Alorakh (Bhawanigarh), November 24
Even as the Sikhs are busy preparing for the tercentenary of the martyrdom of Baba Zorawar Singh and Baba Fateh Singh — the two younger Sahibzadas of Guru Gobind Singh — neither the SGPC nor the state government has bothered to recognise the significance of the historic Manji Sahib Gurdwara at Alorakh village here, where an urn reportedly containing a part of the ashes of the Sahibzadas is preserved.
A gurdwara, built on land now in Aulo Arakh village, was earlier in Kakra village which is the native place of Dewan Todar Mal, a courtier of Nawab Wazir Khan of Sirhind. In those trying times when the Sikhs were being persecuted for their faith, the Dewan dared to come to the former’s aid and bought a piece of land needed for the cremation of the Sahibzadas from the Nawab by covering it in gold coins.
In view of the circumstances, he surreptitiously kept an urn of the ashes before they were taken to be immersed at Haridwar. With the passage of time, a gurdwara was constructed here to commemorate the unparalled sacrifice of the Sahibzadas besides that of their grandmother, Mata Gujri.
Residents of this area in the Malwa belt are sore over the decision of the management committee at Gurdwara Jyoti Swarup at Fatehgarh Sahib in not allowing them to take out a nagar kirtan from Alorakh to Fatehgarh Sahib. Both the places are of historic importance and of immense value to the Sikhs, the residents opine.
Recollecting the events related to the gurdwara, Mr Gurdit Singh, president of the management committee, claimed that Dewan Todar Mal had deputed Baba Sangat Singh, a Nihang, to guard the ashes which were sealed in a metallic urn. Sensing the gravity of the event, Sangat Singh took the ashes to a Sadhu who was camping at the site of the present day gurdwara. On getting the sadhus approval, the urn was buried there.
Based on this information, received from Mehar Singh and Hazara Singh, one time servants of Maharaja Hira Singh of Nabha, Master Gurmel Singh and Gurbachan Singh got the place excavated in 1988 by Panj Piaras and recovered the ashes, the collar of the urn and some metallic beads in the presence of Baba Jagtar Singh, Kar Sewa Wale, and Sant Kirpal Singh.
A foot print, supposed to be that of Mata Gujri, is preserved on a piece of a stone while small foot prints of the Sahibzadas were also visible.
Besides being important on account of the ashes, the place further assumes an exalted status as the ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Teg Bahadur, had stayed at this place in 1665 (1722 Bikrami) while on gurmat parchar along with 300 devotees and Mata Nanki.
He had reached this place through Thuhi, Ramgarh and Gunike villages. A rababi jatha of Nathu Ram had recited hymns for the sangat at that time.
Land records reveal that the land on which the gurdwara was constucted belonged to a kin of Dewan Todar Mal.
“We strongly believe that the tercentenary celebrations could not be considered complete until the Sikhs are informed about all the historic places connected with the Sahibzadas,” expressed the office bearers.
For the past 10 years, the management of the gurdwara had been asking the SGPC to accord recognition to the religious place. They were disappointed last fortnight when their request to allow a nagar kirtan from Gurdwara Jyoti Swarup at Fatehgarh Sahib to their village was declined by the event committee.
Meanwhile, Jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti, Jathedar, Akal Takht, feigned ignorance about the historic background of the gurdwara and said the management of the gurdwara should meet Mr Waryam Singh, Secretary, Dharam Parchar Committee. The latter said that committee would consider the request in due course.
