Significant Events in the Establishment of the Sikh Dharma in the Western Hemisphere

These “Significant Events in the Establishment of the Sikh Dharma in the Western Hemisphere by Siri Singh Sahib Bhai Sahib Harbhajan Singh Khalsa Yogi Ji” are from 1969 to 1979 and were published in 1979 in the book, The Man Called the Siri Singh Sahib.

Jan 05,1969 – Yogi Bhajan gives his first public lecture in the United States of America. 
 
Apr 15,1970 – The first Americans take formal vows as Sikhs. 
 
Dec,1970 – Yogi Bhajan guides a tour to India comprised of eighty-four of his students.  They visit the Golden Temple in Amritsar and many receive the blessed Amrit from the Panj Piare at the Akal Takhat. 
 
Mar 03,1971 – Yogi Bhajan is honored at the Akal Takhat for his missionary work in the West and presented with a Siri Sahib (sword of honor) by the employed Jathedar of the S.G.P.C. for the Akal Takhat.  He is addressed as the Siri Singh Sahib by Sant Chanan Singh, President of the S.G.P.C. and he is requested to organize the Sikh Dharma of the Western countries. 
 
Mar 08, 1971 – The S.G.P.C. issues a letter to Yogi Bhajan authorizing him to establish an ordained ministry in the West, to perform marriages, final rites and to administer Amrit according to the Sikh traditions. 
 
1971 – Under the direction of the Siri Singh Sahib the first American-English translation of the major Sikh prayers is completed and published under the title of Peace Lagoon and authored by Mukhia Sardarni Sahiba Sardarni Premka Kaur Khalsa. 
 
Aug 1971 – The Siri Singh Sahib distributes the Manmohan Singh translation of the Siri Guru Granth Sahib to the heads of all ashrams within the Western Hemisphere. 
 
Dec 23, 1971 – The Siri Singh Sahib purchases the House of Guru Ram Das at 1620 Preuss Road in Los Angeles. 
 
Jan 1972 – The Siri Singh Sahib ordains the first Western-born Sikhs as Ministers of the Sikh Dharma Brotherhood. 
 
Jun 23, 1972 – The Siri Singh Sahib presides over the raising of the first Sikh Dharma flag, which occurred at the Summer Solstice Sadhana gathering, Mendocino, California. 

Jun 27, 1972 – The Siri Singh Sahib ordains the first women ever established as ministers of the Sikh Dharma. 
 
Jul, 1972 – The Siri Singh sahib meets with Pope Paul VI to extend greetings on behalf of the Sikhs in the Western World, and to discuss the possibility of forming a world conference. 
 
Sep,1972 – The Siri Singh Sahib tours the Far East, to address the Sikh sangats settled in Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore. 
 
Nov 26, 1972 – The first formal Gurdwara service is held at the House of Guru Ram Das in Los Angeles, California. 
 
Apr 10, 1973 – The Articles of Incorporation of the Sikh Sharma Brotherhood are endorsed by the Secretary of the State of California, establishing it as an official religious organization. 
 
May 17, 1973 – The Federal Government of the United States of America recognizes the Sikh Dharma Brotherhood. 
 
Jun 1973 – The Siri Singh Sahib ordains Singh Sahib Dayal Singh as Head Granthee for the Western Hemisphere and bestows upon him the title of Bhai Sahib. 
 
Jul 14, 1973 – The Siri Singh Sahib meets with the Archbishop of Canterbury to protest English laws which discriminate against Sikhs, particularly the law requiring motorcycle helmets. 
 
Aug 1973 – The Siri Singh Sahib is visited by Sant Gurmukh Singh of Patiala, India and the Siri Singh Sahib takes him on a tour through the American Southwest to meet and address the Sikh sangats. 
 
1974 – The first Khalsa primary school is established in Phoenix, Arizona, under the inspiration and guidance of the Siri Singh Sahib. 

Jan 7, 1974 – Through the efforts of the Siri Singh Sahib, the U.S. Army dress code is amended to allow Sikhs to wear beards and turbans and to maintain the five K’s. 
 
Feb 3, 1974 – The Siri Singh Sahib joins with Sant Kirpal Singh, the spiritual leader of the Ruhani Sat Sang in New Delhi, India for the World Conference on the Unity of Man. 
 
Apr 13, 1974 – Sant Mihan Singh and his followers distribute the Amrit to Western-born Sikhs at Guru Ram Das Ashram.  Bhai Sahib Dayal Singh serves as one of the Panj Piare, and thus becomes the first Western-born Sikh to administer Amrit. 
 
Jun 24, 1974 – The President of the S.G.P.C. Sardar Gurucharn Singh Tohra, the Secretary of the S.G.PC., Khalsaji Mahinder Singh Giani, the President of the Siri Guru Singh Sahiba Shatabdhi Committee, Sadar Hukam Singh, and the Secretary of the Akali, Dal, Sardar Surjit Singh Barnalla, arrive at the Summer Solstice in Pecos, New Mexico, as a part of their tour of the Western countries to celebrate the Sikh Renaissance.  The Siri Singh Sahib joins them on their tour to Canada and Europe. 

