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‘Namaz’
performed at Guru ki Maseet Sri Hargobindpur, March 23 While the controversy of Babri Masjid stands unresolved, a
“memorandum of understanding” (MoU) has been signed by the Nihangs —
the caretakers of the mosque and the Punjab Waqf Board in the presence of
Deputy Commissioner K.A.P. Sinha. Dr Mohammad Rizwanul Haque,
Administrator, Punjab Wakf Board, described the MoU as an international
event which would pave the way for strengthening communal harmony in the
country.
Ms Gurmeet Rai, Director, Cultural Resource Conservation Initiative (CRCI),
who was honoured with an international award by UNESCO for the
conservation of the historical Krishan Temple at Kishankot village, near
here, said though as per the MoU, the Taruna Dal, a sect of Nihangs, had
agreed to conserve “Guru ki Maseet” as a traditional mosque by
allowing to perform “namaz”, yet the Wakf Board requested the Nihangs
to continue as caretakers. It may be mentioned here that this 17th century
mosque on the banks of the Beas was got built by the Sixth Sikh Guru for
his Muslim subjects. The legend has it that the Hindu god Vishwakarma came
down to the earth in a human form to build this sacred town. For many
years, this mosque has been maintained by the Nihangs as it was abandoned
at the time of the Partition. Dr Haque said he remembered that the late
Baba Kirtan Singh, the Nihang chief of the Taruna Dal, had signed an MoU
at Baba Bakala on February 8 last year. He said it was the desire of
babaji that Muslims must perform their “namaz” at the mosque which was
gifted to them. As per the wishes of Baba Kirtan Singh, five saplings were
planted in the names of five pirs.
Baba Balbir Singh, who is the caretaker of the mosque, told TNS that
the Nihangs had preserved the “amanat” of Muslim brethren after the
Partition of the country. He said the holy Guru Granth Sahib which was
placed inside the mosque was taken to the newly constructed adjoining
building so that the mosque could be preserved in its original form as
gifted by Guru Hargobind.
Dr Sukhdev Singh, state convener, INTACH, said the CRCI had started the
conservation work with the financial help of Sikh Foundation.
Maulwi Hamid Hussain Qasmi was specially called to perform “namaz”
from Amritsar. Before the “namaz”, in presence of a large number of
Nihangs and officers of the district administration, Mr Akhlaq Ahmed Khan,
Chief Executive Officer, Punjab Wakf Board, said the performance of
“namaz” after 55 years would be recorded in the world history as an
event when Sikh brethren showed so much magnanimity towards Muslims.
Earlier, awards were presented to the villagers and members of the CRCI
at Kishankot village, where an ancient temple, being looked after the
Sikhs was preserved with a cost of Rs 14 lakh. This temple was built
during the reign of legendry Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
Mr Richard A.Engelhardt, Regional Advisor for culture in Asia and the
Pacific, while presenting awards, said the small village temple had been
highlighted at the international level with this award. Mr Barjinder Kumar
Uppal, SSP, Gurdaspur, Ms V. Neerja, SSP, Batala, and Mr V.K. Mishra,
Vice-Chairman, INTACH, were present at the ceremony.
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