Day 10 (end of the day)
Continuing on from my last post, the final Gurdwara we visited that day was Gurdwara Janam Asthan, also known as Nankana Sahib. Nankana Sahib is actually the name of the district itself, wheras previously the town had been named “Talvandi Rai Bhoe” named after a Muslim Rajput whose descendant Rai Bular was a disciple of Guru Ji. Guru Ji spent 16 years here, then moved to Sultanpur Lodhi. This Gurdwara Sahib is the birthplace of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. A room was built here by Guru Ji’s son Baba Lakhmi Das named Kalu Ka Kotha (house of Mehta Kalu, father of Guru Nanak Dev Ji). The present day Gurdwara was built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh and now has 16 962 acres. It was managed by Udasi priests until the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandak Committee took it over after 1921.
On Feb 21, 1921 Saka Nankana Sahib occurred. Maharaja Ranjit Singh had reconstructed Gurdwaras destroyed by Mughals, and gave the “Mahants” (caretakers of these Gurdwaras) property rights and land attached to the Gurdwaras. Soon mahants became corrupted. At the same time the British were afraid that if the Sikhs took control of the Gurdwaras this would further unify the Khalsa against them and cause a revolution. Mahant Narayan Das was supposed to be caretaker of Nankana Sahib, and instead he allowed many bad things to happen at the Gurdwara Sahib. The Sikh congregation approached him many times, but instead of engaging in those conversations, he turned against the Sikhs with plans for an Anti-Sikh conference on Feb 20, 1921 in Lahore. The Sikhs made a decision to takeover the Gurdwara peacefully while the Mahant was away. Bhai Kartar Singh Jhabbar and Bhai Lachaman Singh Dharowali were to take their jathas. Meanwhile the Mahant made plans and got help from the British Commissioner of Lahore and government to get firearms. The Sikhs met again Feb 19 and decided the jathas shouldn’t go. Bhai Kartar Singh Jhabbar was in attendance and tried to send the message on to Bhai Lachman Singh but meanwhile he was waiting to follow the original plan. Jaethedar Tehal Singh’s Jatha arrived and encouraged them to move forward. They did Ardas and took a Hukamnama, as they reached Nankana sahib there were about 200 Sikhs. Although women and children were asked to go back, one child, Darbara Singh refused to leave because he was inspired by stories of shaheeds. Even after they got the message from the committee, the Jathedaars continued on their journey because they had already done Ardas and set out. Once arriving at the Gurdwara they did Asa Di War, meanwhile the Mahant started firing at the Sikhs. Bullets fired hit the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji as well. Everyone else was martyred with saws, swords, or burned alive including the 9 year old Darbara Singh. Bhai Lachman Singh was tied to a tree upside down and burnt alive. Finally news spread and Bhai Kartar Singh Jhabber arrived with 2200 Sikhs. They were threatened, but did not back down, and finally the Deputy Commissioner Mr. Curry, handed over the keys and the Sikhs regained control of the Gurdwara Sahib. Following this the partition of 1947 happened and the Pakistan Government now manages the Gurdwaras via the Evacuee Trust Property Board. There are restrictions in place about when people can visit this Gurdwara Sahib but jathas have been allowed to come and visit like ours.
It is hard to describe the deep impact that visiting Gurdwara Janam Asthan had on me. It was a life-changing experience. Standing under the same tree that Bhai Lachman Singh was burned alive, I couldn’t help but feel the influence of those sacrifices. I understood that history of "Saka Nankana Sahib" on a way deeper level for the first time because it wasn't a distant story but a striking reality. I think this is why it is important for us to understand our history by seeing these locations in real life.
Once we matha tekked, I did kirtan and read the shabad “Bahur Hum Kahe Aavenge." We did ardas and read a Hukamnama, then ate langar. Whereas in Harmandir Sahib I would not have gotten a chance to do kirtan as a woman (or even get near the stage at a lot of Gurdwaras), here I was at Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s birthplace able to do kirtan! Every Sikh has a dream to visit the birthplace of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. This is our home, the roots of our Sikhi. I am so thankful that this was a dream that came true for my family and we got to visit. I cannot begin to express that appreciation. I wish for the future that all Sikhs who desire got a chance to go and visit Gurdwara Janam Asthan. Right now it is possible for us to go as Canadians and go and see our precious heritage so we should take advantage of this opportunity, and I really hope in the future it opens up to others to get to go as well.
Once we matha tekked, I did kirtan and read the shabad “Bahur Hum Kahe Aavenge." We did ardas and read a Hukamnama, then ate langar. Whereas in Harmandir Sahib I would not have gotten a chance to do kirtan as a woman (or even get near the stage at a lot of Gurdwaras), here I was at Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s birthplace able to do kirtan! Every Sikh has a dream to visit the birthplace of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. This is our home, the roots of our Sikhi. I am so thankful that this was a dream that came true for my family and we got to visit. I cannot begin to express that appreciation. I wish for the future that all Sikhs who desire got a chance to go and visit Gurdwara Janam Asthan. Right now it is possible for us to go as Canadians and go and see our precious heritage so we should take advantage of this opportunity, and I really hope in the future it opens up to others to get to go as well.
Being welcomed
Once one goes through the initial gates:
This Palki sahib was donated all the way from Delhi but unfortunately did not fit inside, and thus is installed in this area.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nankana_massacre
https://www.allaboutsikhs.com/historical-events/historical-sikh-events-saka-nankana-sahib
https://www.allaboutsikhs.com/historical-events/historical-sikh-events-saka-nankana-sahib
You were so lucky to have visited Shri Nanakana Sahib. During Partition, Sikhs were leaderless. Before the British arrived the Ruled the WHOLE of West Punjab, almost most of North India including Delhi!!! Now - basically nothing
ReplyDeleteQuebec just past a law prohibiting religious symbols in Public jobs - like teachers - judges, doctors, nurse, Police officers can't wear turbans, hijabs or Jews Kappas - I can't imagine if you wore turban and couln't become a doctor or someone wearing a turban couldn't become Police officer - This is basic Human rights violation - And this party won majority by ONLY 33% of Popular vote - just Like Trump. The idiot Premier says they are banning to prevent extremism - LOL - The 9/11 hijackers were all clean shaven.
I can't imagine what the students who are in the teaching or medical or police courses are going trough, especially those who just graduated.
https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/trudeau-says-he-will-defend-minority-rights-in-face-of-quebec-religious-symbol-law-1.4474953
Basically Ethnic cleansing in Quebec. But they did the same to Natives now they are doing to Sikhs and Muslims, Jews - if a kid can't become teacher, judge, police officer, or a doctor - why would the family stay - they will move.
ReplyDeleten a motion passed Wednesday, the Commission scolaire de Montreal outlined plans for consultations with governing boards, parents' committees, unions and various associations to determine what changes need to be made to board policies to respect the law.
Catherine Harel-Bourdon, the board chairwoman and an outspoken critic of the new law, told reporters Thursday it is clear the law will need to be applied, but the board is hoping the government understands the issues with application.
The board has 191 schools and nearly 17,000 employees and will need to train hundreds of managers to enforce the law and avoid having it applied unevenly in different schools, she said.
Shortly before Sunday's vote, the government made amendments to the bill providing for inspectors to ensure the new law is applied and specifying that employees who flout the law risk disciplinary measures. The amendments led one Liberal critic to accuse the government of creating a "secularism police."
https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/trudeau-says-he-will-defend-minority-rights-in-face-of-quebec-religious-symbol-law-1.4474953