Stop systematic demolition of whatever is left in India of Sikh heritage and originality of Darbar Sahib complex

 

Stop ‘Operation Bluestar’ against Sikh heritage

Ground Zero

Jagtar Singh

 

The systematic Operation Demolition targeted at the Sikh heritage that has been going on since decades is only little different from the army attack code named Operation Bluestar in June 1984 on the Darbar Sahib complex designed to hit dignity of this one of the most dynamic communities in the world whose value system is based upon revolutionary philosophy of humanism and universal brotherhood.

The original gurdwara architecture that is main part of the Sikh heritage has been preserved only in Pakistan as almost all the old Sikh shrines in India have been rebuilt as unaesthetic marble monsters.

Even originality of the Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple) has been damaged without provoking any adverse reaction from the community.

The original Takht constructed by Guru Hargobind symbolizing the Sikh state power was saved from the hammers of the Damdami Taksal activists due to timely intervention by some people when the government repaired structure was razed.

The issue has now come under focus due to the discovery of Bunga Gianian, an old structure adjacent to the Darbar Sahib complex and saved from the demolition machines deployed to clear the area for the construction of another building as the news spread and people rushed to stop the Kar Sewa squad.

Yet another building whose proposed demolition has evoked strong protest of Guru Ram Das Sera that is a mute witness to the Sikh struggles and bear the marks of those periods.

It is time for the Sikh community to arise and launch movement for the preservation of what little has been left of the architectural heritage and save it from its custodian, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee.

The stunning look of Darbar Sahib has been destroyed by covering the passage leading to it from Darshani Deodi. Why can’t the rush of the devotees regulated at the Darshani Deodi itself rather than damaging the original look of this most sacred shrine of the Sikhs that represents the Sikh religio-political eco-system? It is bridge in water that connects Darbar Sahib to Darshani Deodi. It is pertinent to mention that the entire design of this complex is based upon the core philosophy of the Sikh thought by the Gurus. It is this philosophy that too is being tinkered with by the thoughtless and visionless custodians.

The construction of Akal Takht in front of Darbar Sahib represents philosophy of spiritual and temporal and the positioning of the Takht was designed by Guru Hargobind accordingly at some specific angle. Has the new construction disturbed that harmony? It is for the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and the Akal Takht Jathedar to answer this vital question.

Can any one even think of a light fixture fixed on the painting of Monalisa?

The artwork on the inner walls of Darbar Sahib has either been damaged or covered by high voltage lights and air conditioning columns. Is hanging another clock on the walls of this shrine covering the unparalleled art work necessary? The fan units of the air conditioners hung on the railing of Darbar Sahib give ugly look.

It is a building that was designed in the centre of the water body to maintain its temperature. It is the high voltage lights that raise temperature. This is going to further damage the structure in the long run.

The preservation of Guru Ram Das serai has been voiced by the Sikhs at various levels and rightly so.

There is little open space left in the complex.

The SGPC must put a stop to further construction and renovate and preserve the existing structures and this includes Guru Ram Das Serai.

It is being overlooked that Darbar Sahib complex is not a tourist centre but religio-political and spiritual centre of the Sikh community. Every grain of the soil of Darbar Sahib is drenched in the blood of the martyrs and this blood has been given repeatedly, including in June 1984. Guru Ram Das Sera is witness to the 1984 holocaust. The SGPC should take decisions in the context of this dimension.

For the increasing rush of devotees, more serais should be constructed at some other place for which if needed, land should be acquired near the city. Transport should be arranged by the SGPC from that complex to Darbar Sahib.

Seva is part of the Sikh practice for which the devotees prefer to stay within the shrine complex. The existing arrangements should continue to provide that facility. The Serais at the other place would only be part of the support system. This arrangement would preserve the organic relationship of the Sikhs with the shrine.

Rather than doing further damage to the Darbar Sahib complex, the SGPC should start restoring its originality.

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Here is a small conversation I had with Jathedar Gurcharan Singh Tohra who used to be too open to the ideas and suggestions. The issue under discussion was damage to the heritage. He said, “You don’t know. Once one of out executive committee members said the Darbar Sahib was small and the rush of devotees was increasing. I stopped him there and then and made it a point that it was not recorded in minutes”. That member had proposed that the original structure should be enlarhged!

Ironically, most of the damage took place during that period. The demolition squads consist of  the mostly uneducated Kar Sewa babas.

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More issues would be pointed out later.