North American Punjabi
Association (NAPA) a representative body of Punjabi Community in North America
in a letter sent to Prime Minister of Iraq Mr Nouri Al-Maliki urged the
Government of Iraq to hand over the management of Sikh Shrine in Bagdad to SGPC
Amritsar.Releaseing a copy of this letter to the media Mr Chahal said that this
Sikh Shrine is situated towards the west side of Bagdad Railway Station on
Baghdad-Samarra rail line and NAPA is taking up the issue with all concerned
authorities to take control of this Sikh Shrine
This Shrine was founded by Pir Mohammad Amoot at the time of visit of Guru
Nanak Dev. (Affectionately called Baba Nanak) in the year 927 A.H (1520 A.D.)
Guru Nanak is Founder of Sikh religion and he visited Baghdad capital of Iraq
on his way back from Medina along with lifelong Muslim disciple Mardana during
his travel from India to Middle East. He stayed at the Mausoleum of Abdul Qadur
Gilani and Behlol, the wise man and held discourse with Sajjanashines (care
taker of the Mausoleum) that was greatly impressed by his views on God and
religion
Chahal explained in this
letter that the Pir (saint) of Baghdad, Behlol Dana on meeting face to
face with Guru Nanak, the enthusiastic stranger and welcomed him and
appreciated his thoughts and concept of God. It is a matter of documented
historical record that Guru Nanak stayed in Iraq for four months and had
religious discourse with eminent Iraqi scholars, historians and other prominent
personalities and made a number of people as his friends and disciples. It is
believed that even today there are many well-wishers of Guru Nanak in Iraq
mostly living on the banks of the Tigris River particularly in the cities of Al
Kut and Baghdad.
Since the Gurdwara is
located in the grave yard, visitors are forbidden staying overnight, cooking
meals, holding KIrtan (recital of readings from the Sikh holy book) and arranging
community kitchen for the visitors and general public, perhaps in view of the
sensitivities of the majority of Muslim community. This situation has caused
great disappointment to millions of devotees and adherent to Sikh faith,
ideology and teachings of Guru Nanak for religious tolerance, respect for all
faiths and believing in one God, the creator of the universe.
Perhaps, in order to
understand the Sikh faith and to spread awareness among general public it will
be appropriate to mention that Sikh religion is monotheistic believing in one
God, respect for other faiths, does not believe in idol worship, cast and
creed. Sikh Gurdwaras are open for all human beings irrespective of any
religious affiliation, cast, gender and social status. The Sikh religion was
founded by amalgamation of Hindu, Muslim and Sufi ideologies and the foundation
stone of the holiest of holy shrine of Sikhs “Golden Temple” in Amritsar was
laid by a Muslim Sufi saint Mian Mir. The holy book of the Sikhs “ Guru Granth
Sahib” embodies the sacred writings of Hindu, Muslim, Sikhs and Sufi saints
from all over India and its message is that, all people of the world are equal,
one God for all, stressing to speak and live truthfully. In the Gurdwara
devotional songs are recited in praise of God the creator of universe.
Besides our country
India has been a melting pot since centuries for various people of different
ethnic groups, multiple religions and beliefs, speaking various languages and
practicing many cultural practices, living and co-existing peacefully with
unity in diversity. The recorded writings of Guru Nanak after his visit to Iraq
in the 15th century are full of praise for the Iraqi civilization
and its ancient culture, scholarly wisdom, religious tolerance and gracious hospitality.
After the visit of Guru Nanak to Iraq, a new chapter was folded in people to
people contacts and later forging bi-lateral relations between our two oldest
civilizations which have now developed into diplomatic and economic cooperation.
Based on our ancient
ties with people of Iraq, and considering religious aspirations and devotional
feelings of millions of followers of the great Guru Nanak founder of Sikh
religion and particularly to commemorate his visit to Iraq fifteen centuries
ago, the North American Punjabi association avail this opportunity to appeal to
the Iraqi Government to facilitate the restoration of this holy and historic
shrine and allow its functioning in accordance with Sikh worship practices. The
Sikh community while assuring that it will respect the laws of the land and
local customs will be grateful for this gesture.
