Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha has been restored after 73 years! At a time when only the construction of a single Mandir has been the source of such controversy, good news has emerged. Keep reading to know all about it!
About The Gurdwara
The Gurdwara is located in central Quetta, on Masjid road. After partition, it came into the territory of Pakistan. After that, it was converted into a government all-girls school. Interestingly, the Gurdwara is approximately 200 years old. Undeniably, any religious site, being as early as this Gurdwara is, is bound to be a place with immense value and significance.
The Gurdwara spread over 14,000 square feet also has a considerable price tag. Essentially, it is worth billions; however, the government has decided not to capitalize on it.
The Sikh Community of Pakistan
Chairman of the Sikh community in Balochistan, Sardar Jasbeer Singh, was elated with this piece of news. He expressed happiness over the restoration of the Gurdwara and believed it to be a gift from the government to the Sikh community residing in Balochistan.
Singh added that “Sikh community of the province is very pleased that our ancient Gurdwara has been handed over to the Sikh community by the Government of Pakistan and the Balochistan High Court after 73 years and now we can continue our religious practice”. Additionally, he also expressed how this decision of Pakistan was being appreciated across borders. “The Sikh community from all over Pakistan and the rest of the world appreciated this initiative,” said Singh.
Many Sikh families are residing in Balochistan, which makes this decision all the more critical. About 2,000 Sikh families are living in Quetta, Dera Bugti, Osta Muhammad, and Pashtun areas of the province.
Moreover, the recent launching of the Kartarput Corridor also serves to highlight Sikhism. The gurdwara is one of its kind and attracts many tourists too!
The Minorities in Pakistan
A few weeks ago, the construction of a mandir was announced, and the news exploded. While some sincerely appreciated this step towards greater inclusivity, others were angry. They did not want a mandir in Pakistan, “it is the Islamic Republic of Pakistan,” they said. This resulted in several protests, too, online and on roads, with the slogan “mandir toh banega”. We commend their resilience!
However, the debate isn’t about a single place of worship. It’s about the mindset that has come to be developed in the minds of Pakistanis and how it has been structurally enabled. MInorities are unsafe, unaccommodated, and unliked in Pakistan. For example, a Christian man was killed mercilessly recently. His crime was buying a house in a lane full of Muslim neighbors.
All in all, we’re hoping the government can continue down this path and make the situation better.
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