Jan-March 2006 - Institute of Sikh Studies

92ABSTRACTS OF SIKH STUDIES : JAN-MARCH 2006 / 537-38 NSWORLD SIKH CONCLAVE(12 TH & 13 TH NOVEMBER, 2005)– A REPORT –KARTAR SINGH *INTRODUCTIONThe proposal to form a Global Sikh Organisation in the wake ofthe collapse of the now defunct World Sikh Council (WSC) was mootedvery forcefully by the Institute of Sikh Studies (IOSS), Chandigarh, inNovember 2003. On the culmination of a well-attended Seminar,held at Gurdwara Kanthala Sahib, Chandigarh, a resolution was passed“accepting the necessity for a central Body of the Sikhs with Globalrepresentation, whose deliberations will guide and assist the entireSikh community.” Sardar Gurcharan Singh Tohra, the then SGPCPresident, addressed the Seminar, blessed the idea and assured thatthe SGPC would welcome the move, provided it did not hurt theexisting Panthic Institutions.On 21 st Feb, 2004, the IOSS formed an ‘Action Committee’consisting of representatives from a wide spectrum of Sikh Institutions/Gurdwara Committees/Study Groups to give effect to the Resolutionpassed in Nov 2003. This Group further nominated a Core Groupfrom the IOSS to frame a draft Constitution to be presented in thenext meeting of the Action Committee. This Core Group consistingof Dr Kharak Singh, Dr Gurcharan Singh Kalkat and Lt Gen (retd)Kartar Singh Gill PVSM with the help of various scholars andprofessionals, framed a draft Constitution for this global body to benamed as ‘The International Sikh Confederation’. This Constitutionis a unique document which embraces the basic tenets of Sikhism as* Lt Gen (retd) PVSM, # 1801, Sector 34-D, Chandigarh