Thread by @amaanbali, Gurdwara Gyan Godri Sahib-History & never ending campaign to reclaim Sikh heritage. [...]

Gurdwara Gyan Godri Sahib-History & never ending campaign to reclaim Sikh heritage. Thread.

The case of Gurdwara Gyan Godri Sahib can be understood from work of Baljeet Singh Ji. Pic-2

I will be discussing Timeline of events leading upto this date & History in later part.

Gurdwara Gyan Godri Sahib-History & never ending campaign to reclaim Sikh heritage. Thread. The case of Gurdwara Gyan Godri Sahib can be understood from work of Baljeet Singh Ji. Pic-2 I will be discussing Timeline of events leading upto this date & History in later part.

There are 3 Gurdwara Sahibs in one location at Haridwar, much like 3 Gurdwaras in Shaheed Gunj & case can be compared for better studies.

1. Gurdwara Gyan Godri Sahib
2. Gurdwara Nanak-Waara Sahib.
3. Gurdwara Nanak-Ann Khetar Sahib.

Each Gurdwara has its historical value.

Gurdwara Gyan Godri Sahib is/was on bank of river Ganga where Jaanvi market stands today.

Gurdwara Nanak-Waara is the place where Guru Sahib rested.

Gurdwara Nanak-Ann Khetar is the place where langar was prepared for Guru by Vaishnav Pandit. It is looked after by Gurdeep Singh

Gurdwara Gyan Godri Sahib was constructed with maryada during the construction of ‘Har ki Pahuri’ in 1932 by Maharaja Bhupinder Singh Ji.
In 1947 lot of refugees came to stay in Gurdwara Nanak-Waara Sahib.

In 1937 UP Govt formed GPC decided that any place where SGGS is established will be taken over by GPC. Fearing this, the Udasis in Gurdwara Nanak-waara removed SGGS & installed idol & picture of Guru Nanak. It still exists there & is handled by Mahant Raminder Das

GPC’s bad move

In 1978 for construction of Mela Ground, 8ft Of space from Gyan Godri Sahib was taken by govt. (without compensation).

Queen of Landran & Raja Narinder Singh in 1980 gave Landran house to Gurdwara Gyan Godri as a Seva. Mata Ram Piyari (81) took care of the complex till 1983.

In Nov-1984 the dome & Nishan Sahib of the Gurdwara were removed. The slogan being “Nishan Mitao inka”. Local crowds participated with hammers & sticks. There was no opposition & demolition took mere 2hrs. The ruins were left as they are. 2 Sewadaars we’re burnt alive in compound

In 1985 authorities converted double storey Gurdwara & Landran house into a shopping complex & named it as ‘Jaanvi Market’.

In 1993 Shromani Vishav Akali Dal president Jathedar Balbir Singh wrote to SGPC & got reply in letter dated 17-11-93 as, “We will find out”

In 1998 May the matter was presented to Swami Parmanand.

On 20June 1999, a meeting was held in Jawalapur where Swami supported Gyan Dev singh & late Najar Singh I’m getting gurdwara documents from 1932-1993 from Saharanpur Tehsil, Roorkee & Haridwar Muncipal Committee.

On 22Aug 1999, Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee Gyan Godri was formed with Baljeet singh as its president.

On 27th Feb 2000, a Diwan was organised in front of Gurdwara Gyan Godri Sahib

On 12-02-2001, as per Minority commission’s order the DM Of Haridwar suggested 3 plots to Sikhs

One at Ranipur Morh (3000-5000gaz) was chosen & it was also decided that a shop in Jaanvi market ‘Bharat Scouts & Guides’ will be allocated for putting Nishan Sahib & for engraving History

Please note that Gurdwara extended from this shop to Vaishno Bhojanalya to Mohan Chotiwala

Sant Baba Nahar Singh Nanak Sar & Sant Baba Hari Singh talked to then LG Surjeet Singh Barnala at lengths in meetings at his residence.
Baba Nahar singh also met then Law minister Ram Jethmalani to discuss the issue at length.

Sardar Gurcharan Singh Babbar (President All India Sikh conference) met Pratibha Patil on 22nd Sept, 2010 in presence of DM of Uttarakhand & discussed the issue at length.

On 2Jan 2011, Bhai Bachitar singh & Baba Sato singh announced fast unto death in a village of Haridwar.

