Authors note: In my recent trip to Nanded, Maharashtara, I came to know that the hallmarks of Hazoor Sahib’s architectural tradition were being demolished in the name of modernization. There is also a tradition of giving guided tours of the Ramgharia Boonga which has been going back at least 6 generations that will also be history if something isn’t done to preserve these buildings. The information I am about to present has been done due to my own desire to help preserve our traditions by providing the masses with the history so that enough public pressure can be applied to keep the aforementioned buildings in tact. As well as the humble plea of Khushal Singh Boonga (the tour guide who has taken the last name of his profession) who gave me a guided tour of the Ramgharia Boonga and outlined the purpose of each room.

I have condensed and reorganized an article so that people can understand the history in a glance

Source: Sachkhand Pattar, September 2006, p5-8,
Author: Giani Partap Singh, Head Granthi, Hazoor Sahib

Historical Preamble

The Khalsa Raj was a time of prosperity and regal authority for the Sikh masses.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh had established such a powerful force that adversaries were always looking to befriend him and the Khalsa Raj to avoid confrontation and maintain peace. In 1831, Lord Bentinck met Maharaja Ranjit Singh in the city of Ropar to inform him of the poor condition of the Takhat (Throne) Hazoor Sahib as a gesture of goodwill and offering of friendship. The Maharaja had been known to be a patron in the preservation and regal development of important Sikh historical shrines since his inauguration in 1799.  This greatly disturbed the Maharaja who then made a supplication (an ardaas) to God to have the opportunity to undertake the task of resurrecting the Takhat to its accorded stature.

Opportunity Unfolds

Takhat Hazoor Sahib was under the jurisdiction of the Nizam of Hyderabad.  He was a Muslim by faith and had to constantly contend with the Marhattas, who were an empire of Hindus who felt they should govern over this region. A few skirmishes erupted between the Nizam’s imperial army and the Marhattas and the Nizam asked his chief minister, Chandhu Lal for some advice to mitigate losses. Chandu Lal advised the Nizam to seek the help of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and his forces.

Chandu Lal went north to meet Maharaja Ranjit Singh and explained the situation. Maharaja Ranjit Singh accepted the plea for help. At that time it was tradition for kingdoms to offer a nazrana (token of thanks for support) of gold, silver, jewels, weapons and land. The Maharaja said he wanted to have the freedom to do construction work at Hazoor sahib without any interruption from the authorities as his nazrana. The Nizaam agreed.

Agreement

2000 soldiers, masons, and architects were sent to Nanded with 100 freights of materials (ie; stone, marble, etc) to aide the Nizam and start the reconstruction of the Takhat. Sardar Chanda Singh was sent to make sure that the military reinforcements were adequate and reconstruction work was completed with integrity. (Oral tradition states that the Nizam was willing to provide the materials for the construction, but Maharaja Ranjit Singh took the responsibility and made arrangements for all the materials himself).

The Construction of the Ramgharia Boonga

The soldiers and masons faced a crucial housing situation upon their arrival in Nanded. It was found that the sleeping arrangements in the tents were not adequate and the materials were in danger of being weathered. Sardar Chanda Singh made a decision to build a Boonga (building) for the masons and carpenters. This was called the Ramgharia Boonga. (Khushal Singh Boonga showed me where the weapons were kept and the architectural provisions that were made in case of an attack). This building housed materials and the workers for the duration of their stay. It is dedicated to those who left their families to come and do work for the guru.

The Construction of Baradari

After the completion of the Ramgharia Boonga, it was decided by Sardar Chanda Singh, the pujari and the sangat that a temporary place was needed to continue the functioning of the Darbar and the Takhat while the Takhat was in the process of reconstruction. The Baradari housed the sevadars (the Sikhs who had taken service in the Sikh court) and the Guru Granth Sahib. Nitnem (daily prayers) and katha (exegesis of the Sikh scriptures and narration of history) occurred twice a day therein. One of the rooms in the Baradhari was used to house the instruments, weapons and preserved artifacts of Guru Gobind Singh. The Pujari (Head, who is now known as the jathedar) was Sher Singh Fauji at that time. He had given weapons to the Sikligars to house in the guru’s khazana (vault) during the construction of the Takhat. They made a cart on which they transported all those weapons. The tradition of ceremonially displaying the weapons on that same cart still continues till today during religious processions.

Closing Remarks: Please take a proactive stance in calling up those who have it in their power to preserve our heritage, otherwise the coming generations will not have a heritage to hold on to.