‘Improper’ paintings of Maharaja Ranjit Singh annoy visitors at fort

Neeraj Bagga

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Tribune News Service

Amritsar, April 9

Visitors at the Gobindgarh Fort of the 18th Century, which was partially opened for the public a few months ago, are irked over some paintings that portray Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s turban in an “improper” way.

Manjot Singh, a visitor from Ghanupur Kale village, said, “The first painting of the legendary Maharaja you spot at the entrance of the main fort is improper. It does not resemble Maharaja Ranjit Singh as seen in most of the other seen paintings. In this painting, his long hairs are not covered under his turban at the rear.”

Another visitor, Amanjot Singh of Sultanwind Road, says, a mega-size painting inside the main courtyard of the fort is far away from resembling available pictures of the Sikh Maharaja.

Prof Sukhdev Singh Sohal from Guru Nanak Dev University said it would be fair to comment on the paintings only after enquiring the thought process of the painters and guidelines given to them by their employers.

Former SGPC member Jaswinder Singh, who also heads Akaal Purkh Ki Fauj, a Sikh religious organisation, said: “It is in contravention of the Sikh Rehat Maryada to keep hair uncovered. The SGPC must evaluate projects and objects associated with the Sikh history that are being renovated and revived by other agencies. Even the shape, size and colour of flags as seen in the paintings do not imitate the original Khalsa flags.”

However, repeated attempts to establish contact with Cultural Affairs and Tourism Director Navjot Pal Singh Randhawa failed as the calls went unanswered.

PHTPB project director AR Mishra said he was out of the town. “I can comment over the matter only after returning to the city,” he added.