Sri Amritsar- Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj, Officiating Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, today issued a special message on the 111th anniversary of the historic forced return of the Guru Nanak Jahaz from Canada on July 23, 1914. He called upon all Sikh institutions, the Government of India, and the Punjab Government to officially declare July 23 as ‘Guru Nanak Jahaz Remembrance Day’.
He stated that on this day in 1914, under the leadership of Ghadar revolutionary Baba Gurdit Singh, a large group of Punjabis—mostly Sikhs—seeking a better future arrived in Canada. However, they were forcibly turned away, which was a grave violation of human rights.
Jathedar Gargajj noted that this episode is now officially recognized in Canadian cities such as Surrey and Vancouver as Guru Nanak Jahaz Remembrance Day, which he hailed as a significant step toward acknowledging historical truth. He said it is a proud moment for the Sikh community that the Surrey City Council in Canada has formally designated July 23 as Guru Nanak Jahaz Remembrance Day.
This day commemorates a major struggle against racism and in defense of human rights, led by Baba Gurdit Singh, who in 1914 founded the Guru Nanak Steamship Company. He chartered a Japanese vessel from the Komagata Maru Company, renamed it Guru Nanak Jahaz, and challenged Canada’s then racist immigration laws.
Jathedar Gargajj emphasized that historical sources clearly show that the journey from Hong Kong to Canada was deeply spiritual, marked by the presence of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Sri Akand Panth Sahib, and the Nishan Sahib (Sikh flag) on board, embodying the values of Sri Guru Nanak Dev. Of the 377 passengers, 341 were Sikhs.
He expressed regret that in India, history books still refer to the ship as Komagata Maru, despite Baba Gurdit Singh naming it Guru Nanak Jahaz, a fact verified in his autobiographical book Guru Nanak Jahaz.
He appealed to universities, academic institutions, and gurdwara management bodies across India to do justice to this history by adopting the correct name—Guru Nanak Jahaz—in textbooks and curricula. Teaching this name instead of Komagata Maru would be both historically accurate and morally just, he said. Such efforts, he added, would present true history and serve as a source of spiritual inspiration for future generations.
Jathedar Gargajj urged the Government of India, the Punjab Government, and Sikh institutions to officially recognize July 23 as Guru Nanak Jahaz Remembrance Day. He said this event played a crucial role in the early 20th-century freedom movement and helped awaken the spirit of independence in the country. Baba Gurdit Singh, he added, must always be remembered among the great heroes of India’s freedom struggle.
He expressed gratitude to the city councils of Vancouver and Surrey for recognizing July 23 not as Komagata Maru Day, but as Guru Nanak Jahaz Remembrance Day. He also thanked all organizations and individuals who have made dedicated efforts to record this history truthfully.