THE events that marked the commencement of the tercentenary celebrations of the establishment of the Khalsa on this day in 1999 are still etched on the minds of those who actually made it to Anandpur Sahib, the City of Bliss, and others who viewed them on their TV screens .

Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee had formally led the nation in observing a historic event. On April 8, he repeated the message of Guru Gobind Singh, the founder of the new Order of the Khalsa, of "oneness of humanity" and its "eternal relevance". Since Akalis were a house divided at that point of time, it was, therefore, not out of context that the Prime Minister had called on one and all to "march together and work together" to give meaning to the message that the Guru had preached.

The massive popular upsurge showed a new confidence at that time when seen in the context of what Punjab had been through when militancy ruled the roast.The activities planned for the celebrations, including an inter-faith conclave attended by representatives of Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Buddhism,Christianity and Zoroastrianism, sent the right signals worldwide --- the signal of religious tolerance and universal brotherhood. It also showed how in the next millennium the postulates of the Khalsa Panth will remain relevant for a better social, spiritual, economic and political order.

Unmindful of who was in which political camp and overlooking lapses, faults and failures of the politico-administrative machinery or even the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, the visitors came with the purpose of paying obeisance. They added colour to the festivity and religiosity to the historic occasion. No wonder, during the week-long "official" celebrations over 700,000 men, women and children visited Anandpur Sahib.They were joined by many

VVIPs and VIPs, including the High Commissioners of some countries. Besides, messages from heads of governments and even the Secretary-General of the UN were received showing how far the Guru’s message had reached. It is, however, a different matter that despite the best of efforts, the year(1999) was not declared "Year of Human Spirit". However, 2000 is being observed as the "Year of Peace".

In Anandpur Sahib, the most important event has been the proposed Khalsa Heritage Complex and the Nishan-e-Khalsa monument. The foundation stone of this complex was laid on November 22, 1998, which marked the beginning of the celebrations. Today, on the whole, one neither sees any incremental change nor finds any noticeable landmarks, other than the ones which were begun then. Certainly, a bridge to connect parts of the complex has come up. People who pay obeisance at Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib make it a point to have a look at the large model of the proposed complex. Given the inbuilt system constraints, this may also suffer due to the cost factor and may overrun the time allotted for its completion. But the concept, conceived after intense debate and deliberations, will eventually perpetuate the memory of the tercentenary year.

Public memory, politicians believe, is short. But it is not that short that people will easily forget the announcements made in April last year. A Rs 2,000-crore package was announced by the Chief Minister during the inaugural celebrations. The projects proposed included a six-lane express highway connecting Chandigarh with Anandpur Sahib, a Rs-500 crore information technology institute and, of course, the setting up of a new city — Anandgargh — between Anandpur Sahib and Chandigarh. While there is nothing on record as far as the other projects go, the Anandgarh project has certainly run into rough weather with people determined not to let it see the light of day. The crusade against it, led by the sons of the soil, has already acquired strident overtones.

There is seemingly no progress either on the proposed railway overbridges en route to Anandpur Sahib or widening of the key road. Of course, a short stretch, covering 11 km, from Kiratpur Sahib to Anandpur Sahib was completed before the celebrations commenced in April 1999.

In retrospect, however, one finds that the message of the Guru which was voiced repeatedly by the Akali religio-political leaders was also ignored by them with impunity in the intervening period. Because of their self-created problems, the chasm between important leaders has widened. Akalis learn nothing, forget nothing. All talk of reinventing, redefining the role of Sikh institutions and striking new equations and new relations based on the concept of the postulates handed down by the Guru sound hollow now.

Parallel functions were held then. They will be held again now. The message of "tryst with destiny" echoed at the inter-faith conclave has been forgotten. Just as the Akali feud failed to divide the people or cast a shadow over the 1999 celebrations, as was the apprehension then, the ones who believe in the principles set forth by Guru Gobind Singh will do their duties by performing sewa while visiting Anandpur Sahib now. Unlike last year, when the inaugural ceremonies were a government-run show, the concluding programmes this year would be managed by the SGPC. The concluding ceremonies, which will begin on April 11 and end on Baisakhi, will include a host of activities besides a sarv dharm sammelan and the delivery of messages of the five high priests to the sangat

This year on Baisakhi one may miss the exhibitions, the relics and the memorabilia displayed last year during the festival. But one will have a new Akal Takht Jathedar in Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti. Given the turns and twists in Akali brand of religio-political evolutionary developments, even the "excommunicated" Jathedar of Takht Keshgarh, Prof Manjit Singh, is back in the fold of Sikh Panth as are other key players, including the SGPC president, Bibi Jagir Kaur. Though her appointment last year as the first ever woman president of the mini-Sikh Parliament, as the SGPC is referred to, was controversial, her conduct in the intervening period set off new tremors in the religio-political terrain. How long she lasts remains to be seen.

