All India Sikh Students Federation

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All India Sikh Students Federation
Founded13 September 1944
IdeologySikhism
PositionSikh-centric

The All India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF) is a Sikh student organisation and political organisation in India.[1] AISSF was formed in 1943.[2] as the youth wing of the Akali Dal, which is a Sikh political party in the Indian Punjab.

Origin[edit]

Before the federation came into being, Sikh youths were organized into local Bhujangi Sabhas in schools and colleges across the Punjab region that promoted Sikh values, heritage and social service. The actual origin of the Sikh Student Federation can be traced back to "Khalsa clubs" established in 1888.[3] The club came to be known as the Sikh Naujawan' Association, whose first president was Harnam Singh. Although small in size and activity, the association published the Khalsa Naujawan' Magazine and sponsored work on religious and social projects. Sikh youths were an integral part of organizations such as the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee, Shiromani Akali Dal and the All India Students Federation.

After partition[edit]

On 13 September 2022 All-India Sikh Students’ Federation celebrated its 78th Foundation Day. Abiding by SAD chief Sukhbir Badal's five-member unity committee having Virsa Singh Valtoha, Rajinder Singh Mehta, Karnail Singh Peer Mohammad, Amarjit Singh Chawla and Gurcharan Singh Grewal as their members, the AISSF dissolved its organisational structure. The Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh had given a call to the splinter factions to join hands for the propagation of Sikhism, both politically and religiously.[4][5][6]

The 79th anniversary of the founding of the All India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF) was marked with an event held at Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha located at Guru Nanak Mission Chowk. During the event, three resolutions were adopted. The first resolution called upon the government to restrict the recruitment of individuals from outside the Punjab region for government positions within the state. Additionally, there was a demand for the transfer of management of the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) to Punjab. The members also addressed concerns related to the release of Sikh prisoners and measures to combat drug addiction.[7]

Sikh Students Federation factions[edit]

The Sikh Students Federation formed in 1944 is now divided into various factions.

  • Sikh Students Federation led by Parmjeet Singh Gazi.[8] It was reorganized in 2001 and Sewak Singh, a Student from Punjabi University was elected as president. After Sewak Singh, Mandhir Singh headed the organization until 2007 January. Later Parmjeet Singh alias Gazi, a student of higher studies in law at Punjabi University Patiala, became the president of the organization.[9][10]
  • All India Sikh Students Federation formerly led by Karnail Singh Peer Mohammad.[11]
  • United Sikh Students Federation currently led by Jugraj Singh Majhail, was formed in 2019 in an effort to unite various student groups and eliminate the politics associated with current student federations. Uniquely, this faction requires its members to be students, following the original requirements of the Federation. Branches currently exist within India and the US.[12]
  • Sikh Students Federation (Grewal-Mann) faction led by Samarjeet Singh Mann and Gurcharan Singh Grewal as its president.[13]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "RSS interfering into Sikh affairs: All India Sikh Students Federation". Archived from the original on 2015-04-22. Retrieved 2015-09-12.
  2. ^ The Minority Rights Group, "The Sikhs", (London, 1984), p. 14.
  3. ^ Singh, Sarup (1995). Harbans Singh (ed.). The Encyclopedia of Sikhism (2nd ed.). Patiala: Punjabi University, Patiala.
  4. ^ Service, Tribune News. "Amritsar: All-India Sikh Students' Federation calls for unity". Tribuneindia News Service. Retrieved 2022-09-14.
  5. ^ Service, Tribune News. "AISSF should unite to revive Akali Dal, says Akal Takht Jathedar". Tribuneindia News Service. Retrieved 2022-09-14.
  6. ^ "Not a pressure group to further SAD's political goals: All India Sikh Students Federation faction". Hindustan Times. 2022-09-12. Retrieved 2022-09-14.
  7. ^ "AISSF observes foundation day". The Tribune. 2023-09-14. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
  8. ^ "Paramjit Singh Gazi, Harsimran Singh, youth leader Bhai Prabhjot Singh and Bhai Paramjit Singh Tanda were also present". Archived from the original on 2015-08-12. Retrieved 2015-09-13.
  9. ^ "The Sikh Students Federation". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-09-13.
  10. ^ "About Us, SikhStudentsFederation.Net". Archived from the original on 2013-07-10. Retrieved 2013-07-06.
  11. ^ "AISSF head Bhai Karnail Singh exuded confidence that Kejriwal will give justice to families of 1984 riot victims".
  12. ^ "United Sikh Students Federation Instagram Page".
  13. ^ "Sikh Students Federation stages protest against Dera chief". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-09-13.

External links[edit]

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