Centre to install high-powered telescope for devotees to get better view of Kartarpur Sahib

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, November 19

The government on Monday said it would install a high-powered telescope on the Indo-Pakistan border to enable devotees across India to get a better view of Kartarpur Sahib.

The move is part of the yearlong celebrations the government today announced to mark the 550th birth anniversary of founder of Sikh religion Guru Nanak Dev.

Addressing a press conference on the issue, Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma said since there was no direct permission to Indian devotees to visit the historic Kartarpur Sahib shrine across the border, a decision had been taken to install a high-powered telescope on the Indo-Pakistan border to capture the shrine and then telecast the view on a life-size screen.

"The view of Kartarpur Sahib will be available to the entire nation through this high-powered telescope which the Ministry of Science and Technology will steer," Sharma said.

The Akali Dal-dominated Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has been chosen by the Centre as a knowledge partner for the 550th Parkash Utsav celebrations with Sharma today saying that the occasion will be marked not just in India but across the world.

There is a proposal to translate Gurbani into all Indian languages and major world languages, he said, besides setting up chairs in the name of Guru Nanak Dev in Indian universities and some world universities, including those in the UK and Canada where Sikh diaspora is in huge strength.

"The government has also decided to issue a commemorative coin and a stamp on the occasion. An international seminar has also been planned in New Delhi," Minister Sharma said.

Further, the Home Ministry will start a museum train which will cross all locations touched by Guru Nanak Dev during his lifetime.