| Afghan Gurudwaras in bad shape. |
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| Written by Varinder Walia, The Tribune India | ||||
| Saturday, 30 November 2002 | ||||
Page 1 of 2 Amritsar, November 29 Historical Sikh shrines in Afghanistan damaged during shelling in the recent past are beyond repair and, hence, will have to be re-constructed, which involves huge money. However, refusal by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to send a delegation of the SGPC to carry out repair of gurdwaras to Afghanistan has annoyed Sikhs there. Residents of Kabul, who met this correspondent at Nankana Sahib and Lahore during Gurpurb celebrations, said almost all gurdwaras built in memory of Guru Nanak and his son had been destroyed. While the Taliban had destroyed ancient statues of Mahatma Buddha, Sikh shrines had been destroyed in the US attacks. The letter of Mr Vajpayee, addressed to Mr Kirpal Singh Badungar, SGPC chief, reads: 'I understand the compelling desire of the Sikh community to restore and renovate holy Sikh shrines in Afghanistan. However, I think it would be a good idea for the visit of the SGPC delegation to be deferred to a later date when the security situation, especially in and around Jalalabad and Kandahar is more conducive.' |
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Ancient architecture that has been a witness to history, old Nanakshahi bricks that have stuck together through thick and thin, inner walls that were painted once. One look at the structure and you travel through time to what may have happened, who may have lived there, what glories or dooms may have taken place in this ancient king’s abode.
The Pakistan Evacuee Property Trust Board, which controls the religious shrines in Pakistan, including gurdwaras, has whitewashed frescos at historical Gurdwara Dera Sahib, Lahore, in utter disregard to the Sikh heritage.
Devotees slowly begin to gather for the weekly prayer. Men and women with traditional headgears assemble around the head priest and the holy book. Hymns of verses like 'Prabhu milbe ko pritman lagi' (Lord, I have this ardent urge to meet you) create a spiritual ambience while the devotees listen to them intently.
The SAD (Amritsar) Presidium will move the international court if the Centre fails to return the books of the Sikh Reference Library of the Golden Temple, which were allegedly taken away by the Army and the CBI during Operation Bluestar in 1984.
Hofstra University Continuing Education and the Department of Religion are proud to offer two new courses this fall that focus on the musical traditions of Sikhism.
Sacred Music of the Punjab I and II will examine music traditions in a broad South Asian context and will include a historical overview of Sikh gurus and their musical contributions, musical theory and techniques,
The preface gives every biography’s plot away. If it praises the person to the skies, you can be sure the book will be hugely subjective, it will blow out of all proportion the person’s achievements and ignore the darker side. You can be sure, ten times out of ten, that such a book will be thoroughly unreadable.
