New Delhi, January 13, 2026
Cabinet Minister and senior Sikh leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Tuesday described the Gurmukhi script as a living medium that connects individuals directly with the Guru, asserting that distancing oneself from Gurmukhi amounts to distancing oneself from the Guru’s teachings. He was speaking at the foundation stone laying ceremony of a Gurmukhi Script Centre at Guru Tegh Bahadur Khalsa College in the national capital.
Addressing students, teachers and members of the Sikh community, Sirsa said the establishment of the Gurmukhi Script Centre was not merely an institutional or academic initiative, but a far-sighted step rooted in Sikh tradition, spiritual consciousness and responsibility towards future generations. He said the centre would serve as a hub of thought, learning and spiritual awareness for years to come.
Sirsa emphasised that Gurmukhi is far more than a script used for writing or reading. According to him, it is the most powerful medium for connecting with Guru Granth Sahib, as it carries the Guru’s bani, philosophy and spiritual vision in its purest form. “Gurmukhi is not just a language or a script. It is a living bridge between the individual and the Guru. To separate oneself from Gurmukhi is to move away from the Guru’s path,” he said.
He noted that the foundation stone laying ceremony symbolised a long-term vision rather than a one-day event. Sirsa said such initiatives reflect the Guru’s grace and blessings, and have the potential to shape the intellectual and spiritual direction of society. He added that ideas which rise above individual interests often transform societies, and the Gurmukhi Script Centre represents such a transformative idea.
Highlighting the role of the centre in the years ahead, Sirsa said it would gradually emerge as a national and international centre for the promotion, teaching and research of the Gurmukhi script. He expressed confidence that scholars, students and researchers from across India and abroad would be drawn to the institution to study Sikh philosophy, literature and history through the original script of the Gurus.
Speaking on the challenges of the modern digital age, the minister said today’s fast-paced lifestyle, dominated by entertainment and social media, has significantly reduced patience, attention span and memory among people, especially the youth. In such an environment, he said, scripts like Gurmukhi and the teachings of the Guru play a crucial role in reconnecting individuals with values such as patience, compassion, service and humanity.
Sirsa remarked that engaging with Gurmukhi requires focus, reflection and discipline, qualities that are increasingly rare in contemporary life. He said that learning and understanding the Guru’s bani through Gurmukhi can help restore spiritual balance and ethical clarity in society.
Referring to future plans under the Gurmukhi Script Centre, Sirsa said special learning and upgradation programmes would be organised for teachers and professors. Through these programmes, educators from India and overseas would gain deeper exposure to the teachings, sacrifices and philosophy of Guru Tegh Bahadur and Guru Angad Dev. He said such exposure would not only enrich academic understanding but also influence the broader worldview and consciousness of scholars.
The minister also referred to the ongoing commemorations marking 350 years of the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur. He said such historic milestones should not be limited to ceremonial observances, but must be used as opportunities to carry forward the Guru’s message of courage, freedom of belief and moral integrity to future generations.
Sirsa praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for ensuring greater representation of Sikh history, Sikh Gurus and the sacrifices of Sahibzadas in the country’s education system after 2014. He said the inclusion of these narratives in mainstream education has strengthened national pride and helped younger generations understand the contributions of the Sikh community to the nation.
In his concluding remarks, Sirsa highlighted that one of India’s four national commemorative days, December 26, is observed as Veer Bal Diwas and is dedicated to the Sikh community. He described this recognition as a matter of pride not only for Sikhs but for the entire country. He expressed confidence that the Gurmukhi Script Centre at Guru Tegh Bahadur Khalsa College would prove to be a milestone in preserving Sikh heritage, strengthening education and nurturing spiritual consciousness.
The ceremony was attended by Trilochan Singh, Harmeet Singh Kalka, the principal of Guru Tegh Bahadur Khalsa College, senior faculty members, non-teaching staff, students and several prominent members of the Sikh community.
