Gurdwara Janam Asthan ~ MATA SAHIB KAUR JI - Jhelum, Pakistan
by Inderjeet Singh, Shahid Shabbir & Mirza Baig
The town of Rohtas in district Jhelum, West Punjab in Pakistan is famous for Rohtas Fort built in Sher Shah Suri in the 16th century. Rohtas is about 200 kilometres from Lahore. Unknown to most people, inside the Rohtas Fort lays the birthplace of Mata Sahib Kaur Ji, the mother of Khalsa and a small Gurdwara Sahib to commemorate this historical event.
Inside the Gurdwara
According to Sikh Encyclopaedia by Dr Harbans Singh was the daughter of Bhai Har Bhagvan alias Ramu, from clan of Bassi, and his wife, Jas Devi were a devout Sikh couple of Rohtas. Mata Ji was born in 1681 at this place.
Islamabad based Shahid Shabbir of Pakistan Heritage Club who is spearheading the campaign to save the heritage (including Sikh) in Pakistan has made a video of the Gurdwara Sahib.
(From top Old Structure, Outside gate of Gurdwara Sahib and Gurdwara Sahib Inside door)
His colleague and friend Mirza Safdar Baig who lives in Jhelum informs me that in 2013 a Sikh family from Peshawar undertook Kar Seva and fully renovated the Gurdwara Sahib. Although there is no permanent Granthi or Prakash of Guru Granth Sahib Ji but Sikh Sangat can visit the Gurdwara Sahib any day. A Caretaker has been appointed who takes good care of the Gurdwara Sahib and unlocks it when Sangat comes for the darshan. On special occasions like Gurpurabs, Sikh Sangat bring Guru Granth Sahib Ji to the Gurdwara Sahib. Unfortunately there is no Sikh family in Jehlum district.
Sangat from India who come with Sikh Jathas to Pakistan are currently not able to visit this Gurdwara Sahib as they have a fixed schedule. However Sikh Sangat from USA, UK, Canada, Australia and other countries who are granted unrestricted visit to Pakistan should visit this place.
Shahid's tour to USA
To raise the profile of the Sikh heritage in Pakistan, Shahid Shabbir is visiting California, USA from mid-October 2016 for a period of one month. He plans to visit Gurdwara Sahibs and Sikh/Heritage organisations across USA to give his presentation on Sikh heritage in Pakistan. Readers from USA may contact Shahid Shabbir through his Face Book page 'Khalsa Raj Footsteps in Pakistan' https://www.facebook.com/Khalsarajfootstepsinpakistan to arrange his presentation in their local Gurdwara Sahib or Sikh organisation.
Acknowledgement
I am thankful to Mirza Baig for providing the photographs of the Gurdwara Sahib and for guiding and acquainting visitors to the area to this important Gurdwara Sahib.
