dalvinder45
SPNer
- Jul 22, 2023
- 840
- 37
- 79
Gurdwaras Burnt, Demolished or converted need Attention: A BriefDr Dalvinder Singh Grewal
During my research on Gurdwaras for over 50 years from 1970 till date, the research was mostly related to historical Gurdwaras relating to Guru Nanak, Guru Teg Bahadur, Guru Gobind Singh and Guru Hargobind Sahib. I had the privilege of visiting almost all the Gurdwara in India and abroad. Most disturbing factors about some of the Gurdwaras were that either these were burnt and demolished in 1984 or converted into other faiths, over the years but no reasonable effort has been done to restore these. Mention of these Gurdwars is in two parts: Part 1 is related to Gurdwaras in India and Part 2 relates to Gurdwaras abroad.
Burnt, Demolished or converted Gurdwaras in India
Though the list of Gurdwaras burnt, demolished or converted in India is very large but I shall limit the brief to Historical Gurdwaras relating to Guru Nanak at 1. Mechuka in Arunachal Pradesh, 2. Guru Dogmar in Sikkim, 3. Gyan Godri in Hardwar, 4. Nanakbari in Hardwar 5. Gurdwara Nanak Bari near Reetha Sahib in Uttrakhand, 6. Gurdwara Nanak Padao near Reetha Sahib, 7. Gurdwara Almora in Utrakhand, 8. Gurdwara Paua Sahib Gwalior related to Guru Hargobind Sahib, 9. Gurdwara Manji Sahib Kalsi Utrakhand related to Guru Gobind Singh ji 10. Gurdwara Smadh Rani Jind Kaur at Ram Kund Nasik, Maharashtra. I shall give a brief of these since articles about 10 of these Gurdwaras whose details have already been published in various magazines and papers by this author.
Guru Nanak Tapostan, Pemoshubu, Menchuka, Arunchal Pradesh
I was posted to Assam and Arunachal Areas in 1985. When I was located at Menchuka in Arunachal Pradesh, I was told of Guru Nanak’s visit to this valley nd having meditation in Pemoshubu. After recording the evidence of the locals about the visit of Guru Nanak to the place, a Gurdwaras Guru Nanak Taposthan was constructed in 1985-1986 with the help of Segang people and Army at Pemoshubu Manchuka near Segang village. There was never a problem with this Gurdwara for 35 years till 2021 when some Buddhist idols were got placed in the sanctum sanctorum under the direction of local MLA a Tibetan Buddhist, who was also the speaker of Arunachal Pradesh Legislative assembly. These idols were however got removed and the administration of the Gurdwara was handed over by SGPC in writing to the Deputy Commissioner Tato and Station Commander Along as patrons and CO Infantry battalion at Menchuka as the organizer.. But suddenly in 2023, this MLA brought Chief Minister Arunachal Pradesh also a Tibetan Buddhist d to preside over the ceremony of conversion of Gurdwara into a monastery.. Sri Guru Granth Sahib and Nishan sahib were removed in that ceremony and Buddhist idols were installed in the Gurdwara building which was constructed entirely by the Sikhs and was under the auspicious of SGPC. Thus Guru Nanak Tapa Asthan was converted into a Buddhist Monastery by the local MLA and Speaker of Arunachal Assembly under the protection and physical presence of Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh by removing Sri Guru Granth Sahib and Nishan sahib from the Gurdwara. The photo of the Gurdwara with Sri Guru Granth Sahib and Nishan Sahib installed taken by the author in 2021 and also of conversion it into to Buddhist monastery as appeared in the news of National papers are given here.. Complaints by SGPC the President, PM and CM Arunachal Pradesh have gone unheeded till date and no FIR is being lodged under Article 25 as required by law.
