The Khalsa Heritage Memorial Complex is envisioned as an integrated multi-dimensional presentation of Khalsa heritage, reflection of Sikh values, outstanding legends of Sikh history,Sikh ideals and experiences over the last 300 years, writes Sarup Singh Alag

PARKASH SINGH BADAL during a visit to Israel, saw the Jewish Museum there. He was highly impressed with the way the history and culture of the Jewish people was preserved. He thought of making a similar complex for Sikhs. He enquired about the architect who had designed the Jewish Museum and was told that it was conceived and completed by a US-based Israeli, Moshe Safdie. Incidentally, Safdie was in Israel at that time and they both met. Safdie offered his services for designing the Khalsa heritage museum and, subsequently, visited Anandpur Sahib to see the location and acquaint himself with the salient features of Sikh culture. This is how the ‘Ajooba’ project was conceived.

Safdie was provided the basic input about the Sikh culture, which he kept in mind while shaping the Khalsa Heritage Museum Memorial Complex which is being constructed to commemorate the 300 years of the birth of the Khalsa. It is envisioned as an integrated multi-dimensional presentation of Khalsa heritage, reflection of Sikh values, outstanding legends of Sikh history,Sikh ideals and experiences over the last 300 years.

When contacted, Moshe Safdie informed this writer that the Khalsa Heritage Memorial Complex is divided into two smaller units that straddle either side of a ravine and are connected by a bridge. The western complex, adjacent to the town of Anandpur Sahib, is based around an entrance piazza, and contains a 400-seat auditorium, a double-storeyed library, and galleries where exhibitions can be put up. The eastern complex contains a permanent exhibition space. It consists of two galleries that reflect fortress architecture of this region and form a dramatic skyline against the surrounding terrain of sand cliffs. The clustering of the galleries in groups of five, depicts the five virtues, a central tenet of the Sikh faith. A series of dams in the ravines create pools in which the reflection of the complex is caught at night.

The entire complex will showcase the rich cultural heritage of the Sikhs. The museum itself with its state- of-the-art exhibit design and computer technology will impart, to the visitors, splendid stories of heroism and courage. Through a rich canvas of the multi-faceted exhibits, the Sikh history will be depicted in an interactive format, allowing the visitors to not only see but experience Sikh history in a way that was never possible before.

According to the authorities, latest technology such as sound and light effect; integration of artefacts into story-telling; re-creation of historical events; use of computer controlled lighting to create an aura; use of laser and fibre optics to animate events, use of the movement of sound over space through intelligent controls; use of animatronics; latest technique of virtual reality to create the Sikh saga; use of interactive multi-media and cyberspace will be used to involve visitors.

A multi-national company, Larson and Toubro Ltd, began the challenging task of the construction work on the Holla Mohalla festival this year. According to Piara Singh Bhopal, Nodal officer of Anandpur Sahib foundation, the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, has already started preparing prototypes and conceptual designs. It is hoped in six months, the complex will be ready. A core group of historians and scholars has started working on the concept and content of the Heritage Complex. The basic postulates of Sikhism, namely universality; equality; freedom of conscience; social justice; ethical living; heroism and martyrdom; charhdi kala or dynamic power; love, service and sacrifice; goal of life, harmony with nature; man as a custodian of life on the planet; dignity, self-respect and honour, are given due weightage so that spirit of sewa, simran and sarbat da bhala is vividly depicted.

To add grandeur, magnificence and majesty to the complex, a 60-metre-high Nishan-e-Khalsa is to be installed. The centre-piece of this monument is the khanda, a steel dagger soaring into the sky from a pentagon-shaped base. The steel khanda like the roof top of the museum reflects light, contributing to the complex’s overall unity. The Nishan-e-Khalsa is connected to the ravine and the museum.