Historic tree lost in Operation Bluestar, new 'imli' sapling takes root at Akal Takht

A fresh “imli” (tamarind) sapling has been planted at the site in front of the Akal Takht where a historic tamarind tree was destroyed during Operation Bluestar in 1984.

This marks another attempt to revive the symbolic tree after the previous one failed. After the reconstruction of the Akal Takht building by the Damdami Taksal in 1998, a tamarind sapling was first planted around 2000.

From 2009 to 2013, Dr Narinderpal Singh from the Farmer Advisory Service Centre looked after it. Later, fruit science experts from Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) also attempted to preserve it, but the efforts failed. The plant finally dried up during the winter of 2023.

Attempts to replant a sapling at the same site have continued. Two months ago, under the guidance of PAU experts, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) planted a new sapling at the site.

Bhagwant Singh, manager of Sri Darbar Sahib, said since 2005, the sapling planted earlier became unstable and its condition would deteriorate during the winter. “Despite assistance from the PAU, the plant struggled to adapt to the soil and climate. Though it showed promise between 2017 and 2020, it succumbed to prolonged frost in the winter of 2023,” said the manager.

Dr Karanbir Singh, an expert from the PAU, said several tamarind varieties were found in the region, but the previously planted one was a domesticated, frost-sensitive type that required significant care, especially in winter.

According to him, a wild tamarind variety found in hilly regions would have been more suitable. He had been inspecting the tree since 2013 as part of a collaborative effort between the PAU and the SGPC.

“Of the five saplings planted at the same site, three dried up while one was removed later. Despite various technical interventions such as growth hormones and winter coverings, the sapling could not survive the harsh winter of 2023,” he said.

Dr Karanbir Singh said for the new plant, a six-foot-deep and wide pit was cleared and filled with new soil, and a cold-tolerant variety was selected. “The sapling will be monitored for a year. At present, no significant risk factors are visible. The SGPC has been advised that during the frost-prone period from December 10 to January 20, the plant must be covered, leaving the southwest side open. If necessary, white acrylic sheets may be used. If any issues arise after a year, a new sapling, completely risk-free, may be considered,” he said.

The original tamarind tree, destroyed during Operation Bluestar, was a silent witness to centuries of Sikh history.

According to Sikh historian Jagdeep Singh Faridkot, during the time of the Sikh Gurus, the area was covered with natural vegetation, including the tamarind tree. “It is believed that the tree stood witness to Guru Hargobind Sahib’s establishment of the Akal Takht.

Several texts make a reference to this tree, and its significance grew when the then Jathedar of the Akal Takht, Akali Phula Singh, tied Maharaja Ranjit Singh to it due to his closeness to dancer Moran. Prem Singh Hoti Mardan records this episode in his book on Akali Phula Singh.

Noted Sikh scholar and historian Giani Gian Singh also made special mention of the tree in his 1889 work, “Tawarikh Amritsar”, describing it as standing beside a marble-lined fountain basin that added to the sacred ambiance of the site, often scented with rose water on special occasions.

British war artist William Simpson painted the Akal Takht in 1864, where the original tamarind tree is visible, appearing as tall as the adjoining three-storey structure. Davinder Singh Sadik, editor of Gurdwara Pedia, said more than 20 paintings and photographs from 1880 to 1984 consistently depict the old “imli” tree as 20 to 25 feet tall and nearly 5 metres wide in canopy.

He emphasised that, like the many physical and emotional wounds of Operation Bluestar, the loss of this tree remains a deep, unhealed mark. In Sikh tradition, trees are often revered as “Sabaj Mandir” (green temples) so this “imli” tree was also a temple, which was destroyed in 1984, said Davinder Singh.