The recent disclosure that 328 Saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji were found missing from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) complex has sent shockwaves through the Sikh community in India and abroad. According to available information, only around 100 of these missing Saroops have so far been traced, leaving the whereabouts of more than two hundred still unknown. Given the central spiritual position of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji in Sikhism, the issue is being viewed not merely as an administrative lapse but as a matter of deep religious, moral, and institutional concern.
A Saroop of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji represents the living Guru for Sikhs, and its care, handling, and movement are governed by strict religious Maryada. The revelation that such a large number of Saroops could go missing from within the SGPC’s own premises has raised uncomfortable questions about record-keeping, internal monitoring, and oversight. Equally troubling is the timeline of the case: the missing Saroops reportedly relate to a period stretching back nearly six years, during which no clear public disclosure or corrective action was taken.
The partial tracking of around 100 Saroops has highlighted the scale of the problem rather than resolving it. While these traced Saroops are said to have been located at different places, the process by which they were moved, stored, or transferred remains unclear. There is limited public information on whether proper authorization was obtained, whether formal registers were maintained, or whether regular audits were conducted during this period. The lack of detailed explanations has fueled anxiety and speculation within the Sikh community.
Another major concern is the apparent absence of timely transparency. Institutions tasked with managing Sikh religious affairs are expected to function with openness and accountability, especially on issues involving Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. The delayed acknowledgment of the missing Saroops has led many to question whether the matter was ignored, underestimated, or intentionally kept out of public view. Such perceptions risk eroding trust in established religious bodies.
The issue has also revived broader debates about institutional reform within the SGPC. Many observers argue that the incident exposes systemic weaknesses, including outdated record systems, insufficient internal checks, and a lack of independent oversight. Calls are growing for digitized inventories of Saroops, periodic third-party audits, and clearly defined responsibility at every level to prevent such incidents in the future.
As investigations and discussions continue, the central concern remains the sanctity and respect owed to Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. For the Sikh community, the unanswered questions surrounding the missing and partially traced Saroops are a source of ongoing pain and anguish. Until full clarity is provided on where the remaining Saroops are, how they went missing, and who is accountable, the issue is unlikely to fade. Instead, it stands as a serious reminder that custodianship of sacred institutions demands constant vigilance, transparency, and unwavering responsibility.