Dear Sir,

The Shiromani gurdwara Parhandhak Committee has decided to celebrate the anniversary of the founding of Harmander Sahib in January 1986.

In a letter to The Editor, The Tribune Chandigarh, (Dec 18) Gurbachan Singh Talib has stirred up a controversy as to who laid the foundation of the Sikh holiest shrine at Amritsar. He has stated that “The association of Mian Mir’s name with the founding of the holy shrine is historically in a courage.” According to him it is a recent innovation and many Sikhs and nonSikhs accept this fallacy fast the truth, He continues that none of the accounts of the founding of Harmandar Sahib mention Mian Mir’s name and cites ‘Guru Partap Suraj granth’ which states that the first brick of the temple was laid by Guru Arjan Dev himself.

In his ‘Sikh religion’ vol III & IV’ published towards the end of the nineteenth century, Mr. Arthur Macanliffe mentions that it was on the 1st of Magh Sambat 1685 that the guru laid the first brick of the masonary foundation of the Har Mandar or Durbar Sahib now known to the Europeans as the Golden Temple (p. 10).

However, oral tradition and some accounts of the founding of Harmandar Sahib mention Mian Mir’s name, The Sri Gurpartp Suraj granth was edited by Bhai Vir Singh, Amritsar in 1934 and is therefore, not authentic, dependable, trustworthy and reliable. Mr. Talib seems to be quoting from some 1985 edition of Suraj Parkash which is not genuine. It could be spurious and counterfeit. The widely read commentator, author and Sikh historian, S. Khushwant Singh in ‘A History of the Sikhs Vol. I published in 1963 states that ‘Mian Mir, the famous divine of Lahore who became a personal friend of the fifth guru, laid the foundation stone of the Hri Mandirat Amritsar (p, 28), Again, ‘the Harimander, and edifice whose first stone was laid by a Muslim, the rest being built by Hindus and Sikhs together’ (p. 97) was a symbol of the granth, In view of the conflicting accounts mentioned above will some Sikh divine, historian or man of authority kindly throw some further light on the subject so that the evil may be nipped in the bud?

Sincerely,

Amarjit Singh Buttar

Dear Sir,

I noted your comments on my letter in the WSN issue of Dec, 20th 1985. I am sure that my interest in the accomplishments of the present WSO leadership is shared by the Sikh Sangat at large and hence warrants a reply via WSN.

I would also like to request that the “Letters to the Editor” section be a permanent feature of WSN.

Yours Truly, RS, Dhillon Easton, Mass.

Article extracted from this publication >> January 10, 1986