system
July 18, 2005, 6:12pm
3
Re: Condition of Sikh shrines in Pakistan
anjjan:
When Pakistan raises voice in favor of a Sikh majority nation, blla blla…here is a report on the condition of Sikh shrines in Pakistan.
http://www.jammu-kashmir.com/insights/insight990525.html
Islamic Pakistan Proceeds to Annex Sikh Gurdwaras
The Archaeological Department of Pakistan had conducted a survey of the Sikh historical gurdwaras soon after the 1947 Partition. It had listed as many as 130 important historical gurdwaras. Detailed information about these gurdwaras was later incorporated in the book “Sikh Shrines in West Pakistan” by Khan Mohammed Waliullah Khan and published by the Department of Archaeology, Govt. of Pakistan in 1962. These shrines include 28 gurdwaras built in the sacred memory of Guru Nanak Devji - Gurdwara Janam Asthan, Nankana Sahib; Gurdwara Sachcha Sauda; Gurdwara Parija Sahib, Hassan Abdal; GUrdwara Chaki Sahib, Eminabad; Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Kartarpur; Gurdwara Bairi Sahib; Sialkot, etc. One gurdwara, Janam Asthan Guru Ram Das, Lahore, marks the memory of the fourth Guru, Sri Ram Das. Eight gurdwaras, including Gurdwara Budhu Ka Awa, Lahore; Samadh of Guru Arjan Dev; and Gurdwara Haft Madar, Sheikhupura are in the sacred memory of the fifth Guru, Sri Arjan Devji. There are twelve gurdwaras in the memory of the sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind ji.
Each of these gurdwaras has its own property in the form of agricultural land and buildings. Such land had been donated by the Sikh devotees from time to time for the maintenance and upkeep of these historical qurdwaras. Some of these gurdwaras thus have thousands of acres of land. The property of these gurdwaras is worth hundreds of crores of Rupees. This property went under the control of the Waqf Board after Partition and has since then been systematically misused and misappropriated. Except very few gurdwaras, where Sikh pilgrims from India are allowed to visit in the form of Jathas on religious/historical occasions, not a Rupee has been spent on the maintenance and upkeep of other gurdwaras by the Waqf Board. Sikh devotees, who have acquired foreign nationalities and could visit some of the gurdwaras (beyond access to Indian Sikhs), have come back with horrifying accounts These gurdwaras are not only in a bad state of disrepair but have been systematically desecrated by local residents who use them as shelter for domestic animals and as ground for Sun drying dung cakes, Shops have been set up in gurdwara premises and the essential routine of prayers is not being followed. These grand sites marking significant events in Sikh history are today hut lifeless and decrepit buildings.
I heard the opposite, according to Sikhs who visited, the gurdwars were relatively well kept.. But yeah, I still support Sikh Liberation from Indian terrorism:)