Just three kilometers from the Indo-Pak border, Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan’s Punjab was much too far for the Sikh devotees. Prevented by the insurmountable walls that enhanced the distance between the two countries, they were compelled to religiously pay obeisance through binoculars set up by the Indian security forces. But the first Gurdwara ever built where Sikhs’ first master Guru Nanak Dev is said to have died will soon be as close to the feet, as to the heart, with the two nations agreeing to build up a corridor.
Union Cabinet on Thursday approved the building and development of the Kartarpur corridor from Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district to the international border (IB) with Pakistan. Hours later, Pakistan announced that their Prime Minister Imran Khan will perform the ground-breaking of the proposed corridor on Pak side on November 28 — inching closer to realise the long pending demand of the Sikhs, not only in Punjab, but across the globe.
The development, coming on the eve of Guru Nanak Dev’s birth anniversary, has sent a wave of happiness amidst the Sikh community, cutting across the political parties or regions.
The first actual attempt to provide an access to devotees from India’s side to visit historical Darbar Sahib Kartarpur in Pakistani Punjab’s Narowal district, was made in 1999. The proposal mooted to construct a fenced corridor between the Indian side and the gurdwara for free access to the shrine for pilgrims without the requirement of a passport or a visa — something which Pakistan also have his approval in 2000.
However, the proposal could not see the light of the day till date in the wake of strained relationship and issues that kept cropping between the two warring nations, despite repeated demand and requests by the Sikh community.
Dera Baba Nanak MLA and now the State Cabinet Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa has been on the forefront of the demand for the corridor.
The issue once again took the centre-stage recently after Punjab Cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu’s visit to Pakistan to attend the swearing-in ceremony of his “friend” Imran Khan as the Prime Minister. Though Sidhu’s hugplomacy with Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa created a storm back home, the former cricketer claimed it to be a emotional reaction” as he talked about opening Kartarpur corridor.
The issue blew out of proportion with Sidhu being dubbed as “anti-national” and “traitor” for warming up with the Pak Army, which is indulging in bloodshed in Indian Kashmir. Despite all the criticism and allegations, Sidhu claimed that the corridor would come up before 550th birth anniversary, and soon Pak responded in affirmative, saying ball is in India’s court.
And soon began the rat race to claim credit. Shiromani Akali Dal — which claims to be the protector of Sikhs and their rights, along with the Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DSGMC) — organisations responsible for Sikh issues and taking care of gurudwaras — reach out to BJP led Central Government to open the corridor.
On his behalf, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh also met the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Ministers concerned at the Centre.
Welcoming the move, Capt Amarinder on Thursday said that the move will facilitate lakhs of pilgrims desirous of visiting the Kartarpur gurdwara. He hoped that the Pakistan Government would also supplement the effort by opening the corridor on its side of the boundary.
“I welcome this auspicious step by the Union Cabinet, it will be a cup of joy for 12 crore ‘Nanak Naam Laivas’. It will build bridges, burn animosity and will act like a soothing balm for two neighbouring countries,” said Sidhu in a tweet, adding, “I thank the Govt of India from the core of my heart and take a bow!”
Hailing the Centre’s initiative, former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal described it as a “befitting tribute to the great Guru Nanak Dev’s cosmic vision transcending all kinds of barriers among human beings of different castes, creeds and countries”.
“NDA government’s formal request to its Pakistani counterpart should decisively remove all hurdles in the path of fulfilling the long-cherished dream and the daily prayers of every Sikh to pay obeisance at the historic Gurdham at Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan,” he said.
Aam Aadmi Party MLAs, led by the leader of opposition in Vidhan Sabha Harpal Singh Cheema, said that the move has fulfilled the wish of Sikh sangat residing around the globe while appealing to the Government to simplify visa requirements to visit other religious places in Pakistan as well.
KARTARPUR: GURU’S LAST ABODE
Situated in Pakistan Punjab’s Narowal district, Kartarpur is the last abode of Sikhs’ first master, Guru Nanak Dev, where he spent the last 18 years of his life before he died in 1539.
As per record, historical Darbar Sahib Kartarpur is the third oldest place of worship that was built by Guru Nanak Dev, who founded a community of his followers in Kartarpur — a name also coined by Nanak.
The historical Darbar Sahib Kartarpur, situated on the banks of Ravi river, is visible from Gurdwara Dera Baba Nanak on Indian side where the Indian army has installed binoculars. And Pak is also doing its bid by periodically trimming the elephant grass growing around the premises so the view is not obstructed for devotees on the India’s side.
The present structure is not the original one as it was washed away by flooding of Ravi, and the then Maharaja of Patiala Bhupinder Singh reconstructed the building, which was later renovated by Pakistan Government in 1995.
The current gurdwara was built on the site where Guru Nanak Dev passed away on September 22, 1539.
THE KARTARPUR CORRIDOR
Sikh community has all along been demanding setting up a corridor between India and Pakistan to allow the pilgrims to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib — just three kilometres away from border.
As Indians are not allowed the visit this shrine, the opening up of the corridor would allow devotees to walk to the shrine and return in one day without a passport or visa.
Notably, as there is no restriction on Indian pilgrim going to Pakistan on a regular visa, anyone can visit Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib without requiring any special permission from the Pakistani authorities. Sikh jathas do visit Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib on four occasions every year — Guru Nanak's birth anniversary, Baisakhi, Guru Arjan Dev's martyrdom day and Maharaja Ranjit Singh's death anniversary.
HURDLES
Opening an access between the two nations, which is at loggerheads on the issue of Kashmir, is not an easy decision. However, a beginning has been made by both neighbouring nations.
But, there are apprehensions that corridor may give an easy access into India, and Pak-based ISI, making attempts to disturb Punjab’s peace, may “misuse” it.
Only a day before, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder has accused Pakistan for making efforts to disturb state, by fuelling pro-Khalistan campaign.
REPEATED FAILED ATTEMPTS
First effort was made in 1999, when the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, alomng with then Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, visited the shrine. Proposal to open the corridor was mooted, and Pak too agreed — but all went in vain.
Five years later, a bridge over River Ravi was proposed, but considering the security concerns, the proposal was shelved.
Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, during his Amritsar visit in 2004, assured to work towards constructing the passage.
In 2008, then Union Minister Pranab Mukherjee also visited Dera Baba Nanak to ascertain the viability of the project, but nothing happpened.
In 2010, the Punjab legislative assembly unanimously passed a resolution to ask the Union Government to facilitate the construction of the corridor.
In 2012, SGPC approached the Union Minister for External Affairs SM Krishna with the same request.
In 2014, Sikh bodies exhorted Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring it on the table with his then Pakistan counterpart Nawaz Sharif.
In May 2017, a parliamentary standing committee, comprising seven MPs headed by former Union External Affairs Minister Shashi Tharoor, ruled out construction of the corridor citing negative political climate between the two countries.
