Events to mark first centenaries of Guru Ka Bagh Morcha, Saka Panja Sahib begin

Amritsar, July 12

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) today commenced the events dedicated to centenaries of Guru Ka Bagh Morcha and Saka (massacre) Panja Sahib with the inauguration of a painting workshop here today.

A peaceful non-violent morcha (agitation) of Guru Ka Bagh was launched for emancipation of Gurdwara Sahib from the stronghold of Mahant Sunder Dass in August 1922, which ended on November 17, 1922, after the demands were conceded.

Saka Panja Sahib, the heroic event took place at the Hasan Abdal railway station in Pakistan close to the sacred shrine of Panja Sahib on October 30, 1922. Around 200 Sikhs stopped a train carrying Sikh prisoners to offer them food. Some of them attained martyrdom in the incident as they laid on the track to stop the train.

Around 30 artists from different places will depict these incidents on canvas during the workshop that has been organised at the administrative block of the SGPC office till July 17 under the supervision of historian Harwinder Singh Khalsa.

President, SGPC, Harjinder Singh Dhami said during both these centenaries different samagams would be organised.

“With this workshop, the history related to both these events will be highlighted through paintings and these will be brought before the sangat through exhibitions at different places,” he added.

The SGPC President announced that video documentaries of the paintings would also be produced so that the new generation could be connected to the history of both these centenaries.

Meanwhile, the families of the martyrs of these sakas are also being approached as the SGPC wants to honour them during the centenary programmes. He added that events dedicated to the Guru Ka Bagh Morcha centenary would be organised from August 6 to 8. Similarly, preparations are underway for the events related to the centenary of Saka Panja Sahib, which is to be observed on October 30.

SGPC releases logo dedicated to centenaries

The SGPC President on Tuesday released the logo dedicated to Shaheedi Saka Panja Sahib and Guru Ka Bagh Morcha prepared by the Dharam Prachar Committee of the SGPC. The logo depicts the Sikh history chapter that took place 100 years ago. It also depicts a 100-year symbol, besides Khalsa’s Nishan Sahib. Dhami said booklets on both centenaries would also be released soon.