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Book traces history of Hazur Sahib
Deccani Sikhs
 Amritsar:
In a comprehensive research, involving rare pictures and documents,
UK-based Sikh scholars Nidar Singh Nihang and Paramjit Singh have
explored the history of the Deccani Sikhs of Hazur Sahib.
The research
work, “In the Master’s Presence: The Sikhs of Hazoor Sahib”, was
released during the tercentenary celebrations of Gurta Gaddi Diwas
of Guru Granth Sahib at Hazur Sahib.
This two-volume
work also explores the history and traditions of Hazur Sahib, the
fourth Sikh Takht.
The first volume
traces the Hazur Sahib’s development, from the foundation of the
very first modest structure built over the ashes of Guru Gobind
Singh in 1708 to the “insensitive destruction” of its unique built
heritage in the name of modernisation and beautification three
centuries later.
The authors have
drawn upon a wealth of written materials and oral tradition to evoke
a vivid and often startling account of the empires, events and
characters with maharajas, warriors, emperors, nizams, politicians
and policemen, which are intertwined with the fortunes of the last
resting place of the 10th Sikh Guru.
Nidar is the
ninth gurdev (teacher) of the Baba Darbara Singh Shastar Vidya
Akhara, which had been founded in the 17th century to teach Sikh
warriors battlefield arts. He has lectured across the world on the
Sikh martial tradition and has contributed to several television
documentaries, radio programmes and publications on the subject. His
co-author, Paramjit, is an independent researcher specialising in
the photographic history of 19th century
Punjab.
They made
several trips to Hazur Sahib during 1999-2007 to have interactions
with the Deccani Sikhs to collect first-hand information about their
history.
They have tapped
into the rich and exotic reservoirs of visual heritage to bring to
life the unfamiliar world of Hazur Sahib in over 150 illustrations
of paintings, photographs, portraits, maps, artefacts and documents
from several public and private archives. Among these are examples
of the sumptuous murals that have decorated the inner walls and
ceilings of Hazur Sahib since 1830.
However, the
authors rued that several exquisite and vibrant examples of Sikh
fresco art, that once adorned the walls of some major shrines in
Punjab and had been reproduced in this book, had been destroyed or
painted over in recent times. (Courtesy Tribune)
12 November
2008
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