Destiny? Grandfather,Grandson got opportunity to perform same duty
KS Diwan/ royalpatiala.in/ Patiala
It’s a mere a coincidence or a destiny that Grandfather and Grandson got credit and associated with the restoration of Gurudwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, after around 100 years. Kartarpur sahib is considered to be oldest Sikh shrine in the world.
Bhupinder Singh, Maharaja of erstwhile princely state of Patiala and grandfather of present Chief Minister of Punjab, Capt. Amarinder Singh had donated Rs.1.35 lakh to restore the historic gurdwara in the 1920s. A plaque installed at the entrance of the gurdwara reads: “This slab is placed to commemorate the time and princely donation of one lakh thirty five thousand and six hundred given by Major General His Highness Maharajadhiraja Sir Bhupinder Singh Mahindar Bahadur, Maharaja of Patiala State, to protect this sacred shrine from the threatened ravages of the river during the period from 1920 to 1928 AD.”
After around 100 years Maharaja Bhupinder Singh grandson and scion of erstwhile princely state of Patiala Capt. Amarinder Singh released crores of Rupees for the development, restoration of its nearby area Dera Baba Nanak, Batala, on this side of the Gurudwara.
In 1920’s, as no one was taking care of the gurudwara as it was desired and the gurudwara building was in poor condition, the Maharaja of Patiala had taken the initiative to rebuild the shrine, where Guru Nanak had spent his last 18 years.
A glass case is also placed at the gurudwara, displaying the shrapnel’s of bomb, that was dropped near the shrine during Indo-Pak war. But the shrine was saved as the bomb had landed in a well.
In 1995, the Pakistan government renovated the gurdwara and opened it for pilgrims from Indian and abroad. Since 1999, regular jatha of Sikh pilgrims, visiting Nankana sahib also visit Kartarpur Sahib to observe the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak.