Chahal told that the
file of this issue is pending in the Prime Minister Office to raise this issue
on the Government Level but nothing is being done as yet.
In his letter to Prime
Minister of Iraq Chahal believed that restoring the temple and providing
necessary amenities for the worshippers will open the flood gates for the Sikhs
in India and across the globe to visit Iraq to pay obeisance in this shrine and
will be a welcome step for religious and cultural tourism, a boost to Iraqi
prestige and economy
Chahal also disclosed
that Mr Ahmad N. Jewad, Consular General of Iraq in Los Angeles is helping the
delegation to get visas for Iraq to visit this Sikh Shrine and NAPA is
also seeking the help of law makers in United States to make this happen
Photos Caption-Care
Takers
2-Outer View of Gurdwara
Sahib
3-Historical photos
engraved at the time of Guru Nanak Dev Ji Visit to Bagdad
TEXT OF LETTER
October 12, 2013
The honorable Nouri
Al-Maliki
Prime Minister of Iraq
Bagdad (Iraq)
Excellency,
The North America
Punjabi Association (NAPA) has the honor and distinguished pleasure to present
its compliments and wish to bring to its kind attention a
matter of great historical and religious importance which is associated with
spiritual beliefs, deep respects and aspirations of millions of the Sikh
religious community in India and across the world. This relates to a 16Th
century Sikh shrine (Gurdwara) situated outside the city of Baghdad west of
Dajala (Tigris) river about 2 kilometer of Baghdad West railway station.
This Shrine was founded
by Pir Mohammad Amoot at the time of visit of Guru Nanak Dev. (Affectionately
called Baba Nanak) in the year 927 A.H (1520 A.D.) Guru Nanak is Founder of
Sikh religion and he visited Baghdad capital of Iraq on his way back from
Medina along with lifelong Muslim disciple Mardana during his travel from India
to Middle East. He stayed at the Mausoleum of Abdul Qadur Gilani and Behlol,
the wise man and held discourse with Sajjanashines (care taker of the
Mausoleum) that was greatly impressed by his views on God and religion.
The Pir (saint) of
Baghdad, Behlol Dana on meeting face to face with Guru Nanak, the enthusiastic
stranger and welcomed him and appreciated his thoughts and concept of God. It
is a matter of documented historical record that Guru Nanak stayed in Iraq for
four months and had religious discourse with eminent Iraqi scholars, historians
and other prominent personalities and made a number of people as his friends
and disciples. It is believed that even today there are many well-wishers of
Guru Nanak in Iraq mostly living on the banks of the Tigris River particularly
in the cities of Al Kut and Baghdad.
After Guru Nanak”s
departure his well-wishers and disciples raised a memorial in the form of a
platform where the Guru had sat and discoursed. After some time when the room
was constructed over the platform, a stone slab with following inscriptions was
installed.
“Lo! The Great God hath
fulfilled the wish. A new building for Baba Nanak Dervish has been constructed.
Seven holy men extended their
help in the construction. Its date as recorded comes to 927 A.H. which
correspond
To A.D. 1520. The
lucky disciple got new water current from the earth”
At the time of departure
Guru Nanak, one of the Iraqi noble women belonging to the Royal family gave a
gift of silk robe with inscription of holy Quran on it and this precious gift
was carried by the Guru to India. This priceless robe is now displayed at
Gurdwara “Chola Sahib” in Punjab with appropriate respect and hundreds of
people visit this shrine every day to have glimpse of this relic.
