Dr. Kamalroop Singh, Dr. Gurinder Singh Mann and Giani Gurpreet Singh.
“It is important to note why we protested against Dhunda. Bhai Panthpreet Singh came to California recently, and so did Bhai Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale. Sangat had some objections with both of them, however, both were very willing to sit down with the sangat and discuss,” said Dr. Gurtej Singh, an organizer speaking at the conference in Fresno. “We told Bhai Panthpreet Singh that you have 1430 angs of Guru Granth Sahib for katha, why do you have to touch topics which cause controversies? However, Sarbjeet Singh Dhunda has refused to sit down with us to discuss the issues.”
Dr. Harbhajan Singh from Punjab University Patiala questioned Sarbjeet Singh Dhunda’s credentials. “To use the title professor, you have to have completed your doctorate with high honors, written several books and have some credentials to teach at a university. Sarbjeet Singh Dhunda has done nothing of this. I fail to understand how he self-bestowed the title of professor to himself?” he said. Dr. Harbhajan Singh spoke about the importance of naam simran and explained several concepts from Bachittar Natak, Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s autobiography which is part of the Sri Dasam Granth.