In 1993, Baba Thakur Singh sent Baba Harnam Singh to America. Baba Harnam Singh has been said to have moved to the city of Manteca, California, where he resided for 11 years. It is believed that he spent these years in the US meditating in the house of Sikhs which belonged to the Taksal, and that he gained dual citizenship of the United States.[1]
Jathedari
During the same time as the Dastarbandi ceremony of Baba Harnam Singh, another prominent figure within the Damdami Taksal, known as Baba Ram Singh Sangrawan, had claimed to have been the successor, and his own faction held a separate ceremony. Baba Takhur Singh is said to have ostracized Ram Singh on video tape and had issued written statements condemning his actions prior to his death. Despite this situation, most of the Sikh community acknowledged Baba Harnam Singh as the rightful successor. In 2017, he was officially declared as the successor to Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and the 16th Jathedar of Damdami Taksal by the SGPC.[2]
Controversy
In 2016, another prominent Sikh preacher, Ranjit Singh Dhadrian Wala, who had been seen as an opponent to Baba Harnam Singh, was attacked alongside his Jatha in his vehicle while travelling near Barewal village. Ranjit Singh had survived despite having several injuries, while a member of his Jatha, Bhupinder Singh, had been killed. It is claimed that his Jatha was attacked while they had stopped at a 'Chabeel' stand, when unidentified individuals began the attack while raising slogans of "Khalistan Zindabad".[3]
Baba Harnam Singh and Ranjit Singh Dhadrian Wala had been at the heart of a philosophical conflict for a long period of time, as they had profound disagreements on various matters regarding Sikh faith, such as controversy on the Dasam Granth. After this attack had been carried out, most people of Punjab, India had suspected Damdami Taksal under the leadership of Baba Harnam Singh to have had a hand in the event. Within a few days, Baba Harnam Singh had openly spoken about this attack and stated that some students of the Taksal had taken part of what had occurred, but that he was unaware and had condemned the atrocity.[4]
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