THE EVACUEE Trust Property Board (ETPB) has determined to take possession of the Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha, on Kashmir highway in Mansehra metropolis of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province of Pakistan, from the native authorities and open it for the native Sikh neighborhood to supply prayers.
The gurdwara constructing — often known as an architectural masterpiece, is at the moment housing a municipal library for the general public, and has been within the possession of Mansehra’s Town Municipal Administration (TMA) since 1999.
The transfer can be important for the native Sikh neighborhood in Mansehra as there isn’t a different gurdwara within the metropolis.
Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara in Mansehra of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. (Express Photo)
Speaking to The Indian Express over cellphone, Imran Gondal, deputy director, Shrines, ETPB, stated {that a} assembly was held on Wednesday at Civil Secretariat Peshawar during which ETBP raised the matter of taking possession of Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha with Mohtasim Billa, particular secretary, native authorities, KPK.
“After thorough deliberation, they have accepted the stance of ETPB and showed willingness to give possession of the gurdwara to us after resolving some administrative issues. Gurdwara Singh Sabha Mansehra is a historical and magnificent gurdwara which is intact in its original architecture. It has been in possession of TMA Mansehra since 1999,” stated Gondal.
“The beautiful frescoes inside the gurdwara are still intact and one of a kind,” he added.
The gurdwara was constructed within the early 1900s. After Partition, Sri Guru Granth Sahib was by no means put in on this gurdwara, says Shahid Shabbir, a Pak-based Sikh historian. “But the paalki for Guru Granth Sahib prakash is still intact in its original glory.”
Amardeep Singh, creator of two books on Sikh heritage in Pakistan — ‘Lost Heritage: The Sikh Legacy in Pakistan’ and ‘The Quest Continues’ — says, “Using the gurdwara building as a library was also a fine example of heritage being put to good use because it has helped in the preservation of the beautiful structure. It shows that if there is will, even abandoned gurdwara buildings can be maintained if used for constructive purposes and betterment of mankind…”
Gondal stated that the native administration can be handing over the gurdwara constructing to ETPB after discovering an appropriate place to relocate the library. “The plan is to install Sri Guru Granth Sahib again at Mansehra’s Gurudwara Sri Singh Sabha,” he added.