Historical Context & Legal Battles around Gurdwara Shaheed Gunj Bhai Taru Singh Ji. A Thread

In order to understand the whole context I have referred to Dalvir Pannu’s book Sikh Heritage: Beyond Borders.

It is a long thread but gives you insight of the entire conflict.

Gurdwara Shaheed Gunj Sahib & Gurdwara Singh Singhnia (use ਣਂ) are 2 Gurdwaras right in front of Lahore Railway station in what is called as ‘Laanda Bazaar’.

This market was called ‘Nikas Bazaar’ during Mir Manu’s time & was famous place to buy horses.

The market was also famous as the centre for execution of Sikhs & Hindus who were brought here for public executions & hence also called Shaheed Bazaar sometimes.

There is another Gurdwara called ‘Shaheedi Asthan Bhai Taru Singh Ji’ where Bhai Sahib was taken care of for 21 days

This Gurdwara lies in ‘Hanuman Koocha’ which is now called as ‘Farooqia Gali’. There is no conflict around this place. However there is an empty plot behind this Gurdwara that has been a point of legal battles for ages.

In order to understand Shaheedi Of Bhai Taru singh refer- https://twitter.com/amaanbali/status/1276108857891188741

So far we have understood that there are three Gurdwaras, one where Bhai Taru Singh Ji was executed called Shaheed Gunj, second one Singh Singhnia where Sikh women were raped & executed by Mir Manu & third one in Farooqia Gali. The first two lie in same campus.

It should be noted that third Gurdwara about which the conflict has erupted lies separated by Farooqia Gali.

We will understand the entire conflict here.
In 1880 Mahant Harnam Singh took the campus & enlisted it under his own ‘Malkiyat’ (ownership). His manager was Ganda Singh

After Ganda Singh’s death his son Asa Singh and his widow Khem Kaur ran into dispute over the campus.

Lala Amolak Ram Musif preceded the case in Lahore between Mother & Sik.

He decided that Ganda singh was a mere manager & property ownership does not belong to the family. That’s where the case split open to attention of locals there.

It was found that there is a plot+ stable + Mosque in the campus after cursory visit by Amolak Ram.

The mention of ‘mosque’ reached to Anjuman-e-Islamia & it pursued the case further.

The ‘mosque’ in question was ‘Shaheed Gunj Dharamshala’ which was shaped like a mosque but was not actually a mosque. It was a resting place.

Anjuman-e-islamia filed case on basis of ‘shape’ of building in campus. The case was led by Advoacte Syed Mushim Shah who was also Joint Sec of Anjuman-e-Islamia. He had no evidence but the argument that shape is that of a mosque

Justice Hilton dismissed the petition saying-

“Mere fact that building is in shape of mosque doesn’t give any degree of decree to Muslims or carrying out any activity there.”

Rai Bahadur Muna Lal was the second judge with Justice Hilton & stated “The place has long served as a Sacred place & shape doesn’t prove otherwise.

After this failure, Nizamuddin & Firozudin also lodged petitions arguing that there were graves in campus that are proof enough. The court dismissed the petition stating “The place has been a burial ground for thousands & theres no way to establish which graves are talked about’

If all this was not enough, Bhai Harnam Singh & brother Hari Singh filed a petition that the campus was their ‘personal property’ to regain control.

On 20jan 1930 Gurdwara Tribunal board moved against Harnam singh in High court.

On 19 oct 1934 Justice MML Kari & Justice H Munro gave the campus and plot to Gurdwara Trubunal diagnosing Harnam Singh’s case as well as others about graves.

Jathedar Tara Singh was made Jathedar of area by SGPC in 1935.

Please note that we still haven’t arrived at the spot that is news today. This is all about the campus nearby which is related to this case as well.

SGPC started construction of a Gurdwara in May 1935.

SGPC also removed Shaheed Gunj Dharamshala which was contested as mosque on basis of shape earlier.

During bringing down of structure, Bhai Mewa Singh lost life because entire building came down on him.

This incident was projected as ‘Punishent Of Allah’ by Anjuman-e-islamia

Over the next few days there were riots in the city. 15 Sikhs and 18 Muslims lost their lives in the riots.

DC Partap Singh Grewal managed to control the riots. Sir Herbert came from Shimla to Lahore to review the situation himself & section 144 was imposed in the entire city.

Sikh leadership was led by Master Tara Singh at that time. Maulana Shaukat Ali wrote to Tara Singh about the situation to which he replied as-

There was largely peace after 1936 around this matter. A local historian Iqbal Kaiser helped British sikhs to build a Gurdwara in 1990s.

Now we arrive at Pir Kaku Shah & Shaheed Gunj Bhai Taru Singh conflict.

On oct 30, 1935, Dr Mohd Aalam filed petition against SGPC. SGPC appointed 6 lawyers for the case headed by Rai Bahadur Badri Das.

Hearing started on 23 March 1936 & ended in April. SGPC asserted that Sikhs had the area for more than 150yrs.

In hearing, 42 witnesses & DC S Partap appeared, 25 witnesses were presented by opposition. 67 documentary exhibits were presented by SGPC. Dr. Mohd Aalam argued for six days and the judgment was issued on 7th day that is as

Case was hence handed over to SGPC.

An offshoot case of appeal of ‘Pir Kaku Shah Tomb’ was made on 25May 1936 which the filing party lost again. The judgment was issued to release Kaldip singh who was impriosned for occupation of tomb. The judgement read as-

The judge further referred SGPC to take control of the matter & avoid confrontations.

It can thus be said that current order by Pak govt is in line with history & should not be communalised any further. I believe that there are elements that are irked with Appeasement policy of

PTI & are using anything that can be dug out from past against him.

While it is important to keep pressure on Pak about it. It is equally important to educate oneself on the actual timeline of the history.
@mssirsa #Sikhs @SikhPA