SAN FRANCISCO, California—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 the Sikh Shrine in Baghdad to SGPC Amritsar. Releasing a copy of this letter to the media, Mr Chahal said that this Sikh Shrine is situated towards the west side of Baghdad Railway Station on the 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 the visit by Guru Nanak Dev (Affectionately called Baba Nanak) in the year 927 A.H (1520 A.D.) Guru Nanak is Founder of the 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 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 Muslim community. This situation has caused great disappointment to millions of devotees and adherents to the 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.
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 said that the filing of this issue is pending in the Prime Minister’s 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 worshipers 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 lawmakers in the United States to make this happen.
The full letter is below:
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)
