History of World Sikh Council
- America Region

The World Sikh Council - America Region (WSC-AR) is a representative and elected body of Sikh Gurdwaras and institutions in the US. Its members include more than 38 Gurdwaras (Sikh places of worship) and other Sikh institutions across the nation. WSC-AR works to promote Sikh interests at the national and international level focusing on issues of advocacy, education, and well-being of humankind. The World Sikh Council - America Region (WSC-AR) is a religious tax-exempt organization. Briefly, the history of formation of the Council is as follows.

The need for an umbrella organization which would unite Sikhs around the world in prayer and service to humanity had long been felt. Finally, a decision was taken at the Vishav Sikh Sammelan of September 1995 in Amritsar to set up a World Sikh Council under the auspices of Siri Akal Takhat Sahib.

Such a Council was established by Singh Sahib Manjit Singh Ji, Acting Jathedar Siri Akal Takhat Sahib. The constitution of this Council did not specify in detail as to how the various Sikh institutions around the world could participate. Initially, it consisted of a group of persons nominated by the organizing committee selected by Singh Sahib.

Many Sikhs felt that the World Sikh Council ought to be representative of all Sikh organizations which accept the Sikh Rehit Maryada and accept the supremacy of Siri Akal Takhat Sahib. This could best be accomplished if each country/region had its own representative Council which could cater to the national/regional needs and interests of the Sikhs belonging to that country/region while working with the World body. In this spirit, a meeting of representatives of several US Gurdwaras was held at Glenrock Gurdwara Sahib in April 1996. That meeting set up a committee to work on drawing up a constitution and to contact Jathedar Sahib to get his approval to the steps being taken. At that time 23 organizations had indicated their willingness to join as members.

Another meeting was held in Maryland on September 28, 1996 to discuss the draft constitution and to plan future efforts. Singh Sahib Manjit Singh Ji had planned to attend and guide this meeting. However, due to some difficulties with renewal of his passport he could not come. This meeting decided that a national unit of the World Sikh Council be set up in the United States. Its members would include all Gurdwaras and other Sikh organizations, which met certain qualifications including acceptance of the Sikh Rehit Maryada and the supremacy of Siri Akal Takhat Sahib. Setting up of various committees to attend to specific tasks facing the community was approved and coordinators/organizers for each were selected. The various committees work under the overall guidance of the Council. The purposes of the Council are broad. It addresses all religious and educational needs and interests of the Sikh community and brings together all groups working for those purposes. Member organizations are autonomous but the Council helps them coordinate their work, benefit from each other's expertise, and avoids overlaps. The Council also stays in touch with the World Sikh Council as well as with its other national/regional units.

At the January 1997 meeting of the World Sikh Council, Singh Sahib Ranjit Singh Ji felt that the Constitution of the Council needed changes to make it more representative of the Panth. A Committee was appointed to rewrite the Constitution. The Committee submitted its report to Singh Sahib in August 1997. On December 21, 1997 Singh Sahib appointed Justice Kuldip Singh - a former judge of India's Supreme Court - as the President of World Sikh Council.

WSC-AR held its first annual conference on November 22, 1997 at Gurdwara Sahib of Guru Nanak Foundation of America in Maryland. Currently, more than 36 Gurdwaras and Sikh institutions are members of WSC-AR.

Gurdwaras are the heart and soul of our community. They are natural channels for two-way communication between the community and the Council, and for provision of support for national projects. Their membership of the Council is vital. In addition to the gurdwaras, Sikh organizations including those holding educational seminars and camps, setting up libraries, working on web-pages, publishing Sikh literature including books and journals, etc., should join the Council as members and work in line with the overall mission of the Council.

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