Desecration of Gurdwaras in Sikkim-Part III- Chungthang

Desecration of Gurdwaras in Sikkim Par I ~ Gurudongmar

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History

Guru Nanak visited Chungthang after Gurudongmar, Thanggu and Lachen. As he was seated downhill, he was flocked by locals. A demonic-attitude person could not bear people under his influence to go to the guru. In anger he rolled a huge boulder downwards. Guru Nanak stopped the rolling boulder with his stick and to address people climbed up the boulder. Since it had wet earth, his footprints got etched into the boulder. Seeing his miraculous escape more people thronged to him and requested for water and food items. Guru Nanak scratched the earth and a fountain appeared. He spread the rice he had and buried the banana leaves. Later there was rice and bananas all over. He planted the stick which became a magnificent tree. Assam Rifles later camped here and made a Gurdwara in 1970s at the place.

The present Gurdwara structure at Chungthang was built by officers of the Assam Rifles and Army personnel with the help of the local Lepcha tribe in the early eighties. The area was restricted to service personnel and local people due to its strategic location near the border with China from the early eighties to 2005. The Assam rifles were transferred in September 2004 raising problems for the upkeep for the the Gurdwara. Before moving out Assam Rifles handed over the Gurdwara complex to the gaon burha. It took 6 months before the ITBP came. Between this period the local lama in conjunction with the gaon burha (sarpanch) converted the boulder complex into Boddh complex and with the help of Tourism department twin boundary walls were constructed and all the signs of Guru Nanak were removed and were later attributed to Beja Guru as can be seen from the board.

(Left) Footprints of Guru Nanak (Right) The mound at Chungthang Monatery on which Guru Nanak rested

(left) Gurdwara at lachen in 1978 and (Right) Sub Major Bhullar

Gurdwara in 1970s

(Left) Gurdwara in eightees (Right) Nanak lama Gate

Wall created around stone in 1995

Chungthang: 02-03 May 2015

Name of Nanak lama removed from main gates

Wall erected between Gurdwara complex and rice fields

Footsteps on stone coloured yellow Tower Erected near Gurdwara

Latest Positions

At Chungthang entire stone complex converted as of Buddhist Veja Guru. The episode of Guru Nanak is now connected to Veja guru in place and a new board displayed to this effect. A wall has been created between Rice fields and Gurdwara. Bananas are not seen. A tower is erected along with the new Gurdwara. Name of Guru Nanak has been removed from main gate.

At Lachen, Robe, footprints and kamandal belonging to Guru Nanak are no more being shown to Sikhs.

At Gurudongmar, there was no monument or flag of any religion in 1970. Gurdwara and Nishan Sahib and a board giving details of Guru Nanak's visit to the place came up in nineteen eighties. After 22 years, a yellow (Hindu) flag came up in 2002 and later a small box type Mandir was erected seeing the visitors and large fund collection. The development was reported in 'The Sikh Review' May 2001 [20] issue. The photos show the situation in 2002 as published in Col Dr Dalvinder Singh Grewal's book, Amazing Travels of Guru Nanak, May 2002, and So Than Suhawa, 2002, published by Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Sri Amritsar. Case was taken up by Col Grewal with President SGPC S. Gurcharan Singh Tohra, who took it up with the then Def Min George Fernandez. He told Army Chief not to disturb Gurdwara. Accordingly Mandir and flag were removed. But again in 2005, a Sarav Dharma Mandir was created by Army. As per report from Siliguri Gurdwara Committee Sikkim Govt took over the Gurdwara complex in 2007, in connivance with the Army Commander of Sukhna clandestinely and converted it to a Boddhi complex as can be seen in video. It is important to get a Gurdwara with independent identity and sanctity constructed at Gurudongmar for development of Sikhism. Baba Surinder Singh kar sewa wale is already eager to build this complex if given the signal.