Gurdwara Guru Nanak Taposthan constructed in 1985-1986 AD Gurdwaara Guru Nanak Tapostan in 2021 AD
Sri guru Grnth sahib installed in 1986 in Gurdwara pemoshubu Menchuka
Gurdwara sahib visited in 2001 by the author. Setia Sahib in tabia
Guru Granth Sahib in Guru Nanak Taposthan in August 2021 as visited by author
Gurdwara sahib converted into a Bodhi Monastery
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has alleged that a historic gurdwara in Arunachal Pradesh, which is associated with Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, has been converted into a Buddhist shrine. “It is unfortunate that mischievous attempt has been made to destroy the shrine associated with the first Sikh Guru. It is unfortunate that the CM of Arunachal Pradesh after visiting this historical gurdwara is showing it as a Buddhist shrine. We will strongly oppose it at all levels,” said Dhami. He also sought the intervention of the President, Prime Minister, home minister and National Commission for Minorities into the matter. But nothing hs been done so far.
Gurdwara Guru Dongmar
At Chungthang, I was told of Gurdwara Gurudongmar at Sikkim plateau on Lake Guru Dongmar where from River Teesta originated. When I was again posted to Sikkim area in 1987, I had Sikkim Plateau as my operational area and saw the small Gurdwara at Gurudongmar with sri Guru Granth Sahib and Nishan Sahib duly installed. The board mentioned of Guru Nanak’s visit and on the request of the graziers have created a perpetual source of water from the frozen lake by hitting the snow by his dang o stack held with him hence the Gurdwara Gurdongmar. During my stay we joined to develop it in to a magnificent building and was very well visited fo believers from all religions. The Gurdwra team from Gurdwara Chungthang used to manage the Gurdwara. Gurdwara had to be kept closed in the months from October to March due to heavy snowfall. I have been visited the Gurdwara regularly therafter. Another group who had been regular visitors with me were Setia family who went to pay obeisance at the place every year. Since I was getting old I requested SGPC to take over the Gurdwara and their team led by the Vice president of SGPC visited Gangtok, Chungthang, lachen and Gurudongmar in 2017 AD and the Gurdwara was taken over by SGPC. However, after the winter of 2018, the Lamas of Lachen under the order of SDM Chungthang suddenly removed Sri Guru Granth Sahib and Nishan Sahib and placed these in front of the Gurdwara Chungthang and tried to convert it in to a Buddhist ministry. The photos below show the details of this. The Hon’ble Supreme Court was approached who gave a stay order and asked us to file the case in Sikkim High Court which is going on for last 5 years.
Gurdwara Gurudongmar as seen by this author in 1987. It was made of tin sheets. Gurdwara was gradually developed by the author and his team along with workers of BRO and later by some Sikh regiments and kar Sewa wale from Gurdwara Chungthang. Col Dr Dalvinder Singh Grewal was present in 1987 at Gurudongmar when a function was organized at the Gurdwara which showed that the Gurdwara existed even before that. He assisted in development and maintenance of the Gurdwara till 1992 AD. There was no other sign board of any other religion at that time.
Various stages of Development of Gurdwara Gurdongmar: Gurdwara from 1987- 1993. Gurdwara was developed in to a domed one in 1992. It was further developed in 1997-1998
To develop it further a new Gurdwara building foundation stones was laid by Maj Gen PPS Bindra and Brig Charanjit Singh on 06 September 1997. These foundation stones have been existing at the site. Sri Guru Granth Sahib and Nishan sahib remained in these structures since 1980s and regular functions were organized.
S Harbhajan Singh Setia visited the Gurdwara from 1992 AD onwards. In March 2000, Sardar Harbhajan Singh Setia who had been a regular visitor to the Gurdwara went to Gurudongmar along with 14 other Sikhs and reported that the religious sanctity of the historic Sikh Gurdwara constructed to commemorate Guru Nanak’s visit has been changed to a Sarva Dharma Mandir and idols were placed inside the sanctum sanctorum along with Guru Granth Sahib earlier installed.
