1)- Gurudwara Gyan Godri, Haridwar;
An ancient Sikh Gurudwara at Har ki pauri - Haridwar (Uttrakhand) India, was demolished in 1984 by hindus during Sikh genocide, which was built there in sweet memory of visit of Guru Nanak Dev ji at the bank of river Ganges in 15th century at this sacred place, by development board but you will besurprised to know that after demolition, shops were built there and other business activities are running.
Despite 100s of attempts to take this land back and build the gurudwara several times, this piece of land is never given back to Sikhs. Gurcharan singh babbar every year or in between keep persuing the authorites and visit haridwar from Delhi to recite Gurbani path and do Sikh prayer at same place but he is never permitted to visit at this site. He is always stopped at the entrance points of Uttrakhand.
Few years ago, the govt of Uttrakhand offered him to get land at Kankhal, in Haridwar in lieu of this land but neither he or the Sikh sangat present their accepted the offer. It was turned down as the Gurudwara at Har ki Paudi commemorats visit of Guru Nanak Dev ji at this sacred place 500 years ago. So Sikh sangat informed the authorities to build the gurudwara shall be built at same place.
You can see the site through this settellite picture pasted below;
We tried our best to find original picture of demolished Gurudwara but unfortunately we couldn't find. I belong to Dehra Dun and visited Haridwar frequently as it was one hour journey by train. Thus i got the opportunity to visit this Gurudwara in my life a number of times. My parents had some close acquaintaince with Mahant Kishan ji at Devpura Ashram belonged to Nirmal Sanprada. Mahant Kishan ji took me also to Devpura and made me his disciple but after few months, my parents visited again and took me with them. I am one from nirmala's. Now Mahant Darshan Singh ji, my Gurbhai is Mahant of this ashram (hermitage).
So i have sweet memories of Haridwar in my life.
An ancient Sikh Gurudwara at Har ki pauri - Haridwar (Uttrakhand) India, was demolished in 1984 by hindus during Sikh genocide, which was built there in sweet memory of visit of Guru Nanak Dev ji at the bank of river Ganges in 15th century at this sacred place, by development board but you will besurprised to know that after demolition, shops were built there and other business activities are running.
Despite 100s of attempts to take this land back and build the gurudwara several times, this piece of land is never given back to Sikhs. Gurcharan singh babbar every year or in between keep persuing the authorites and visit haridwar from Delhi to recite Gurbani path and do Sikh prayer at same place but he is never permitted to visit at this site. He is always stopped at the entrance points of Uttrakhand.
Few years ago, the govt of Uttrakhand offered him to get land at Kankhal, in Haridwar in lieu of this land but neither he or the Sikh sangat present their accepted the offer. It was turned down as the Gurudwara at Har ki Paudi commemorats visit of Guru Nanak Dev ji at this sacred place 500 years ago. So Sikh sangat informed the authorities to build the gurudwara shall be built at same place.
You can see the site through this settellite picture pasted below;
We tried our best to find original picture of demolished Gurudwara but unfortunately we couldn't find. I belong to Dehra Dun and visited Haridwar frequently as it was one hour journey by train. Thus i got the opportunity to visit this Gurudwara in my life a number of times. My parents had some close acquaintaince with Mahant Kishan ji at Devpura Ashram belonged to Nirmal Sanprada. Mahant Kishan ji took me also to Devpura and made me his disciple but after few months, my parents visited again and took me with them. I am one from nirmala's. Now Mahant Darshan Singh ji, my Gurbhai is Mahant of this ashram (hermitage).
So i have sweet memories of Haridwar in my life.
The Hindu temples are mushroomed there at Har ki Paudi (at the bank of river Ganges) Haridwar but one Sikh Gurudwara was a thorn to the administration of Hindu govt of UP which got it demolished.
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2)- THE HISTORICAL GURUDWARA in GWALIOR.
Gurudwara Bandi Chorh - Gwalior
In the foothills of Gwalior fort - Madhya Pradesh, (once where The Sixth Guru Hargobing Sahib Ji got released 52 Hindu Kings from the prison of emperor Jahangir) there was a famous Historical Gurudwara of Sikhs known as Gurudwara Pauva Sahib/Khadaun Sahib, in which the pauvaas/khadavas (Wooden footwears) of The First Guru of Sikh religion--Guru Nanak Dev ji were safely preserved but in 1984 after the assasination of Indira Gandhi, the Hindu mob came and attacked the Historical Gurudwara Sahib.The mob burnt away the pauvaas/khadavas of Guru, which were safely preserved in the Historical Gurudwara for centuries. One Khadaun was burnt but the other one is intact and safe.