References

[1] (a) ‘His journey to North was through the mountainous region of Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Nepal, Tibet, Sikkim, Bhutan and thence to China’, Introduction,(p. xiii), Travels of Guru Nanak, 1978, by Dr Surinder Singh Kohli, Punjab University, Chandigarh. (b) Amazing Travels of Guru Nanak, May 2002, Amazing travels of Guru Nanak, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Sri Amritsar

[2]‘fir(i) jai chadia sumer par siddh mandli dristi aaee,’ Var 1,  Paudi 28, (p.14) Varan Bhai Gurdas Ji (Bhai Gurdas, 1551-1636 A. D.), Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Sri Amritsar, Feb 1952, 2^nd edition June 1964

[3] (a) Des Nepal, Sikkim Bhutan, Punha Himala pikhyo mahan, p.60, Sri Gur Panth Parkash, Bhai Gyan Singh Gyani (1824-1884), 1970, Bhasha Vibagh Punjab, Patiala, (b) Guru Nanak entered the territory of Nepal in 1514-15 from the border area of Utter Pradesh,(p.113) Nepal, pp.113-116, Travels of Guru Nanak, 1978, by Dr Surinder Singh Kohli, Punjab University, Chandigarh. (c) Col Dr Dr Dalvinder Singh Grewal,  May 2002, Amazing Travels of Guru Nanak,  Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Sri Amritsar, pp.178-182

[4] (a) ‘It  was in 1514 that during his third journey in the Himalayas Guru Nanak made an incursion into Tibet’, (p.122), Tibet and China (pp.122-127) Travels of Guru Nanak, 1978, by Dr Surinder Singh Kohli, Punjab University, Chandigarh, (b) Col Dr Dr Dalvinder Singh Grewal,  May 2002, Amazing Travels of Guru Nanak,  Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Sri Amritsar, pp.155-177

[5] (a) uthon age (from Nepal) Sikkim des Tamlang Shehar jo uthon di rajdhani si usde uttar vani ik pahadi par ja baithe…ethon Darjeeling, changathan nun dekh kanchan (kanchanjunga) parbat nun langh anek bastian pahadan da jhaka lai Bhutan des vich parves kita.’ (p. 215) Twareekh Guru Khalsa, 1892, by Giani Gian Singh, later published by Bhasha Vibhag  Punjab, Patiala (b)  ‘From Nepal Guru Nanak entered the territory of  Sikkim in A.D. 1514-1515’, (p.117), Sikkim (pp. 117-119) Travels of Guru Nanak, 1978, by Dr Surinder Singh Kohli, Punjab University Chandigarh. (c) Col Dr Dr Dalvinder Singh Grewal,  May 2002, Amazing Travels of Guru Nanak,  Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Sri Amritsar, pp. 183-189

 [6] (a) Baba Nanak bhutant de des aya ‘, Sakhi Bhutant des ki’  Janamsakhi Guru Nanak Dev ji, B-40, 1733, edited by Piar Singh, 1974. Published by Guru Nanak Dev University, 2^nd edition 1989, p. 124 (b) ‘The Guru entered the territory of Bhutan from Sikkim’,(p.120) Bhutan (pp.120-121), Travels of Guru Nanak, 1978, (c) Col Dr Dr Dalvinder Singh Grewal,  May 2002, Amazing Travels of Guru Nanak,  Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Sri Amritsar, pp.190-195

[7] ‘Guru Nanak crossed into and out of Arunachal Pradesh thrice and visited most of the part.’ (p.196)  Arunachal Pradesh, (pp. 196-205), Col Dr Dr Dalvinder Singh Grewal,  May 2002, Amazing Travels of Guru Nanak,  Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Sri Amritsar, pp. 196-205

[8] After visiting the major portion of China, the Guru returned to India via Sinkiang state.’ (p.127), , Travels of Guru Nanak, 1978, by Dr Surinder Singh Kohli, Punjab University, Chandigarh.

