Amritsar, 23 September (H.S.): The officiating Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib and Jathedar of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, Kuldip Singh Gargajj, has written to Pakistan’s Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, asking for the protection and preservation of Sikh historical heritage sites in Lahore’s Walled City, particularly Lal Khooh, Kattari Chandu, associated with the martyrdom of Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji.

In his letter, addressed to the Punjab Chief Minister, copied to Provincial Minister and Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president Ramesh Singh Arora, the Jathedar said the purpose of the communication was not to level allegations against any government, institution or individual, but to draw attention to Lahore’s shared historical heritage and the important chapters of Sikh history associated with the city.

Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj said Lahore was not merely a distant or peripheral place in Sikh history, but a land where memories of the Sikh Gurus, sacrifices of Sikh martyrs and numerous chapters of Sikh tradition existed along with their physical historical remains. Due to changing times, urban development, Partition and other historical circumstances, many of these traces had disappeared or were no longer in their original form. Therefore, he said, preservation of the surviving historical remains had become even more important.

The Jathedar appreciated the Pakistan Punjab Government’s initiative of allocating special funds for the conservation and reopening of several historic gurdwaras in the region, but also said that these efforts should be completed in the spirit in which they had been initiated.

Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj said the issue concerning Lal Khooh, Kattari Chandu, in Lahore’s Walled City had been brought to the attention of Sri Akal Takht Sahib by the Sikh sangat. He said there are concerns regarding construction-related activity around the site, which was a matter of serious concern for Sikhs. However, rather than relying on assumptions, he called for an official fact-finding inquiry into the matter.

The Jathedar suggested that the Pakistan Punjab Government immediately conduct an inquiry into the present status of Lal Khooh, Kattari Chandu in Lahore. If any construction or alteration work is underway at the site, stop it immediately until the inquiry is completed. He asked to get the historical and heritage significance of the site examined by experts from the Walled City of Lahore Authority, Archaeology Department and other concerned departments. He also suggested to include Sikh history experts and representatives of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee in the inquiry process. If the historical significance of the site is established, initiate necessary action to have it legally protected as a heritage site. He suggested to conduct a comprehensive heritage survey of all major sites associated with Sikh history in Lahore’s Walled City, documenting their present condition, historical significance, ownership and legal status.

The Jathedar said that if only a small trace of a historical site survives today, its value should not be measured merely by its physical form but by the historical memory associated with it.

He expressed confidence that the Pakistan Punjab Government, Walled City of Lahore Authority and Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee would view the matter from the perspective of heritage preservation.

He further appealed that information about any action taken in the matter be shared with the Sikh sangat and Sikh institutions. The Sikh community, he said, wants all surviving historical remains associated with the Sikh Gurus and Sikh martyrs in Lahore to be preserved for future generations.

Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj expressed hope that the letter would be taken seriously, necessary action would be initiated, and the action taken would also be communicated to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and Sri Akal Takht Sahib.

Hindusthan Samachar / GURSHARAN SINGH