Anandpur Sahib, November 25
The Akalis today basked in the reflected glory of the steel petal roof of the Virasat-e-Khalsa that was dedicated to humanity in a ceremony that encompassed all faiths, but was essentially rooted in Sikh culture and tradition.

Badal, flanked by Akal Takth Jathedar Gurbachan Singh and the Sikh high priests, pressed a button to unveil the museum’s inaugural plaque as the Virasat-e-Khalsa monument seemingly rose out of the hillocks in the background. Nihangs astride horses and on foot along with ‘gatka’ troupes dressed in blue with saffron colour turbans dotted the hillocks and enhanced the backdrop.

Asha Bhosle started the function with a soulful rendition of the ‘shabad’ ‘Mera Sahib, Mera Sahib’ followed by Punjabi singer Jaspinder Narula’s ‘Deh Shiva Var Mohe’. The programme ended with an ‘ardas’ by Takth Sri Keshgarh Sahib Jathedar Giani Tarlochan Singh.

A glider then showered confetti and flower petals on the assembled congregation that had BJP president Nitin Gadkari, Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal among others. This was followed by a fireworks display.

The inauguration clearly belonged to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. The veteran leader has achieved the unique distinction of being behind the creation of the Rs 300 crore monument destined to take the Sikh religious experience to a new level.

Rajya Sabha MP Tarlochan Singh set the tone for the function by reminding the congregation that the museum was the result of one man’s dream. With elections in mind, he prayed to the lord to give Badal more time to complete all remaining tasks of the Sikh community.

The Chief Minister recollected his chance visit to the Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem and a meeting with its Boston-based Israeli architect Moshe Safdie. Calling the museum a culmination of his life tasks, Badal said, “I am satisfied that I have managed to fulfill the tasks set for me by the Guru.

Sacha padshah mehr karo, asin hor vi sewa kar sakiye (God bless us so we can serve the people even better).”

The Virasat-e-Khalsa stands at a site that is the birthplace of the Khalsa Panth. The second holiest Sikh shrine, Takht Keshgarh Sahib, is located here. It was here in 1699, on the day of Baisakhi, that 10th Sikh master Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa Panth and baptised the 'Panj Piaras'.

Conceived as a repository of the rich heritage of the Khalsa, showcasing the history and culture of Punjab, the heritage complex has been built on a 100-acre site to emphasise the eternal message of the Sikh gurus.

The Chief Minister said that a never-before miracle in Sikh history would take place in the coming week — the inauguration of three more memorials to commemorate the two genocides that occurred in Sikh history and the victory of Sirhind by Banda Singh Bahadur.

Earlier, BJP president Nitin Gadkari said he had been in the construction business for long, but was impressed by the scale of the monument.

Spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said today’s ‘sankriti’ had been saved by the Khalsa Panth and that the 120-crore people of the country would be indebted to the Sikh Panth for the sacrifices made by its gurus in the cause of humanity.

Also present were Swami Madhav Ashram Shankra-charya Bapu Asa Ram, Pakistani dignitaries Imran Masood (ex-education minister) and Rai Azizullah (ex-MP), former Canadian MPs Ruby Dhalla and Gurbax Malhi, besides Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal and other senior SAD and BJP leaders.

(L-R) Former Haryana Chief Minister OP Chautala, Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal, BJP president Nitin Gadkari, Canadian MP Ruby Dhalla, Bapu Asa Ram and MP Navjot Sidhu inside the Virasat-e-Khalsa Memorial. Tribune photos: S Chandan

Punjab Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal, his MP-wife Harsimrat Badal and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Anandpur Sahib, November 25
After a successful political innings, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal will now attain a place among the Akalis, who have won recognition from their community, with the Akal Takht jathedar announcing that he would be honoured with the title Panth Rattan Fakr-e-Qaum.

Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh made this announcement at the public meeting held here following the successful launch of the Virasat-e-Khalsa memorial.

The jathedar said this decision had been taken following a meeting of all five jathedars of the five Sikh ‘takhts’. He said there was a consensus that Badal’s contribution to the Sikh community was unique and deserved due recognition. The title will be bestowed on the CM on December 5 at the Akal Takht in the Darbar Sahib complex in Amritsar.

The rally also saw the Chief Minister becoming emotional, saying a new wonder of the world had been created for the next generation. He also described the occasion as humbling, saying such a mammoth task would not have been achieved without the blessings of the Almighty.

Claiming the heritage museum had been dedicated to humanity, he said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had principally agreed to inaugurate the complex following a request from him. Badal said the state Congress leadership, however, dissuaded the PM from participating in today’s historic function. He said personal invitations had been extended to all Congress legislators and MPs, but they seemed to have decided to boycott the function.

Badal said that it was the duty of the government to construct such memorials and the Virasat-e-Khalsa was a step in this direction. He said that his government would also dedicate to people the Chhota Ghallughara Memorial in Khanuwan Chamb in Gurdaspur district, the Wadda Ghallughara at Kup Rahera in Sangrur distrct and the Fateh Burj as Baba Bandha Singh War Memorial at Chhapar Chiri in Mohali district on November 28, 29 and 30, respectively.

SAD president and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal said the government was committed to construct memorials commemorating the supreme sacrifices of the martyrs who laid down their lives for the Sikh panth. He said, “Nations, who forget their martyrs, are bound to vanish with the passage of time.” He also appealed to the youth to take a vow to abstain from the menace of drugs to ensure harmonious and prosperous Punjab.

BJP president Nitin Gadkari, while appreciating the Chief Minister’s initiative in establishing the Virasat-e-Khalsa, said it was unfortunate that the Prime Minister did not attend the function despite being invited by Badal personally.