 
Oct 23, 1974 – The Siri Singh Sahib promulgates the Principles of the Dharma and the Model of Standard Behavior and the Code of Conduct for Sikh Ministers. 
 
Oct 24, 1974 – The Siri Singh Sahib establishes the Khalsa Council as the Chief Administrative Body of the Sikh Dharma in the Western Hemisphere. 
 
Nov 13, 1974 – The Siri Singh Sahib is honored at the Akal Takhat with the title of Bhai Sahib, in recognition of his work and achievements in further spreading the Sikh Dharma and establishing the order of the Khalsa in the West. 
 
Nov 24,1974 – The Siri Singh Sahib is elected Chairman of the Parliament of World Religions in India. 
 
Apr 01,1975 – The Articles of Incorporation of the Siri Singh Sahib of the Sikh Dharma Brotherhood (corporation) are endorsed by the Secretary of State of California, establishing the function of the Chief Religious and Administrative Authority for the Sikh Dharma in the Western Hemisphere, to hold, maintain, and administer the properties of the Sikh Dharma. 
 
1975 – The Siri Singh Sahib establishes the Sikh Code and Conduct Center in San Diego as the first Sikh Dharma Training Center in the West. 
 
Apr 13, 1975 – For the first time in history, a Punj Piare comprised entirely of Western-born Sikhs administers the Amrit at Guru Ram Das Ashram, Los Angeles. 
 
May 1975 – The Siri Singh Sahib formulates the concept of the Secretariat as the administrative staff of the international Sikh Dharma organization.  He establishes the office of the Secretary General to guide and direct the processes of the Secretariat for Sikh Dharma and of the Khalsa Council. 
 
Jun 1975 – The Siri Singh Sahib declares Espanola to be the official home of the Khalsa Council in the West. 
 
Jan 29, 1976 – The Siri Singh Sahib promulgates the Articles of Organization for the Sikh Dharma Brotherhood. 
 
Mar 22, 1976 – The Federal Government of the United States recognizes the Siri Singh Sahib of the Sikh Dharma Brotherhood (corporation) as a Corporation Sole, with non-profit status. 
 
Apr 24, 1976 – The Siri Singh Sahib presents the first flag of the Khalsa Council during Baisakhi session of its meetings in Los Angeles. 
 
Jun 1976 – The Siri Singh Sahib establishes the first Khalsa Women’s Training Camp, in Espanola, New Mexico. 
 
Aug 11, 1976 – The S.G.P.C., Amritsar, India, unanimously endorses the Constitution of the Sikh Dharma Brotherhood, including the Articles of Organization, in its Resolution No. 697. 
 
Feb 1977 – The Siri Singh Sahib speaks out via the Canadian press against anti-Sikh discrimination in Canada. 
 
May 13, 1977 – The Siri Singh Sahib of Sikh Dharma Brotherhood (corporation) purchases Guru Ram Das Puri, 160 acres of land, for the development of a Sikh Dharma community facility in New Mexico. 
 
Jul 1977 – The Missal and Jathedar system of organization is first introduced and employed. 
 
Aug 28, 1977 – The Siri Singh Sahib dedicates the Secretariat Building of the Sikh Dharma as the International Headquarters for the Western Hemisphere. 
 
Oct 22, 1977 – The Siri Singh Sahib departs on a tour of the world to inspire the sadh sangats residing outside of India.  His tour includes Iran, Afghanistan, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Japan. 
In each country, the Siri Singh Sahib is honored for his service to the Sikh communities living in foreign countries. 
 
Oct 27, 1977 – The Siri Singh sahib is received by world Sikh leaders at the Amritsar airport as he arrives to visit the Harimandir Sahib on the occasion of the celebration of the 400th anniversary of Amritsar. 
 
Oct 28, 1977 – The Siri Singh Sahib, with Panj Piare, visits Nanakana Sahib Gurdwara the in Lahore, Pakistan, offering prayers for the return of this historical Gurdwara into the hands of Gursikhs and for Sikhs from India to visit this birthplace of Guru Nanak.  
 
Jan 29, 1978 – World Sikh leaders attend the Amritsar 400th Anniversary Celebration in London at the Royal Albert Hall and the Siri Singh Sahib is presented with a saropa for his outstanding missionary achievements in the West. 
 
Apr 1978 – The Sikh Dharma of the Western Hemisphere is organized into Regions and Domains, and so Proclaimed by the Siri Singh Sahib. 
 
Sep 1978 – The concept of dasvandh, a system first established during the time of the Gurus for donating one-tenth of one’s income to the furtherance of the Dharma, is instituted. 
 
Mar 1979 – The Canadian Army rules that Sikhs may serve in the Armed Forces wearing full turban and beard and maintaining the five K’s. 
 
Apr 1979 – The Panth Khalsa is established as the organizational body of the ordained Ministry of the Sikh Dharma.