If the spirit of the celebrations did not dampen then, it will not do so now, despite the omnipresence of the Akalis. It is the time for the wheat to turn amber. Soon the farmer will put the sickle to the golden harvest. The temperature too is rising. But will it be asking for too much from the Akalis not to generate heat which will ignite the embers of distrust and disharmony, when all that Punjab needs is peace,development and brotherhood?

The ruling parties, the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Bharatiya Janata Party, had created two government-sponsored organisations to take care of the celebrations. They were the Anandpur Sahib Foundation and the Anandpur Sahib Urban Planning and Development Authority. If the former was entrusted the task of organising events, activities and projects, the latter was responsible for executing larger projects, including landscaping and setting up of an urban estate and, of course, the controversial new city.

It goes to the credit of these two agencies that despite the engineered religio-political developments and the vacillating nature of the Akalis, they were able to perform their respective roles and functions without stumbling on any major faultlines.

The hype over the mega event, which concludes next week, was created by multiple agencies — right from the national-level committee to local committees— involved in the celebrations. As such, as part of the tercentenary celebrations in the country, the states were expected to build Guru Gobind Singh Bhavans, name universities or educational institutions after the Tenth Guru, bring out literature and organise seminars etc to spread the message of the Guru. However, there has been no consolidated report on how the proposed projects of the states have shaped up.

Nearer home, Himachal Pradesh was to build a ropeway between Anandpur and Naina Devi temple. Work has not yet begun on the project.

Vinni Mahajan of the Anandpur Sahib Foundation who is also the Chief Administrator, ASUDA, has, however, compiled a report listing the activities and giving the status report on some of the key projects. Here one must add that the then Deputy Commissioner, K.S.Sidhu, and the Senior Superintendent of Police, Jaskarn Singh, must be given credit due to them for having worked tirelessly during that period. In fact, Sidhu commissioned a thick volume on Ropar district and the celebrations. The magnum opus running into hundreds of pages is a collector’s item. Besides having articles and information on Ropar, the volume gives pictorial glimpses of the district and a run-up to the actual celebrations.

One can say in conclusion that but for the tercentenary celebrations, Anandpur Sahib may not have witnessed the kind of transformation and metamorphosis that it has .The town was painted lily white, adding to the ambience of the festivity which shall remain embedded in the memory of those who participated in it. A sleepy town of barely 15,000 population, Anandpur Sahib had turned into a dream world with illuminations, laser show, gurbani concert, women conference and distribution of saplings as prasad to make pilgrims and devotees conscious of the need to become eco-friendly in order to preserve the environment.

One hopes that the government will ensure that projects underway will be completed and commissioned on schedule and not allowed to get fatigued because of paucity of funds or interest. Can there be an autonomous set-up for Anandpur Sahib ? The Chief Minister floated this idea during the celebrations so that the infrastructure that has been created could be taken care of. The sooner that is done the better it would be for the place and the people.

Baisakhi ushers in a new harvest. It has its own significance, both in terms of socio-economic aspects as well as from the religious point of view. After all, the Guru had created the Khalsa on this day in 1666 when he baptised the "five" who came to be known as Panj Piare - the five beloved ones. They were Daya Singh (Lahore), Dharam Singh (Hastinapur),Mohkam Singh (Dawarka), Himat Singh (Jagannath Puri) and Sahib Singh (Bidar). The programme envisaged the raising of suitable memorials at the native places of these beloved ones.

Thus dissidence, discordant notes, fault-finding and other minus points notwithstanding, it is time to take a step forward to serve the people in the manner Guru Gobind Singh had ordained his Khalsa to do and do so with humility and devotion. It has to also enable mankind to strengthen the essence of sarbat da bhalla (welfare of all). Let it be the tercentenary pledge of Baisakhi 2000.

News from abroad

AS part of the tercentenary celebrations, the Punjab Government hoped New Delhi would set up a new ministry to look after the NRIs. That was not to be. Nevertheless, the Anandpur Sahib Foundation has received reports of how the occasion was celebrated abroad. Some samples :

lIn Belgium, the celebrations were arranged in collaboration with the local administration at "Y Pres" Memorial, the main battlefield of World War I, where a large number of Sikh soldiers’ names are engraved on the memorial arch and the monument.

lThe town hall was used for Kirtan and recitation of the Guru Granth Sahib. The sword fencing and other items of gatka martial sports attracted many Europeans.

