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With 222 jacks, they raised the 50-feet high gurdwara
WSN Network

KURALI: Trigfgering much curiosity among the Sikh sangat in the region, the efforts of the management of a local gurdwara on the Chandigarh-Ropar national highway in village Solkhian near here are being termed an architectural wonder. The gurdwara with a height of some 50 feet has been raised alongwith its foundation by some five feet, and new foundation is being now constructed which will support the older building without any damage to it.

The building was raised with the help of 222 jacks, an operation supervised by a Sikh contractor Dalvir Singh who had learnt the art that is almost an engineering marvel and now runs Mahal and Co.

Dalvir Singh said he created a frame to be sneaked underneath the entire building and then raised it with jacks at the same time, an incremental height addition at one moment. Shaheed Gurdwara Sahib Solkhian's main sewadar Baba Saroop Singh said they had to take a decision to either demolish the gurdwara and construct a new building or find a different solution since the plinth level of the road opposite the gurdara had risen and it was creating problems. Any heavy rains would leave the gurdwar flooded.

He said the sangat was keen that the older building must be preserved, and the solution proposed by Dalvir Singh was liked by all though many were doubtful about its success. He said it was after a full assurance from Dalvir that the gurdwara committee went ahead with the idea of raising the level.

The road opposite the gurdwara was raised to a higher level as a result of the four-laning of the national highway, but with the new level of the gurdwara, it is back to its original architectural glory.

Sikh sangat from many nearby and far off places has bene visiting to see the raised gurdwara, and Dalvir Singh is a minor celebrity now in the area.

16 September 2009
 

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