Amritsar, June 3: Concerned over the controversies over the Sikh history, the SGPC has cleared the appointment of Dr Anurag Singh, a Sikh scholar, as director of the Sikh Itihas Board.
Dr Anurag Singh, who is at present the manager with Punjab and Sind Bank, Ludhiana, would take over the new assignment shortly. He is likely to accompany SGPC members at international seminar on turban, scheduled to be held in France this month.
He is son of late Dr Tarlochan Singh, the doyen of Sikh history, religion and culture. He has done his double masters degree in history and English.
The library of Dr Anurag Singh has rare books on religious studies, copies of Janam Sakhis, Gurbilas literature, Guru Granth Sahib, Dasam Granth, Guru Gobind Singh’s Court poet Tehkan’s translation of a portion of Mahabharata and many more. Some manuscripts were brought from India Office Library and British Museum Library, London.
The SGPC has been embroiled in a number of controversies following publication of books on Sikh History. Sikh clergy of Patna Sahib had even sought clarification from the committee for publishing Hindi edition of “Sikh History†on the occasion of tercentenary celebrations of the birth of Khalsa Panth in 1999. The Hindi edition was withdrawn.
Apart from being associated with Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle as joint director of languages, literature and cultural affairs, Dr Anurag Singh has worked with the Hardarshan Memorial International Trust, Bhai Sahib Randhir Singh Trust, Sikh Cultural Centre, Kolkata, Bhai Sahib Randhir Singh International Museum, Ludhiana, and many other social and cultural institutions.
His first book was a translation of Giani Kirpal Singh’s book “Eyewitness Account of Operation Blue Star (1999)â€. His book “The Turban and The Sword of The Sikhs: Essence of Sikhism (2000)†was originally written by his late father to settle the turban issue in the UK in 1976. Dr Anurag Singh added 415 pages to the book written by his father.