On Thursday, a controversy erupted when a tunnel-like structure was discovered during the excavation worknear the Golden Temple in Amritsar which brought Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SCPC) under scanner, for not having a policy on theheritage buildings.
This has caused adispute between the Sikh activists and a group of construction volunteersoutside the Golden Temple, near the Akal Takht Secretariat, while the latterwere trying to refill the concrete underground into the tunnel-likestructures found when they were digging up the area. Though the activistswanted to discover what was inside it the SGPC initially didn’t stop the work butlater their mind shifted.
On Friday, SGPCpresident Bibi Jagir Kaur said, “Excavations at the upcoming Jora Ghar site inthe past few days have revealed some antique-looking room-like structures whichare made of small (Nanakshahi) bricks. The opinion of experts on its antiquityand historicity is being sought. The SGPC has discussed the matter with expertsfrom Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) and is seeking the services of otherexperts and historians. The deputy commissioner (DC) of Amritsar has also beenasked to look into the matter through the Archaeological Survey of India.”
“There is no protocolin place about what to do if we found any old structure that could be part ofSikh history. So when old structures emerged outside the Golden Temple duringdigging then construction men on spot just tried to bury them. It was likestandard procedure,” said an SGPC official.
During the 18thcentury, a lot of destruction was noticed at the hands of the invaders inAmritsar, even the Golden Temple faced a lot of destructions during their rule.Sikhs would come together and gather the damaged structure in haste. Theoutsiders even established a clock tower outside the religious monument and leveledmany other buildings.
Many buildings weredemolished by the SGPC, so that the area of Parikarma may be widened in 1955.Operations such as the Blue star and Galliara projects were held to take offthe structures that were built by the British.
The chief secretaryof SGPC, Harjinder Singh Dhami stated that the employees were not the ones whopassed out the information of the old heritage buildings that were found duringthe process of digging. He further added that the controversy grew when thepeople digging the area didn’t inform about the tunnel SGPC.
No directions wereissued by the heritage department which is under the SGPC. A letter was givento Bibi Jagir Kaur by the Amritsar Vikas Manch which was to preserve thetunnel-like structures on Thursday near the Akal Takhat Sahib.
Harjap Singh Aujla,an engineer, Patron Amritsar Vikas Manch told, “As per studies, no wooden logsor wooden bars were used in roofs of the buildings, before three centuriesago. The roofs were constructed using the technique of ‘arches’, in which onlytrapezium-shaped bricks and specially prepared binding material was used. Fromthis point of view, the buildings found at the excavated site seem to have beenbuilt using such centuries-old techniques. The final inferences would be made byexperts, but the excavated buildings bring to mind a time of turmoil for theSikhs, centuries ago. They might have constructed underground dwellings whenthey had to fight with the invaders to protect Sri Harmandir Sahib,”
Principal KulwantSingh Ankhi stated, “If experts name these buildings as basement of the‘bungas’, these are of great historical and religious importance as they arepart of the daily ‘ardaas’ (prayer). ‘Chaunkian, jhande bunga jugo jug atal’ isthe part of the daily ardas performed in every gurdwara and after each religiousfunction. Chaunki refers to a session of kirtan, jhande refers to Nishan Sahiband bunga means a dwelling place.”
He further added,“These centuries-old underground heritage buildings must be preserved andopened to devotees, historians, and travelers after proper and technicalrestoration. Being a unique attraction, these would be instrumental in boostingthe tourism industry in the holy city.”