On 10Jan 2012, under Vishaal Punjabi conference Bhai Jupinder singh & Baba Baljeet singh Dadhowal decided to “fight or die” & left ultimate decision to Akal Takht

On 14Nov, 2012, Sikhs under Dadhowal decided to court arrest in Paonta Sahib. Akal Takht published the arrest as sad

As per instructions from Dhadowal, Sikhs led by Harbhajan Singh reaches Haridwar from Chandigarh at 01:30am on 29Nov. From 04:30am-07:30am Kirtan was performed right in front of Gyan Godri Sahib.

On 3rd March 2013, UK CM Bahuguna with his minister Narinder singh Bhindra announced that Gurdwara will be constructed in 2-3 months.

In Sep, 2013 Jathedar Sahib Of Keshgarh Sahib Mal singh met CM again and expressed sadness over the delay.

After a meeting with the shop owner of Bharat Scouts & guides, it was decided that SGGS will be installed in the shop before the Prakash Purab of Guru Nanak Sahib in 2014. However Singhs were arrested again. Dhadowal & sangat celebrated Guruourab in Gurdwara Ann Kartar.

On 10-11-2015, Sarbat Khalsa gathered at Ann Khetar & Akali Leadership was called out for its inaction & complicity on delay. It was loud meeting followed by a protest where Baljeet singh Khalsa Dhadowal was arrested.
Following this, an Ardaas was initiated in all Chd Gurdwaras

On 18Feb, 2016, Dhadowal was released but he was arrested again within 15 days on pretext of something else.

On Vaisakhi of 2016, Bhai Joga singh & others started hunger strike & at the same time CM Harish Rawat’s chair fell leading to Governor rule for two months.

More delay

He became CM again, Sardar Harpal Singh Sethi & Sangat Of Dehradun was assures by Rawat that Ranipur Morh was approved.

The barrage area however falls under UP govt & permissions are needed from UP govt. Agitations started again because of trickery of govt & complexity of issue

On 14-4-2017 Nishan Sahib was hoisted at Ranipur Morh Plot. The plot papers need permissions from UP govt & a nod from UK govt to go ahead with construction.

The latest developments in the case are as- https://m.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/features/ukhand-to-give-land-for-gian-godri-sahib-386340

U’khand to give land for Gian Godri Sahib

NEW DELHI: RSS affiliate Rashtriya Singh Sangat said here today that Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat had promised to allot land for the reconstruction of Gurdwara Gian Godri Sahib,...

https://m.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/features/ukhand-to-give-land-for-gian-godri-sahib-386340

It should be understood that SGPC formed panel wants either UP govt to give the permissions for the plot of Ranipur or permit the construction in Jaanvi Market.
The issues have arisen due to construction initiated by Sikhs & denial of permissions. https://www.dailypioneer.com/2017/state-editions/sikh-devotees-start-construction-of-gyan-godri-gurdwara-in-haridwar.html

Sikh devotees start construction of Gyan Godri Gurdwara in Haridwar

With the Uttar Pradesh Government still dithering to hand over the land, the Sikh community peopleIJ who have been staging stir at a place near Prem Nagar ashram bridge for the past few months,

https://www.dailypioneer.com/2017/state-editions/sikh-devotees-start-construction-of-gyan-godri-gurdwara-in-haridwar.html

History of Gurdwara Sahibs at Haridwar.

I will be discussing the history of all three Gurdwaras in greater details.

I have quoted Saakhi Mehrbaan Wali from the 3 Janamsaakhis available to study Guru Nanak Paatshah.

Guru Nanak Paatshah reached the banks of Ganga during his 1st Udasi with Bhai Mardana It was on the day of Vaisakhi. Bhai Mardana Ji was amazed to see so many devotees & asked Guru Sahib if these people are lucky to be here or are they sinful to have come here for washing sins

Guru Sahib is known to have sung the bani that was revealed to him at that very moment.
Guru Sahib told Mardana that no one knows what resides inside & it is like tightly knotted bag that opens only if Akal Purakh wants. Guru Sahib Ji gave us the bani as

Guru Sahib & Bhai Mardana sat near tha banks of river where people were taking a dip, chanting hymns, & offering water.
Seeing this Guru Sahib smiled & said that none of these people were offering prayers & all this was just for show with no meaning. Bhai Sahib asked Him why.

Guru Nanak Dev stepped in water & started offering water towards ‘west’. People taking bath saw this & murmured that He was a mad man. Someone said’ “He is a Turk”. (Turk was used to refer to Muslims).

A man finally came & asked, “Hey bir Ram k, what is your religion & who are u

Guru Sahib asked the man who he is offering water to, to which the man replied that he is offering it to his ancestors.
Guru Sahib asked where his ancestors were & he said they are in Devlok.
Guru further asked him how far Devlok was to which he said crores of Miles.

