Guru Granth Sahib ‘saroop’ damaged in 1984 op restored, put on display

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 3

The ‘saroop’ of Guru Granth Sahib that was enshrined in the sanctum sanctorum of the Golden Temple and damaged by a bullet during the 1984 Operation Bluestar has been showcased for public viewing after restoration by the SGPC in the complex today.

Back in public view after 37 years, the ‘saroop’ has been placed for a limited period i.e. till June 5, at Shaheed Baba Gurbax Singh Gurdwara, located at the rear of Akal Takht. Along with it, the bullet that was believed to have hit the ‘saroop’ from the southern gate of the sanctum sanctorum has also been put on display.

SGPC chief Bibi Jagir Kaur said the bullet had damaged its cover and 90 ‘angs’ (pages) before getting lodged in the ‘saroop’. The conservation of the handwritten ‘saroop’ was done by experts, who retained some damage marks on it.

A specially designed paper had been arranged from overseas and would be pasted on the damaged portion of the ‘angs’. This paper has got blended with the original page in such a manner that it will be hard to locate the impairment.

The original bullet mark on the cover of the holy script has been kept ‘as it is’. The holy relic was part of evidences, including the bullet marks, preserved on the facade of Teja Singh Samundri Hall and bullet-ridden rickety structure of one of the entry gates to the shrine adjacent to the Akal Takht, known as ‘Khajana Deori’.

Holding the then central government liable for damages, the SGPC is fighting a legal battle in the Delhi High Court to claim compensation of Rs 1,000 crore. The case is still pending.

The bullet-ridden gold plates of Golden Temple too will be displayed shortly. The SGPC had made arrangements for live telecast for wider reach. Two LCD screens have been put up outside the gurdwara.

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