Interestingly, the monument to the memory of known and unknown Indian soldiers who participated in the World War I was inaugurated by the Panj Piare with full religious fervour and they were dressed in their traditional regalia. The foundation stone has inscriptions from the Guru Granth Sahib in Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu.

lARY , a Swiss company, prepared commemorative gold coins of 5 gm each to honour the creation of the Khalsa.

lChairman of the Punjabi language and cultural department, Lahore, published greeting cards.

lNoted Pakistani singer, Shafqat Ali Khan of the famous Sham Chaurasi Gharana sang devotional hymns from the Adi Granth in classical ragas.

lReports of celebrations have come in from the USA, Canada, the UK and other countries as well. In British Columbia, the then Premier, Glen Clerk, participated in the celebrations.

lIn the UK, Prince Charles paid tributes to Sikh religion and culture while participating in the Khalsa celebrations in London’s Royal Albert Hall. Victoria and Albert Museum , London, put up an exhibition on Sikh heritage.

Recap of events

THE tercentenary celebrations of the establishment of the Khalsa, including organisation of different events, activities and projects are believed to have cost nearly Rs 200 crore.

Here is a recap of the key functions and programmes :

lTo perpetuate the memory of the historic event a Khalsa Heritage Complex is being raised on 100 acres. Among its constituents will be a museum with hi-tech and multi-media techniques to display saga of courage, sacrifice, valour and dairying which constitute the history of the Sikhs. The Complex was designed by internationally known Moshe Safdie.The work is in progress, and is expected to be completed in 30 months at a cost, Rs 92.68 crore.

lFor concept and content in the Complex there is a core group and tentative cost of this component is Rs 40 crore.

lComplementary to this Complex is the Nishan-e-Khalsa designed by Satnam Singh.The central piece of this monument is a Khanda soaring 60 metres into the sky. This will cost Rs 32 crore.

lThe word "Memorial" from the Complex was deleted since Khalsa, scholars argued and agreed, was "eternal". Hence, the new name : Khalsa Heritage Complex.

lStamps, medallions, coins etc were issued on the occasion, besides other literature and memorabilia and making of TV films etc.

lOrganisation of Khalsa marches were one of the highlights of the celebrations, as was honouring of the 100-odd personalities, some of them posthumously, who were awarded the Order of the Khalsa.

lFor the main function, a special shamiana was erected with a seating capacity of 60,000 . A transilte of 30 x12 ft, with with 80 fluorescent tubelights formed the backdrop of the main stage. It showed the gurdwara, Takht Keshgarh Sahib.

lExiquiste decorations, illuminations, light and sound programme and a laser show, besides a Gurbani concert, were the other highlights. An exhibition of relics and other articles associated with the Gurus and Sikh history was also organised.

lRelevance of the Khalsa value system in the 21st century was the theme of a seminar held in April 1999 to set the celebrations in motion.

lThe Indian History Congress held its 75th anniversary, and dedicated it to the Khalsa tercentenary.

lIt must be mentioned that 1999 saw a double tercentenary: one marking the creation of the Khalsa and, the other, the installation of the Guru Granth Sahib as the "living" Guru.

lThere was a philately exhibition as well. — PPS

Commemorative medallions: A special attraction
By Sarbjit Singh

THE Khalsa tercentenary celebrations, a significant event in Sikh history, are drawing to a close. A special attraction were the commemorative medallions issued as a part of Sikh memorabilia during the one-year-long celebrations. Though people collected several kinds of souvenirs associated with the Sikh faith during this period, the medallions remained the most sought after souvenirs since their release on April 8 last year by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.

Designed by the Anandpur Sahib Foundation, the pure gold and silver medallions were marketed by the Punjab State Industrial Export Corporation. The corporation got these collector’s items manufactured by the Minerals and Metals Trading Corporation (MMTC), Delhi. The medallions have been crafted out of 24 carat gold and silver imported from Switzerland. The corporation made it a point to give purity certificates issued by the MMTC along with the medallions sold. The sale price of each gold and silver medallion has been fixed at Rs 5,400 and Rs 700, respectively.

As many as 13,000 gold and 18,000 silver medallions worth Rs 8 crore have been sold till date. Orders are still pouring in at the corporation’s Phulkari outlets and some commercial banks. There has been a good response to the sale of medallions not only in Punjab but also in big cities in the rest of the country like Mumbai, Calcutta and Delhi and in the Terai region.

However, there has been some difficulty in sending the medallions abroad. Sikhs settled abroad have collected them through their relations in Punjab and elsewhere in the country. The corporation has got a copyright for the design as well as the marketing of the medallions. At certain places, private companies made an attempt to sell medallions prepared by them but the corporation put an end to the malpractice by invoking the Copyright Act.

Besides medallions, other symbols of the Sikh religion, like kirpans, bracelets(karas) , combs( kanghas) etc, also sold briskly. Shopkeepers around the Gurdwara Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib at Anandpur Sahib have made a fortune during the celebrations.

There was a record turnout of pilgrims to Anandpur Sahib in the past year. The offerings made in cash and kind at Sri Keshgarh Sahib and other gurdwaras in the area, have also recorded a manifold increase. After the Golden Temple, the Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib has become the most visited shrine of the Sikhs.