The above mentioned
inscription on the stone was first noticed by Swami Ananda Acharya an Indian
scholar and he mentioned in his book “Snow Birds”. Later Sikh soldiers of the
British Indian Army who went to Iraq during the First World War (1914-18)
raised a Gurdwara at this place which was visited by large number of pilgrims
and followers of Guru Nanak from India and around the Globe. It is most
unfortunate that this historical shrine was destroyed during the war in 1990.
Now only one room exists which is weekly visited by Sikhs and non-Sikh Punjabis
who have gone to oil rich Iraq as workmen during the last decades.
Since the Gurdwara is
located in the grave yard, visitors are forbidden staying overnight, cooking
meals, holding KIrtan (recital of readings from the Sikh holy book) and
arranging community kitchen for the visitors and general public, perhaps in
view of the sensitivities of the majority of Muslim community. This situation
has caused great disappointment to millions of devotees and adherent to Sikh
faith, ideology and teachings of Guru Nanak for religious tolerance, respect
for all faiths and believing in one God, the creator of the universe.
Perhaps, in order to
understand the Sikh faith and to spread awareness among general public it will
be appropriate to mention that Sikh religion is monotheistic believing in one
God, respect for other faiths, does not believe in idol worship, cast and
creed. Sikh Gurdwaras are open for all human beings irrespective of any
religious affiliation, cast, gender and social status. The Sikh religion was
founded by amalgamation of Hindu, Muslim and Sufi ideologies and the foundation
stone of the holiest of holy shrine of Sikhs “Golden Temple” in Amritsar was
laid by a Muslim Sufi saint Mian Mir. The holy book of the Sikhs “ Guru Granth
Sahib” embodies the sacred writings of Hindu, Muslim, Sikhs and Sufi saints
from all over India and its message is that, all people of the world are equal,
one God for all, stressing to speak and live truthfully. In the Gurdwara
devotional songs are recited in praise of God the creator of universe.
Besides our country
India has been a melting pot since centuries for various people of different
ethnic groups, multiple religions and beliefs, speaking various languages and
practicing many cultural practices, living and co-existing peacefully with
unity in diversity. The recorded writings of Guru Nanak after his visit to Iraq
in the 15th century are full of praise for the Iraqi civilization and
its ancient culture, scholarly wisdom, religious tolerance and gracious
hospitality. After the visit of Guru Nanak to Iraq, a new chapter was folded in
people to people contacts and later forging bi-lateral relations between our
two oldest civilizations which have now developed into diplomatic and economic
cooperation.
Based on our ancient
ties with people of Iraq, and considering religious aspirations and devotional
feelings of millions of followers of the great Guru Nanak founder of Sikh
religion and particularly to commemorate his visit to Iraq fifteen centuries
ago, the North American Punjabi association avail this opportunity to appeal to
the Iraqi Government to facilitate the restoration of this holy and historic
shrine and allow its functioning in accordance with Sikh worship practices. The
Sikh community while assuring that it will respect the laws of the land and
local customs will be grateful for this gesture.
We firmly believe that
restoring the temple and providing necessary amenities for the worshippers will
open the flood gates for the Sikhs in India and across the globe to visit Iraq
to pay obeisance in this shrine and will be a welcome step for religious and
cultural tourism, a boost to Iraqi prestige and economy.
Mr. Prime Minister,
In view of the
foregoing we request you to look into the matter and issue order to open this
Sikh Shrine for the general Public. We believe it will receive your timely
consideration and hope to hear from you soon and in the meantime with
sentiments of highest esteem and kind regards, I remain,
Sincerely Yours,
Satnam Singh Chahal
Executive Director
North American Punjabi Association (NAPA)
1250-Ames Ave
# 101 Milpitas CA 95035 USA
Phone-408-221-5732 ,Fax 408-547-0522
Phone-408-221-5732 ,Fax 408-547-0522
Punjab
Office
|Green
Enclave Jalandhar-14407 (Punjab)|
| Ph: 98724-86727,98764-56530(International)|
| Ph: 98724-86727,98764-56530(International)|
