As the Sikh world continues to be perturbed over the proposed demolition of Mangu Mutt, Punjabi Mutt and a portion of the Baoli Sahib Mutt and Gurdwara adjacent to the Lord Jagannath Temple in Puri, a four-member delegation comprising Prof. Jagmohan Singh -Human Rights Activist and editor, WSN from Ludhiana, Anil Dhir Conservationist, historian, Sukhvinder Kaur, Advocate and Social Activist, from Bhubaneshwar and Gurmeet Singh, Social Activist from Ranchi met the Odisha Governor Prof. Ganeshi Lal and presented him a memorandum seeking immediate intervention. The activists have sought the formation of a Guru Nanak Corridor in and around Odisha. 

A JOINT DELEGATION OF ACTIVISTS apprised the Governor of Odisha that while the Sikh world is reverberating with religious functions, seminars, Nagar Keertans and unique functions and programmes to mark the 550 years of the birth of Guru Nanak Sahib on 12 November 2019, it would be hugely embarrassing for the Odisha government and deeply hurt the sentiments of the Sikh community.

After an extensive first-hand tour of the temple site in Puri, the activists told the Governor that it is comforting that the demolitions have stopped but also said that there is lurking fear and stress in the minds of the Sikhs that the government of Odisha will act post-haste and destroy this historic, religious and cultural heritage.

“There will be an abject loss of heritage due to the demolitions being undertaken, and pleaded that many of the old structures can be restored with proper conservation. Beautification does not mean only demolition.

Taking a broader view of things, the activists sought the opening of a Guru Nanak Corridor tracing the footsteps of Guru Nanak in Odisha and the region.

 

Apprising the governor of his eulogy about the vast cultural importance and significance of Odisha in the world, the activists from Punjab and Odisha asked the Governor to take new initiatives to celebrate the 550^th year birth anniversary of Guru Nanak.

The activists emphasized that it is the duty of the Government of Odisha to preserve and protect such heritage and religious institutions and safeguards the spiritual and emotional values attached to them.

The full text of the Memorandum is as follows:

Memorandum to

Hon’ble Prof. Ganeshi Lal
Governor of Odisha

By Human rights, Social and Conservation activists

Urging the stoppage of the proposed demolition by the Government of Odisha

of religious centres bearing the footsteps of Guru Nanak,

Other Mutts and structures
around the Lord Jagannath Temple, Puri

Following the footsteps of Guru Nanak Sahib -the founder of Sikhism, we have taken stock of the three major centres of Guru Sahib’s visit to Puri in the fifteenth century and we are of the firm belief that it would be a travesty of history if the historic and religious Mutts -hospices, namely the Mangu Mutt, Punjabi Mutt (earlier called Guru Nanak Mutt) and a portion of Bauli Mutt and Gurdwara Sahib, which stand testimony to Guru Nanak Sahib’s visit are demolished in a rather ill-conceived beautification and expansion programme to create a corridor around the Lord Jagannath Temple in Puri.

While the Sikh world is reverberating with religious functions, seminars, Nagar Keertans and unique functions and programmes to mark 550 years of the birth of Guru Nanak Sahib on 12 November 2019, it would be hugely embarrassing for the Odisha government and deeply hurt the sentiments of the Sikh community if such a demolition takes place.

History records that both these Mutts have associational significance with Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s visit to Puri in 1506 C.E.  After Guru Nanak Dev’s visit, there was a steady stream of Sikh pilgrims from the North, who came to Puri, travelling more than 2000 kms by foot. For these multitudes of Sikhs, the Nanak Panthis built two Mutts, which include the Mangu Mutt and the Panjabi Mutt.

The recent decision of the Odisha government to demolish many Mutts for the proposed development of the periphery of Lord Jagannath’s Temple at Puri has seen the destruction of three ancient Mutts -the Bada Akhada Mutt, the Emar Mutt and the Langudi Mutt. Within days, the historic Mutts which provide abode, medicine and food to worshippers has been reduced to rubble and the whole area has been tiled to give it a modern look, which, however, looks uglier and misfits in the overall religiosity of the sacred place.

The proposed demolition of another 15 Mutts which are in the 75 metres radius, including the Mangu Mutt and the Punjabi Mutt has understandably disturbed Sikhs worldwide.

History records that both these Mutts have associational significance with Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s visit to Puri in 1506 C.E.  After Guru Nanak Dev’s visit, there was a steady stream of Sikh pilgrims from the North, who came to Puri, travelling more than 2000 kms by foot. For these multitudes of Sikhs, the Nanak Panthis built two Mutts, which include the Mangu Mutt and the Panjabi Mutt.

