NEW DELHI: The Sikh Archive Movement has gained momentum and leading role has been played by Sardar Manohar Singh Marco through the establishment of Marcos (Research) Foundation. Contributing over 50 years of his research and Collection of old valuable manuscripts and documents and donating part of his income, he has laid the foundation of this institution. The board of trustees includes S Manohar Singh Marco; S.Rupinder Singh; STejinder Singh; Miss Gaganjit Kaur, Dr.Giani Bhajan Singh; DrMan Singh Nirankari of Amritsar; Dr.Rattan Singh Jaggi of Patiala and S.Gurmukh Singh Chadha.
For the management of the Foundation, a committee has been constituted with S.Manohar Singh Marco as the Chairman, S.Gurmukh Singh Chadha as the Vice Chairman, Giani Bhajan Singh as the Secretary and Rupinder Singh as the Joint Secretary.
The first meeting of the foundation was held at the Offices of the Foundation located at C-153 Naraina Intestinal Area-1, New Delhi 110 028. The mecting commenced after the Ardas (Sikh Prayer) in the presence of SnGuru Granth Sahib. The aims and objects of the Foundation were laid out by the Chairman of the Board of “Trustees. The Marcos (Research) Foundation has prepared the inventory of the invaluable collections and decided to appoint a curator. The institutions keen on establishing the Sikh Archives will be provided all the necessary help and cooperation through a subcommittee consisting or Dr.Rattan Singh Jaggi, Giani Bhajan Singh, S.Gurmukh Singh Chadha and S.Rupinder Singh.
In the meeting it was also decided that Marcos (Research) Foundation should help in establishing four Sikh archives and the following four places were proposed.
Gurudwara Paonta Sahib, Amritsar, New Delhiand at a place outside India. A sab committee was formed to finalize the proposal. Subsequent to this meeting a proposal was mooted and a meeting was held in Gurudwara Paonta Sahib with the Gurudwara President and honorable Sikhs of the area, who offered’ all kinds of cooperation and financial help for this grandois venture at a spot where Guru Gobind Singh Jee Matiaraj scribed his historical writings. In the meantime on the report of subcommiitee it was decided that the foundation should cooperate with Gurudwara Committee Paonta Sahib’in establishing the first Sikh Archives al Paonia Sahib. Foundation further authorized S.Manohar Singh Marco to approach Sikh community settled in U.K., U.S.A. and Canada to start the archives in any one of these countries.
The task of the foundation is to microfilm or computerize all the available Sikh history and research and store copies at these four centers where the histones and scholars would continue their research in the Sikh history. In this context the foundation would be approaching Scholars, Societies and Universities to exchange historical records and manuscripts handwritten in the last five centuries.
By: Dr.Bhajan Singh Giani
Hony. General Secretary.
Article extracted from this publication >> January 8, 1993
