While the struggle for the real Gurdwara Aarti Sahib with the government of Orissa is still under a cloud, in a significant development, five Singh Sahibans at a meeting at the Akal Takht Sahib on 24 August 2020, has directed Baba Shamsher Singh to remove the name ‘Gurdwara Aarti Sahib’ within one month or face action from the highest temporal authority of the Sikhs. This pseudo-Gurdwara Aarti Sahib was put up in the historic city of Puri to mislead Sikh Sangat into believing that this was the place where Guru Nanak Sahib recited the Aarti and thereby attempting to dilute the claim to the original Gurdwara  Aarti Sahib at the Mangu Mutt opposite Lord Jagannath Temple in Puri, Orissa.

IN A VERY CLEAR AND DIRECT STATEMENT, FIVE SIKH TEMPORAL LEADERS -JATHEDARS,  have directed Baba Shamsher Singh to forthwith change the name of the Gurdwara that he, his son and some other trustees have built on the sea-shore in the historic city of Puri.

The resolution passed by the Jathedars was one of the many resolutions on different subjects concerning the Sikh faith. The resolution number seven directs Baba Shamsher Singh to change the name of Gurdwara Aarti Sahib within one month, saying that it is not the actual place where the Aarti Sahib hymns were recited by Guru Nanak Sahib during his journey to Jagannath Puri in Orissa.

The resolution further reads that “even earlier the Akal Takht Sahib and Takht Patna Sahib had given verbal directions to give effect to the change in name but this direction has been disregarded.” The Singh Sahibans have added a strong word of caution, “In case this is not followed through, strict action will be taken in consonance with Gurmat principles.”

Punjab MLA and SGPC member Balwinder Singh Bains who had earlier taken up the issue when a meeting to discuss Mangu Mutt was convened at Akal Takht Sahib in December 2019, speaking to The World Sikh News said, “This is a welcome decision. I am grateful to Jathedar Akal Takht Sahib Giani Harpreet Singh, Jathedar Takht Harmandir Ji Patna Sahib Giani Ranjit Singh Ji and all other Singh Sahibans for this long-overdue decision. I also appeal to Jathedar Akal Takht that such actions must be taken swiftly in future too so that no one dares to mar Sikh history and culture.”

Authenticity of Gurdwara Aarti Sahib and dubious role of Sikh institutions

“Baba Shamsher Singh and his son Jagdip Singh have attempted to change our history. Guru Nanak Sahib recited Aarti Sahib at another place and this father-son duo has established a Gurdwara Sahib in the name of Gurdwara Aarti Sahib for their own selfish ends at a place of their choice which has no historic relevance whatsoever,” he added.

Talking about the Mangu Mutt issue which is still hanging fire, Balwinder Singh Bains, who was part of the delegation with his brother -Punjab MLA Simarjit Singh Bains and other activists to Puri early this year said, “We conducted a ground study and met high-ranking officials including the Governor and Home Minister of Orissa. Our report is ready. We have sought time from Jathedar Akal Takht. Maybe the lockdown conditions made it difficult. We will again seek time from Singh Sahib and present our full report.”

“We assure the Sikh Sangat that we will take the Mangu Mutt case to its logical conclusion so that the original Gurdwara Aarti Sahib is established right opposite the Lord Jagannath Puri temple, as historically that was the place where Guru Nanak recited ‘Gagan Mein Thall Rav Chand Deepak’ Aarti Sahib,” declared Balwinder Singh Bains.

The struggle for retaining Mangu Mutt, which started nearly a year back is still on. The Orissa government has given assurance that the sanctity of the visit of Guru Nanak Sahib to the state will be maintained but so far there has been no follow up.

“We assure the Sikh Sangat that we will take the Mangu Mutt case to its logical conclusion so that the original Gurdwara Aarti Sahib is established right opposite the Lord Jagannath Puri temple, as historically that was the place where Guru Nanak recited ‘Gagan Mein Thall Rav Chand Deepak’ Aarti Sahib.”

Balwinder Singh Bains, MLA, Punjab Assembly, Member SGPC

Since conservation activist Anil Dhir and social activist and lawyer Sukhwinder Kaur took up the issue in September 2019, despite visits by SGPC members and a huge outcry by The World Sikh News and other activists in the Sikh community, the Mangu Mutt was razed to the ground by the Orissa government. The Guru Nanak Mutt and the Gurdwara Baoli Sahib are also under threat. The Orissa Sikh Pratinidhi Board and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee have not taken a clear stand on the issue.

The present decision of the five Singh Sahibans has once again set the ball rolling to preserve the long-lost heritage sites which have traces of Guru Nanak’s travel on foot in the eastern parts of the Indian sub-continent. The World Sikh News hopes and prays that the Sikh community in its wisdom and the conservation fraternity in solidarity will join hands to ensure that all heritage sites around Jagannath Puri, relating to any religion, which is under threat, are preserved at all costs.