The Mangu Mutt and the area around it is the spot where Guru Nanak composed “Gagan Mein Thaal Rav Chand Deepak” which has come to be known as the Universal Aarti of God Almighty and also referred to as the Sikh Aarti. The connection between Sikhism and the Jagannath temple goes back to more than 500 years ago when Guru Nanak Dev Ji visited the holy temple to spread the message of Ek Onkar, meaning “one supreme reality.” It was here that the Holy Sikh Arti, which is enshrined in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, was composed. Since then the association of Sikhs with the Puri came about and continues till today.

It is widely believed that the Mangu Mutt was set up by Bhai Almast, the Sikh preacher and head of the Udassi sect sometime in 1615 C.E.  The image of Baba Shri Chand, the son of Guru Nanak Dev Ji is kept in the shrine inside the mutt. Even the ninth Sikh master -Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji chose to visit the place in 1670 CE.

For your kind perusal and understanding of the depth of association of Sikhs with Odisha, we are attaching two well-researched and authentic articles by the reputed anthropologist and historian Dr Himadri Bannerjee, who has done extensive research into Sikhism in Odisha.

The Mangu Mutt and the area around it is the spot where Guru Nanak composed “Gagan Mein Thaal Rav Chand Deepak” which has come to be known as the Universal Aarti of God Almighty and also referred to as the Sikh Aarti. The connection between Sikhism and the Jagannath temple goes back to more than 500 years ago when Guru Nanak Dev Ji visited the holy temple to spread the message of Ek Onkar, meaning “one supreme reality.”

While delegations of Sikh bodies have petitioned the administration, as activists concerned with the preservation and conservation of our rich cultural and religious legacy, considering it our bounding duty, we appeal to you to advise your government not to ignore the demands of the Sikh community and to ensure that the glorious shared heritage of Puri is preserved to its fullest.

Understandably the exercise of expansion and beautification is being taken up on the basis of a Cultural Ministry’s move for security and improvisation of the Lord Jagannath Temple, it is our belief that it is not in the interest of any government or administration to destroy old religious places bearing a sacred significance and which are an integral part of the Jagannath culture.

The Mutts of Puri, unlike those in the rest of the country, are monuments which are reminiscent of the golden period of Odishan history. The Mutts are the witnesses of our past glory and grandeur. They are the proven records of antiquity but have unfortunately fallen victims to the neglect by owners and caretakers.  All the governments of the past will have to accept the responsibility for being callous and careless and allowing the deterioration of the surroundings of the Lord Jagannath Temple.

We request that the existing parameter of 75 metres may be re-examined as it is not a sacrosanct reference point. This alone will ensure the conservation of many of the building and structures of both the Sikh and Hindu faith.

Unquestionably, the Sikh community, including the Orissa Sikh Pratinidhi Board, will rise to the occasion and do everything it can, as they are doing worldwide to protect the glory of places which bear the footsteps of Guru Nanak Sahib and other Sikh historical places. As promised by the Sikh apex body -the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee as well as by the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Sikhs will be more than willing to support the government of Odisha to ensure the best implementation of safeguarding the rich heritage of Puri and other historic places in the State.

The government of Odisha may take up the development of a historic Guru Nanak Corridor -the path taken by Guru Nanak Sahib during his visit to various parts of Odisha.

While speaking at a recent function, your good self has eulogised the vast cultural importance and significance of Odisha. In this 550^th year of the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, it is our request that you may kindly:

1. Take up the matter of the proposed demolition of Mangu Mutt, Punjabi Mutt and portions of Bauli Mutt with the government of Odisha and ensure that these vital, historical and heritage sites or any part thereof, of the Sikh religion, are not obliterated.
2. The government of Odisha may take up the development of a historic Guru Nanak Corridor -the path taken by Guru Nanak Sahib during his visit to various parts of Odisha.
3. As the Chancellor of the prestigious Utkal University, you may take up the proposal of setting up a Guru Nanak Chair for research into the hundreds of thousands of palm-leaf manuscripts relating to Guru Nanak Sahib in Odisha.
4. Ask the government of Odisha to initiate and set up a panel of expert linguists in the Odiya language to translate the Guru Granth Sahib into the Odiya language.

As a unique scholar and administrator, we hope that you will take up the matter of preservation of Sikh heritage in right earnest and ensure that the government of Odisha takes effective and immediate steps to protect and preserve the glorious past and not succumb to the pressures of a modern beautification idea.

We will be more than happy to share more details and documentation with you and the government of Odisha.

The blessings of Guru Nanak await us all.

Prof. Jagmohan Singh Human Rights Activist and writer Ludhiana, Punjab	Anil Dhir Conservationist, historian Bhubaneshwar, Odisha
Sukhvinder Kaur Advocate and Social Activist Bhubaneshwar, Odisha	Gurmeet Singh Social and Religious Activist Ranchi, Jharkhand