Historical Gate of Guru Gobind Singh Marg a Shambles
Posted:22 Jan 2013 11:23 AM PST
Editor’s Note:The following news article appeared in the Tribune last week. Although it is true that the condition of the gate is critical, the same applies to many other historical gates, Gurdwaras, monuments and buildings in Punjab and elsewhere. State of Sikh history is even miserable outside of Punjab where there is a lack of sangat and resources. Currently, many Gurdwaras in Pakistan, Afghanistan and other places remain inaccessible to the Sikh Sangat.
While SGPC is constructing new Gurdwaras, museums, etc., it needs to ensure that whatever exists already is not lost.
LUDHIANA, Punjab (January 22, 2013)–Even as we are celebrating the birthday of the tenth guru of the Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh, the gate named after him in Sahnewal is crying for attention.
The gate of Guru Gobind Singh Marg (GGS marg) is famous for the reason that Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru of the Sikhs, travelled from this route from Anandpur Sahib to Talwandi Sabo.
It is believed by the residents that every place on Guru Gobind Singh Marg has sanctity.
“The gate is not only a historical gate but a spot from which Guru Gobind Singh treaded at one time and changed the course of history, transformed lives of many people and made them unique in appearance and deeds,” said one resident.
Another resident said, “Unfortunately today the gate of Guru Gobind Singh Marg is in a shabby condition. It seems that the government has paid little attention towards its upkeep ever since it was first erected. It appears that the erection of the gate and naming it after the tenth guru was the sole motto and nothing above that. The thought of its maintenance or repair, it seems, has never crossed the mind of any government.”
Kanwaljit Shanker, President, International Punjabi Cultural Club said, “The Punjab government should better learn something from the Haryana government which has, on the auspicious occasion of the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh, named 100 km road stretch from Punjab border to Rajasthan border as Guru Gobind Singh Marg. If they can be thoughtful enough to name the road in the sacred memory of the guru, why can’t we spare a thought to preserve one which has already been named after him long time ago?”
PWD Minister Sharanjit Singh Dhillon said, “We consider it as our duty to preserve as to what is named after the great guru but the present situation is such that due to the six-laning of the national highway and the widening of roads, the gate may have to be shifted from its original place. But whatever ever the situation is, I will attend it personally and make the necessary repairs done at the earliest.”
The Punjab government should better learn something from the Haryana government which has, on the auspicious occasion of the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh, named 100 km road stretch from Punjab border to Rajasthan border as Guru Gobind Singh Marg. If they can be thoughtful enough to name the road in the sacred memory of the guru, why can’t we spare a thought to preserve one which has already been named after him long time ago?
— Kanwaljit Shanker, President, International Punjabi Cultural Club
The gate is not only a historical gate but a spot from which Guru Gobind Singh treaded at one time and changed the course of history, transformed lives of many people and made them unique in appearance and deeds.