Guru Sahib asked him if his water reaches there? To which he replied “Yes”
Guru Sahib told him that his fields are in Kartarpur & it hasn’t rained well there so he is offering water to his fields in the western direction.

People understood that He is not a madman but a wise man

Guru Sahib came out of water & told the praying Brahmin on the banks that his prayers aren’t worth it, the Brahmin got angry to which Guru Sahib told him that his attention is in the oil, and trade that his men are doing in Kabul. Brahmin fell on his knees & asked for forgiveness

Guru Sahib rested in a Dharamshala which is now Gurdwara Nanak Wara Sahib. Guru Sahib retired to this place every night after preaching on banks of Ganga every day.

The news of Wise guru spread like fire in Haridwar & it irked some people as well.

Next morning Vaishnav Gobind came to invite guru Sahib for lunch at his place nearby. Guru Sahib declined initially but agreed to go when he insisted.
Vaishnav marked circle around guru Sahib & brought food of various types.

Guru Sahib looked at him & told him that his food is impure as his kitchen is dirty. Vaishav was surprised & told Guru Sahib that he cleans & makes his kitchen every day. (Miiti da lep on floor used to be done in those times everyday by upper castes).

He told Guru Sahib that no one except him can enter his kitchen & it is pure. Guru Sahib then sung this bani as in pic.
Guru Sahib told him that it is his inner vices that he takes along in the kitchen & even though he sings prayers on banks of Ganga, he says no prayers alone.

Hearing this Vaishnav became upset & closed his doors on Guru Sahib Guru Sahib came to the bank again. Bhai Mardana ji told guru Sahib that he needs fire to prepare some langar to which guru Sahib replied that “go get some burning coal from Vaishnav”. Bhai Mardana Ji went as told

On reaching his door, Vaishnav asked him “What is your caste?” to which he said, “Doom”. Hearing this Vaishnav told Mardana to leave. Bhai Sahib came back & told Guru about it. Guru then revealed to Sangat sitting there first vice of the Vaishnav. Guru Sahib sent Mardana again

Bhai Sahib went again & told Vaishnav that he is okay even if he throws the burning coal at him from a distance without touching. Vaisahnv told Mardana to not come again and told him that he doesn’t care about their hunger at all

Guru Sahib thus revealed another vice of Vaishnav

Guru Sahib sent Mardana again & we have to appreciate the devotion of Bhai Sahib. Vaishnav asked him who had sent him to which Bhai Sahib replied that it was Baba Nanak. Vaishnav laughed & told Mardana that why does he need fire, he is tappi himself. Mardana came back insulted.

Guru Sahib sent Mardana again & this time Vaishnav got so mad that he chased Bhai Mardana with burning wood in his hand. Bhai Sahib was scared & ran to hide behind guru Sahib. Vaisahnav on reaching there saw Sangat & realised his mistake. He fell on guru sahib’s knees.

Gurdwara Ann-Khetar started there, the Vaishnav from that point onwards started langar (although some Sikh scholars contest this fact).

One Pandit Pujari Lal Pinju had come to Haridwar from Keeratpur Sahib. He was curious to meet Guru Sahib as he had lot of questions to ask.

The conversation between Guru & Pinju is as-
Pandit- Ram Ram Gur Babaji Ram Ram

Guru Nanak- “Ram Ram Ram Sati, Gur Sati, Sat Raja Ram, Dukh Nivaran Ram, Pattit Udharan Ram, aaiye Ji”

Notice the Ram here is praise of Akal Purakh in the salutation or greeting

Pinju asked Guru Sahib about purpose of life & if bathing in holy waters really cleanses one of sins to which Guru Sahib replied while Mardana ji played Rabab.

Pinju stayed in the company of Guru Sahib & after going back to his village revealed the truth about Guru Nanak. People were influenced & his own daughter was so influenced that she kept singing praises of Nanak while out in meadows with her cows.

Sai Buddhan Shah was angry hearing someone else’s praises in Keeratpur & taunted the girl singing praises of Nanak asking “Would your Nanak ever come?”
Guru Sahib traveled to Keeratpur during his 4th Udasi & Gurdwara Charan Kaval Sahib exists there today.

This is the brief history of struggle of Sikhs to reclaim their heritage & Gurdwara in Haridwar and brief history of Guru Nanak & the three Gurdwaras. I’m sure I might have made some mistakes in interpreting Saakhi & apologise for those in advance.

I urge SGPC @GSinghlongowal @mssirsa @myogiadityanath @tsrawatbjp to make sure that no further delays occur in returning the Heritage Of Sikhs to Sangat.

#Sikhs #GyanGodriSahib @SikhPA

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