Sites visited by Guru Nanak identified

Deepkamal Kaur

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, June 10

A three-member committee, which was set up by the state government for identifying places where Guru Nanak visited, has identified as many as 68 sites across 17 districts in the state.

Tracking all kinds of available evidences, the committee and history scholars working on the project visited various villages and towns of the state about which some evidence such as literature, gurdwara, memorial, any tradition or belief about Guru Nanak’s visit or stay was available.

The scholars interacted with villagers to get details and tried to connect it with the historical evidences to establish its veracity. The teams also collected pictures, made videos and took testimonies of people at each site to corroborate their findings.

Having already submitted a preliminary report to the PWD and Tourism and Cultural Department, the committee had recently sought objections to its findings by giving details in a public notice in this regard. The objections will be received till June 12 after which the committee members will delve on more indications and references coming to them before handing over a final report.

Dr Amandeep Kaur, head of the committee and of the history department at Guru Nanak Dev University, said, “Initially, we even got a government survey done on the basis of written sources with us, some historical evidences and religious beliefs. Then our teams went to these sites to cross-check the facts.”

Prof Amarjit of Sri Guru Nanak Adhyan Kendra said, “There had been strong beliefs that Guruji came to Dasuya and Kalanaur. We spent good time at both the places, but found no traces there. We also tried to establish the same via a possible route connectivity and talking to villagers there but reached no conclusion.”

He added, “We put 43 sites on the preliminary list that we handed over the government. Later, it stretched to 68 sites. After some responses coming to us from Sangrur and Tarn Taran post our public notice, we may go add more sites too.”

PWD Minister Vijay Inder Singla said, “We set up a committee of GNDU scholars and the SGPC. On the basis of their initial report, some funds have gone to the villages housing the gurdwaras associated with Guru Nanak so that their vicinity could be improved. On the basis of the final report, our experts will finalise the route map for Guru Nanak Marg which will have kilometer stones and arcs of the same pattern.”

Among the Revered sites 

Kapurthala: Sultanpur Lodhi; Tarn Taran: Fatehabad, Goindwal, Khadoor Sahib, Jalalabad, Kaure Vadhaun, Dyalpur, Verowal Bawian, Khalra, Ami Shah, Patti, Dehra Sahib (Lohar); Amritsar: Sathiala, Udoke Khurd, Ramdass, Veroke, Dharamkot, Saurian, Ram Tirath, Verka, Kathunangal; Gurdaspur: Kiri Afghana, Chahal Kalan (Achal Sahib), Wadala Granthian, Batala, Kuthiala, Dera Baba Nanak, Pakho ke Mehmaran (Dera Baba Nanak); Moga: Dodhar (Garbi), Takhtupura, Dharamkot, Fatehgarh Korotana, Patto Hira Singh