[9] (a)  ‘Al Lachen parbat te jai khade hoi’,  Janamsakhi Bhai Bala,1658, edited by Surinder Singh Kohli, Punjab University Publication  Bureau, Chandigarh, p.236, note 3.(b) Van Suwane,1990, by Lt Col Dalvinder Singh Grewal published by National Book Shop,pp.95-101,  (c) Amazing Travels of Guru Nanak,by Col Dr Dr Dalvinder Singh Grewal, May 2002, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Sri Amritsar,p.186

[10] (a) During his apostolic sermons the guide uttered ‘Nanak’ ….He told us that a great personality called ‘Rimpoche Nanak Guru’ while on his way to Tibet had rested on this mound (in Chungthang)……sprinkled the rice all over the meadow and buried the banana packing in a corner. …We saw …sprouting golden yellow paddy…..clusters of banana trees.’ (p.231) Lt Colonel N.S. Issar, Sikh Review, Calcutta, Jan 1965. (b)  ‘There are only a few houses in Chungthang. The major features are the shrine of Guru Nanak and the Sikkim police post.’ S. Surinder Singh of Indian Defence Accounts Service, (pp. 234-235) Sikh Review, Feb-Mar 1970. (c) Guru Rimpoche in Chungthang Math. Dr Tarlochan Singh, Jan 1972, Jeevan Charitar Guru Nanak dev, Dilli Sikh Gurdwara Board, Dilli, p.289. (d) Col Dr Dr Dalvinder Singh Grewal, May 2002, Amazing Travels of Guru Nanak, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Sri Amritsar, pp.196-197. Je swarg dekhna hai tan Sikkim dekho, p.122, by Col Dalvinder Singh Grewal, 1995, Sarvotam Punjabi Nibandh 1987-88, Bhasha Vibhag, Punjab.

[11]  Muguthang ton Guruji Lungnakla darra langh ke thanggu pahunche, jithe guru ji do din rahe. Guru ji di yad vich ethe pathar ute Guru ji da pairan da nishan si jis nun sadak banaon valian barud nal uda dita. (p. 100), Sikkim-jithe than than Guru Nanak ji di charan chhoh  lagi’, (p .95-101) in Van Suwane,1990, by Lt Col Dalvinder Singh Grewal published by National Book Shop,  Amazing Travels of Guru Nanak, May 2002, 197

[12]Ethon (Thanggu) Yongdi, Gaggong, Lukrep, Giagong hunde hoe Sora pahunche te ik vaddi jheel ‘ (Gurudongmaar) de kinare ruke Amazing travels of Guru Nanak,  Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Sri Amritsar. Pp. 186-187, Note: The footprints were later found in the bed of Teesta riverand preserved in Lachen Gompha.,’

 (p. 100) Sikkim- jithe than than Guru Nanak ji di charan chhoh  lagi’, (p . 95-101) in Van Suwane,1990,  by Lt col Dalvinder Singh Grewal, pub by National Book Shop Amazing Travels of Guru Nanak, May 2002, Amazing travels of Guru Nanak,  Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Sri Amritsar

[13] ‘(In Nepal) there are now two dharmsals in the memory of the visit of the Guru, one managed by Nirmalas and the other by udasis. The gurdwara is situated on the western bank of river Bishnumati’, (p.115 ) Travels of Guru Nanak, 1978, by Dr Surinder Singh Kohli, Punjab University, Chandigarh.

[14] Chungthang Gurdwara, (p.186-187), Sikkim, Amazing Travels of Guru Nanak, May 2002, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Sri Amritsar,

[15] Guru Dongmar Gurdwara, (p.185-186), Sikkim, Amazing Travels of Guru Nanak, May 2002, Amazing travels of Guru Nanak, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Sri Amritsar

[16] Menchukha  (PP.201-204), Gurdwara Arunachal Pradesh, Amazing Travels of Guru Nanak, May 2002, Amazing travels of Guru Nanak,  Shiromani  Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Sri Amritsar

[17] Guru Dongmar Gurdwara, (p.185-186), Sikkim, Amazing Travels of Guru Nanak, May 2002, Amazing travels of Guru Nanak, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Sri Amritsar

[18]  ‘Asa hath kitab kachh’, Bhai Gurdas (1551-1636 AD), Varan Bhai Gurdas, var 1, paudi 32, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Feb 1952, p. 16

[19] Karta ‘Sundri’ te ‘Rana Surat Singh (Bhai Vir Singh),  1955. Guru Nanak Chamtkar Utrardh (Dooja adh), jeevan Charitar Sahib Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Khalsa Samachar,Amritsar

[20] Col. Dr Dalvinder Singh Grewal May 2001, Sikh Review: Sikkim’s Gurdwara "Guru Dongmar" Desecrated!