Over 100 British-era coins found while digging earth at historical gurdwara

Mahesh Sharma

Raikot, June 22

Over 100 coins were found while digging earth for laying the foundation for expansion work at Gurdwara Damdama Sahib in Lamme Jattpura village.

Organisers of the gurdwara, managed by Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), have displayed the coins for sangat visiting the shrine in routine.

Though no connection between the coins and Sikh history was claimed, the management welcomed the Archeological Survey of India or the State Archeological Department to conduct study on the coins.

Organisers at Gurudwara Damdama Sahib, Lamme Jattpura, led by member, SGPC, Gurcharan Singh Grewal, president Pritam Singh and Sarpanch Amandeep Singh, said, “Labourers had recovered an earthen pot containing over 100 coins while digging the earth. There was one gold coin in the pot and remaining coins were made of silver. Though none of the coins was found to be associated directly with the Sikh history, almost all of the coins are embossed with the picture of Queen Elizabeth.”

Raikot SDM Gurbir Singh Kohli said he would soon visit the religious place to collect detailed information about the recovery. Appreciating that the organisers had chosen to display the recovery for Sangat visiting the Gurdwara instead of realising its commercial value, Kohli said, “As the pot had been recovered from the top layer of earth, prima facie the management is legal owner of the coins. However, if any government or non-government agency approaches us for conducting study, we will be pleased to coordinate between the agency and the management of the gurdwara,” said Kohli.

Historic importance of Lamma Jattpura village holds importance among Sikhs as Guru Gobind Singh had stayed here for 21 days. Residents of Jattpura had served Guru ji after the chief of dera at Heran, Mahant Kirpal Dass, denied him shelter at his abode. Guru Gobind Singh used to take rest during the night at a house situated in the village, where Gurdwara Damdama Sahib Jattpura is situated now and used to spend day on the outskirts of the village where Gurdwara Panjuana Sahib is constructed now. Private servant of Guru Gobind, Rai Kalla and Noora Mahi had broken the news of the martyrdom of Sahibzadas and Mata Gujri at Lamme Jattpura village.