Khadaauns of Guru Hargobind Singh ji.
After sometime, one burnt pauva/ khadav (Wooden Steps) was found but the second one was destroyed. The Mobs also burnt away 15 Saroops of SRI GURU GRANTH SAHIB Ji which were Prakashed in that Historical Gurudwara. The mob burnt alive two Sikhs, one was the Granthi Bhai Sukhchain Singh and other sewadar Bhai Hari Singh.
The mob also burnt three other Gurudwara Sahibs, known as Gurudwara Sahib Fhul Baran,Gurudwara Sahib Hazeer, Gurudwara Sahib Gole Ka Mander.the 10 Saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji which was Prakashed (enlightened) in that Gurudwara Sahib were also burnt by the mob.
After some time, the Hindus converted this Historical Gurudwara pavva Sahib/Khadaun Sahib of Sikhs into a Kali Devi Mandir (
Latest information and update on possession of this Gurudwara received on 15-03-11 as follows;
Respected S Ajmer Singh Randhawa Ji,
Waheguru ji ka khalsa
Waheguru ji ki fateh,
Efforts were made to regain the control of Gurdwara Paua Sahib. When all efforts failed, a case was filed in the court. Unfortunately, the court gave verdict against Gurdwara Management. The same has been challenged in the High Court. Baba Sewa Singh Ji of Kaar Sewa Khadur Sahib has been guiding the concerned people in this case.
Regards and Guru fateh.
Kamal Jeet Singh Sekhon
All those Sikhs living in Haridwar and Gwalior are requested to send the photographs of these sacred places so that these may be pasted here. You can write in comments or call me at my phone no given below.
N0. 3- Gurudwara Dongmar - Sikkim, which is desecreted by indian army;
Sikkim ’s Gurdwara "Guru
Dongmar" Desecrated!
N0. 3- Gurudwara Dongmar - Sikkim, which is desecreted by indian army;
Col. Dr Dalvinder Singh Grewal*
* 964, Sector 65, Phase XI,
Sahibzda, Ajit Singh Nagar,Chandigarh .
160 062. Email:
A group consisting of Sardar
Harbhajan Singh Setia and 14 other Sikh devotees from Delhi
returned last March after a visit to Gurdwara Guru Dongmar in North
Sikkim . They have 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 have been placed inside the sanctum
sanctorum along with Guru Granth Sahib installed in 1987. Idol worship is
against the tenets of Sikhism as Guru Nanak himself preached against idol
worship. This is serious attempt by the RSS oriented Military officials to
convert Sikh religious places to their faith.
This, in fact, is not the first
time that an attempt has been made to change the religious sanctity of the
place. In 1990, a temple was constructed close to the Gurdwara and Buddhist
flags were also unfurled to negate the Sikh historicity of the place. The temple and the Buddhist constructions
were, however, removed in the same year, on objections from the Sikhs (mainly
Army) present in the area.
In 1998, a group of Sikh devotees
visited Sikkim
and reported that an order had gone from Army authorities for demolition of the
Gurdwara, and no one was allowed to visit the area. On receipt of this report,
S. Gurcharan Singh Tohra, the then President SGPC, Amritsar , immediately contacted the Defence
Minister, George Fernedez, and got an assurance that, ‘the Gurdwara will not be
touched.’ News items giving these details appeared in The Tribune and other
dailies in Punjab .
Sardar Harbhajan Singh Setia who,
along with his group, has been a regular visitor to the place since last five
years, in 1999 when requested for permission to visit the place, was denied
permission to visit the same. With a lot of effort he was able to get the
required permission from Army authorities, as well as Sikkim Governement, this
year when he left in August after a sudden permission. S. Darshan Singh, a
member of the group recalled: "Permission to visit a Historical Gurdwara
(like Guru Dongmar) within India
had been proving more difficult than visiting Sikh Gurdwaras in Pakistan ."
