Conservation of art, architecture, archaeology, historical archives, heritage and legacy runs through his veins. There are very few such souls in Punjab and India. He has been squirming on his bed for the last three days reading news, viewing videos of the destruction of heritage in the foreground of Harmandar Sahib -Amritsar -the House of Guru Ram Das, devoutly revered by Sikhs from throughout the world. He is Dr Balvinder Singh -former head of Guru Ramdas School of Planning at Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar. Heritage author and activist Dr Balvinder Singh shares his inner thoughts early this morning today on the threshold of Darbar Sahib, Amritsar, in this photo-essay with readers of The World Sikh News.

In the ambrosial hours of the morning today, Guru Ram Das beckoned me to visit Harmandar Sahib. I brushed aside the thought of why I had waited for the last 72 hours to go there. Undoubtedly, I was distraught, a little angry and a little hopeful at the discovery of a marvellous heritage building buried beneath the foreground of Darbar Sahib, a portion of which I had seen way back in 1997.

I stood there motionless at the Shoe Place -Jodha Ghar, outside the Harmandar Sahib, wondering what has happened, why it has happened and who is responsible. What caused this and how has it reached such a pass?  I pondered over the images emerging from the tunnel-like structure, thinking -what is this? Is there light at the end of the tunnel or is this something else?

What is the cause of this? What is the cause of all these demolitions and rushed construction activity?  Such and more questions floated in my mind. 

Is it the fault only of those who are involved in the demolition and the construction? Perhaps not. Like many of us Sikhs, they too are unmindful of the importance and significance of the value of this treasure of heritage.

Yet, somebody is responsible. Someone has not done the homework. We, as a people have not inculcated the significance and importance of old buildings, historical monuments, old books, newspapers and handwritten material of Gurus, writers and historians. 

While I clicked pictures of the aftermath of the demolition, I was deeply relieved that the SGPC has stopped the construction as of now. 

Cogitating over through all these thoughts, accompanied by my wife, I entered the precincts of Darbar Sahib and prayed to Akalpurakh Almighty and Guru Sahib to grant us the wisdom, spirit and strength to protect our heritage and culture. 

Let the SGPC and all others to whom conservation is dear, begin with an empirical study and analysis of our heritage sites, monuments and literature. It is time to generate awareness about our prestigious memoirs depicting tangible and intangible heritage. Construction can then follow.  I will be happy to associate and support any such endeavour to the best of my capacity, capability and experience. 

 Read Also: Stop excavation around Darbar Sahib, conserve heritage, exhorts Panjab Digital Library

What has been lost, cannot come back. What remains, can be and should be saved, protected and preserved for posterity. 

Dr Balvinder Singh retired from the Guru Ramdas School of Planning, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar. Much-travelled author-activist Balvinder Singh is flowing with ideas of saving Sikh arts and artefacts. He has written many articles on the subject of conservation of heritage and legacy in Indian and foreign journals. His recent publication is “Splendid Artworks in Historic Sikh Shrines of India and Pakistan: Conservation Perspective.”