Attempts were made to convert Gurdwara into a Sarv Dharma Sthal after 2000 AD 2. Shape of gurdwara was gradually changed after 2010 AD. Nishan Sahib (Sikh Flag however flew) and Sri Guru Granth Sahib remained installed. There was no monument or flag of any religion except Sikh Nishan Sahib, in 1987 when Col Dr Dalvinder Singh Grewal visited the site. Larger Gurdwara and a board giving details of Guru Nanak’s visit to the place came up in nineteen eighties. However, Hindu and Boddh flags with a small Hindu temple started appearing nearby in 1999 AD as reported by S. Harbhajan Singh Setia during his visit. The matter was reported by Col Dr Dalvinder Singh Grewal to S. Gurcharan Singh Tohra president SGPC who sought personal intervention of Defence Minister, Mr George Fernedez. (National Herald, 9 Jan 1999). The development was also reported in ‘The Sikh Review’ May 2001 issue. The Defence Minister asked the authorities not to interfere with the Gurdwara. The photos show the situation in 2002 as published in Col Dr Dalvinder Singh Grewal’s books, 'Amazing Travels of Guru Nanak, May 2002', and 'So Than Suhawa, 2002', published by Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Sri Amritsar. But again in 2005, a Sarav Dharma Mandir was created by Army.
As per report from Siliguri Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Sikkim Govt started controlling the Gurdwara complex through Lachen Lama by 2010 in a clandestine manner. In connivance with some scrupulous elements in Army under the direction of major gen Dubey the GOC Gangtok division. Keeping the Sikhs completely in dark the Gurdwara was converted in to a Boddh type of structure as can be seen from the photographs and from the visit of SGPC team. President SGPC Sardar Gurcharan Singh Tphra approached Defence Minister George Fernendez to get the desecration of historic Gurdwara stopped. Later in 2007 AD onwards Lamas from Lachen managed to get the control into their hands and changed it into a Boddhi complex by 2012 AD removing Nishan sahib which existed till 2012. The earlier identity and sanctity of Gurdwara Gurudongmar Nanak Lama does not exist anymore as was found in 2015. Sri Guru Granth Sahib however, remained established in the Gurdwara till 2017 as visited by SGPC team.
As told by eyewitnesses at Chungthang, Lachen, and Gurudongmar and later at Siliguri, desecration of Gurdwaras in Sikkim has been done sequentially in a planned manner, by Major General Dubey, Lachen Lama, under protection of SDM Chungthang and with the active connivance of the Government.
Sri Guru Granth Sahib in Palki at the Gurdwara 2. SGPC Committee at Gurdongmar Gudwara in 2015 AD. Photo Col Dr D S Grewal.
A team of SGPC consisting of Sukhdev Singh Bhaur General Secretary SGPC, S Rajinder Singh Mehta, Executive Member SGPC, S Balwinder Singh Jaura Singha Additional Secretary Dharam Prachar SGPC, S. Satbir Singh Ex secretary SGPC and Col Dr Dalvinder Singh Grewal (this author) appointed by President SGPC to assess the situation of Gurdwaras in Sikkim visited all the places related to the visit of Guru Nanak. The team found Parkash or Sukhasan or prayers as per rehat maryada were disrupted. Some idols and tankhahs were added which was objected to by President Shiromani gurdwara Parbandhak Committee through a letter to Sikkim Government.People entered even bare-headed. Smoking etc. was not banned. Gurdwara’s independent identity and sanctity did not exist anymore. The team approached for having a meeting with the Chief Minister Sikkim as per President SGPC’s letter. This was, however, not granted. During the visit to Gurdwara Gurudongmar the committee found the Gurdwara Nishan Sahib having been removed and a few idols and Tankhahs alongside the Palki of Sri Guru Granth Sahib. This was a clear sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth Sahib since no idol is allowed to be placed near Sri Guru Granth Sahib as it against the tenants of Sikhism.
Continued