This group has been finding a great difficulty in visiting Menchukha Gurdwara
in Arunachal Pradesh, another historical place where Guru Nanak had meditated
for some time.
Guru Dongmar is a lake at a
height of 18,000 feet alongside a glacial peak known by the same name. The lake
remains frozen most of the year due to heavy snowfall for almost six months
each year. Guru Nanak visited the place during his third udasi in order to
solace the Karma-pa Nying-ma-pa sects then being hounded out from Tibet by the
Ge-lug-pa Sect. Many from the Karma-pa Nying-ma-pa sect were the followers of
Guru Nanak as their Head Lamas became Guru Nanak’s followers in Kailash
Mansarovar area after being impressed by Guru Nana’s discussions with the
famous Siddhas of the age. These sects had fled from Tibet
to the Himalayan belt of Northern India, which included Ladakh, Himachal
Pradesh, Uttra-Khand , Nepal ,
Sikkim , Bhutan and
Arunachal Pradesh.
Records show that during his
itinerary to Himalayas and the Far East, including China, Guru Nanak visited
all these states around 1516 AD This itinerary is foundrecorded in Janam Sakhee
Bhai Bala; Janam Sakhee Walait Wali; Janam Sakhee Meharban; Janam Sakhee B-40;
Suchak Parsang by Bhai Behlo; Mahima Parkash by Baba Sarup Chand;
Parchian Sewa Das; Nanak Prakash
by Bhai Santokh Singh; Nanak Parkash, Twarikh Guru Khalsa and Gurdham Prakash
by Gyani Gian Singh; Guru Khalsa Twareekh by Giani Lal Singh Sangrur; Jeevan
Charit Guru Nanak Dev ji by Dr. Trilochan Singh; Travels of Guru Nanak by Dr.
Surinder Singh Kohli; Atlas of Travels of Guru Nanak by Dr Fauja Singh and
Kirpal Singh;
Guru Nanak’s Travels to Himalayan
and East Asian Region by Dr. Dalvinder Singh Grewal (this writer), and a host
of other researchers. ‘Though Janamsakhees and other contemporary material are
vague about the names of the places, yet they are specific about ‘Al-Lachen’
and ‘Bhutant Des’, which are specially mentioned in these Janamsakhees.
The local people of the area and
Lamas of Karma-pa Nying-ma-pa Sect confirm Guru Nanak’s visit to these areas.
The Lamas from these areas have been visiting Golden Temple, Amritsar,
regularly to pay obeisance to their beloved Guru Rimpoche, Guru Nanak, also
known as Nanak Lama in their areas. Guru Nanak’s footprints, a robe and a
water-carrying utensil (kamandal) are preserved in Lachen Gompha , Sikkim
After his visit to
Kailash-Mansarovar, Guru Nanak returned along Kali
River and went to Nepal , where an ancient Gurdwara at Kathmandu , on the bank of river Bishnumati commemorates
his visit. Visiting various religious places in Nepal ,
he crossed over to Tibet
through Nanak-la pass and reached Sakya monastery. The earlier king of Tibet from
Karma-pa Sect was, by then, deposed by the Ge-lug-pa sect but was still holding
on to this monastery. Guru Nanak helped Trasung Deochung reconstruct this
monastery. Trasung Deochung honoured him with a robe that is preserved in
Lachen Gompha.
From Tibet ,
Guru Nanak entered Sikkim
through Chhorten-Nyi-ma-la. Passing through Dolma Sampa and Tongpen, he entered
Muguthang valley where he visited Kedang, Bendu, Sherang, Lyingka, Muguthang.
He went through Naku la and Lawu Gompha and reached plateau area around Guru
Dongmar.
Guru Dongmar is at a height of
around 18,000 feet. In this plateau the yak graziers approached Guru Nanak with
a request, that: "they do not find water in winter as it gets frozen all
over, temperature falling down to minus 35 degrees." The Guru (Guru Nanak)
hit the perpetually snow-covered Guru Dongmar lake with his stick to provide
water to the graziers. The ice melted giving way to crystal clear water. Since
then the water of the lake is stated to have never been frozen. The lake and
the hill feature atop came to be known as Gurudongmar lake and hill
respectively. The same names are found recorded in the ancient maps prepared by
the British in nineteenth century.
