NAPA Urges Iraq to Hand Management of Baghdad Gurdwara to SGPC
By: NAPA Media Office & Sikh24 Editors
SAN FRANCISCO, California (October 15, 2013)—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.