Above: Baba Amrik Singh, who is supervising the "kar seva," points to the top dome of Akal Takht in Amritsar on Saturday. Below: Artisans working on Akal Takht in Amritsar on Saturday. — Photos Rajiv Sharma

Amritsar, July 28
As gold-gilded plates turn black and roofs of Akal Takht leak, the previous ‘kar seva’ undertaken by Damdami Taksal and some ‘babas’ comes for questioning.

The first ‘kar seva’ of Akal Takht was carried out by Baba Santa Singh, chief Baba Budha Dal, at the behest of the Central Government through the then Union Home Minister Buta Singh after Operation Bluestar. However, immediately after his release from jail, the then SGPC chief, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, had announced that the building would be demolished as the ‘kar seva’ was not carried out as per the Sikh traditions. Baba Santa Singh was later excommunicated from the Sikh Panth for carrying out ‘kar seva’ through government contractors.

After the demolition of Akal Takht the ‘kar seva’ was entrusted to Damdami Taksal and four other Sikh institutions through Baba Jagtar Singh, Baba Uttam Singh, Baba Gurmakh Singh and Baba Chhabri Sahibwale on January 26, 1986.

The seva was discontinued in May 1988 due to Operation Black Thunder.

The Damdami Taksal resumed the ‘seva’ on October 29, 1991, while the babas dissociated themselves from the work. The ‘kar seva’ continued till October 1999.

Bhai Ranjit Singh, the then Jathedar of Akal Takht, was instrumental in arranging akhand path at Akal Takht for the first time in 1997 after Operation Bluestar in June 1984.

During the presidentship of Bibi Jagir Kaur, the SGPC handed over the ‘seva’ exclusively to Baba Jagtar Singh in November, 1999.

The Sikh sangat was astonished to see that most of the roofs of Akal Takht have been leaking. This has put the question mark on the quality of work carried out during the previous ‘car seva’.

A visit to Akal Takht revealed that most of the roofs were leaking and gold plates turning black. Bhai Hardip Singh, one of the Panj Piaras of Akal Takht, said that even the main dome of the Takht was leaking. He said handwritten invaluable holy ‘birs’ of Guru Granth Sahib were placed under the dome and the SGPC employees have to be extra careful to save the precious manuscripts.

A “Granthi,” Bhai Raghbir Singh, also complained that colossal damage was done to the building due to leakage. Baba Amrik Singh, who has been supervising the ‘kar seva’, said leaks in many roofs had already been plugged with the latest technique. He said the work of ‘minakari’ and gold-plating was going on. He said Baba Jagtar Singh had engaged an expert engineer, Mr Jaswant Singh, for the renovation of the roofs.

Baba Amrik Singh said that the entire work, including gilding, ‘minakari’ and replacing of railing with ‘marble janglas’ would be completed before the 400th anniversary of Guru Granth Sahib which falls in 2004.

He claimed that every effort was being made to carry out the ‘kar seva’ as per the ‘Sikh maryada’.

He further claimed that Baba Jagtar Singh had acquired the original designs of ‘minakari’ from the Akal Takht building before it was demolished in January 1986.

He claimed that the total cost of the renovation, gold plating, replacing of railing and ‘minakari’ would be more than Rs 3 crore and that half the amount had already been spent on the renovation.