Some graziers projected another
problem to Guru Nanak. Due to the effect of altitude, their virility was
affected. They requested the Guru to do something about it. Guru Nanak blessed
the lake, saying," whosoever takes the water of this lake will gain
virility and strength and will be blessed with children." The people of
the area have firm faith in Guru’s words and consider the water of the lake as
nectar. A gurdwara was constructed in eighties to commemorate Guru Nanak’s
visit to the place. We used to trek to Gurudongmar then, after travelling from
Chungthang on foot, covering the distance in six days.
The Gurdwara was constructed
after full inquiries from head lamas of Buddhist monitories (gomphas) at
Fudong, Chungthang, Lachen, Lachung and Thangu and all the local people, and
with their active help.
From Gurudongmar, Guru Nanak went
to Thangu, Lachen, Chungthang, Lachung, Yumthang and Pyakochin. At Chungthang a
gurdwara, a tree grown out of Guru’s stick, footprints of the Guru, a
spring, and the rice-fields blessed by Guru Nanak commemorate Guru Nanak’s
visit. At Pyakochin, an engraving on stone, in Gurmukhi script, was earlier preserved
to commemorate the visit of Guru Nanak. From Pyakochin the Guru is stated to
have crossed over to Chumbi Valley through Ghora-la, en-route to Bhutan .
This author cross-checked the
above details given by various lamas from over 50 elderly people of the area.
Lachen lama even promised to show the old records preserved with him that had
an account of Guru Nanak’s visit to the area. Staying as an Observation Post
Officer at the height adjoining the lake, for over three months in 1987 and
later in other areas adjoining, the author oversaw the development of the
Gurdwara. People from all religions thronged the lake and the Buddhists had
their regular fair on the lake. They always paid obeisance at the gurdwara with
reverence. There was no question of any ill will. A Hindu temple was
constructed in 1989 touching the gurdwara, but was removed soon after mutual
consultations. Thereafter everything remained cordial till 1994, as regularly
watched by this author, who was operative in Sikkim and remained in touch with
the gurdwara till then. Later too, groups of Sikh pilgrims inspired by this author
kept on visiting the gurudwara yearly without caring for the great hardships
they had to face during the travel. They had all the goodwill of the local
people and have sweet remembrance of their treatment. Problem, however, started
cropping up only after 1998. The Sikkim Government and the Army, who refused
the visit by the pilgrims to the place, best know reasons, as in the telegram
and the letter refusing permission to the Sikh pilgrims to visit Gurudongmar,
they gave no reasons! Now the sudden changes in the cultural traits of the
gurdwara smacks of ill intentions of some people at the helm of affairs,
playing games with the faith of the people.
Things can be set right by
restoring the original sanctity of the place, and by taking action against the wrongdoers.
It must be remembered that feelings of millions of e Sikhs the world over are
hurt by this ill-advised action on the part of Sikkim government, or Military
authorities; whosoever is involved in this act. To my mind some local people
might have been incited by some vested interests against gurdwara Gurudongmar,
and in the garb of protection of the gurdwara, they changed the sanctity of the
place.
In view of the above, it is
recommended that:
a) The sanctity of the place be
restored immediately.
b) If at all there is any
dispute, it may be settled amicably making the Sikhs a party.
c) Gurdwara being a historical place, SGPC must
get the gurdwara registered under its own wings, The management of
the Gurdwara be placed under the Silliguri Gurdwara Management Committee, with
representatives of Sikhs from Sikkim ;
local lamas from Thangu, Lachen and Chungthang; Sikkim
Government and Army. Army should be requested to run the gurdwara on
behalf of this committee till alternate arrangements are made.
d) The places connected with Guru Nanak’s visit
to Sikkim
should be declared as places of religious and tourist
interest, and developed accordingly. This will certainly be a great source of tourism
development for Sikkim
in general and the area in specific, as has happened in Uttrakhand areas
adjoining Hemkunt Sahib.
e) The Sikkim government and the Army
authorities should relax the permission procedures to visit the area.
Rather than discouraging and obstructing them,they should assist the pilgrims
to visit the area - as is being done in the case of Amarnath yatra in Kashmir .
Ajmer Singh Randhawa
0091 - 981 861 0698.
