Joginder Singh Vedanti

Joginder Singh Vedanti (; 23 April 1940 - 15 May 2021) was a Sikh scholar who served as the jathedar of the Akal Takht from 2000 to 2008.
Early life and family
Joginder Singh was born and raised in Talwandi Khurd, Punjab, to Nahar Singh and Nihal Kaur in 23 April 1940. He had three brothers and two sisters. For a few months, Vedanti learnt gurmat from Jathedar Gurdial Singh in Talwandi Kurd before going to Giani Gurbachan Singh Bhindranwale at Gurdwara Bhora Sahib in Boparai Kalan. He went to Bhinder Kalan in Moga and learnt from Bhindranwale as a student of Damdami Taksal for about five years.
Vedanti married Harbhajan Kaur in 1967. They had two children, Amandeep Kaur and a son who died two month after birth.
Jathedar of the Akal Takht (2000-2008)
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) appointed Vedanti as the Jathedar of the Akal Takht on 28 March 2000.
Dasam Granth
The Institute of Sikh Studies in Chandigarh adopted a resolution in April 2000 stating "except for the well-known bani of the Guru included in it, sakat, vaishnav and brahmanical scholars have composed the bulk of the Dasam Granth." In May 2000, Vedanti issued a hukamnama directing Sikh scholars not to publicly comment on the text.
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
In 2004, Vedanti issued a hukamnama declaring the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as an anti-Sikh organisation and instructing Sikhs to refrain from associating with it. The hukamnama also advised Sikhs not to be associate with its affiliate Rashtriya Sikh Sangat. The hukamnama had a significant impact on the RSS, which repeatedly pressured the Bharatiya Janata Party to end its alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal unless the hukamnama was revoked.
Bill C-38
In 2005, Vedanti called on six visiting Canadian Sikh MPs to vote against Bill C-38, which aimed to legalising same-sex marriage across Canada. He expressed disappointment that Ontario Liberal MP Navdeep Bains spoke out against him, while the other MPs listened respectfully. He deemed the Bill as against the Sikh code and "the laws of nature."
Dera Sacha Sauda
Vedanti strongly opposed the "dera" culture, particularly Dera Sacha Sauda in Sirsa. He believed that the main issue with these organisations was that individuals were given divine status and held in higher regard than the Guru Granth Sahib. Vedanti and other critics argue that these deras can mislead people and create divisions within the Sikh community. Prior to the 2007 elections, Vedanti issued a hukamnama against the politically influential Dera Sacha Sauda. He also issued an ultimatum to the Government of Punjab to arrest Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.
Resignation as jathedar
On 5 August 2008, Vedanti resigned citing personal reasons. His resignation letter, which Vedanti claimed he had been pressured to write was accepted by the SGPC on 6 August 2008 in Kurukshetra.
Death
Due to a heart attack, Vedanti passed away on 15 May 2021 in Amritsar. Condolences were offered from across the political spectrum, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi who described Vedanti as "scholarly and humble".

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