185-year-old Gurudwara given a new look

Kishanbagh: The oldest Gurudwara in the city that was constructed 185 years ago by a group of soldiers who landed in the city from Lahore, was named as the Gurudwara Sahib Baram Bala in reverence to the almighty.

The 14 thousand Sikh Regiment from Lahore landed in Hyderabad and were placed at five different Chawni's. Fourteen Nishans with 14 Risaldars were placed at Sikh Chawniat, Attapur and the place was called "Barambala".

Now Sikh Chawni has been named as “Maharaja Ranjeet Singh Nagar” with acres of land Sikhs residing from then on. Sikh Chawni now houses 1200 families with Sikhs working for government organisations, Private Industry, IT Industry and well own established businesses. Old Gurudwara building constructed in 1832 A.D is still standing tall telling the rich history of Deccan Sikhs.

Age and vagaries of nature took a toll on the place of worship and a lightening in the 1950s damaged several portions but in the very same place, a newly constructed Darbar Saheb of Gurudwara Saheb Barambala atop the old Gurudwara was inaugurated here on Sunday coinciding with the 388th birth anniversary celebrations of Seventh Sikh Guru, Sri Guru Har Rai Sahebji.

For close to six-and-a-half decades, the Sikhs numbering over 15,000 in the city have been trying hard to reconstruct the Gurudwara and on Sunday that dream came to fruition for the Gurudwara Prabhandhak committee.

Sajjan Singh of Sikh Heritage Foundation said, “It is a dream come true and the present lot are privileged as we have been able to keep alive a tradition and the take the legacy left behind by our brothers. The old Gurudwara now would be used as a langar. The Sikhs have been living in the city for over 200 years and this Gurudwara being the oldest has a very special place in the hearts of the people.”

Constructed at a cost of Rs 8 Crore, the newly constructed Gurudwara has come up adjacent to the existing old Gurudwara built nearly 150 years ago. It has been completely funded by the community with the Guru Nanak institutions contributing amply. The Sikhs have made Hyderabad their home and blended with the local community, living in complete harmony for over 200 years.

Prabhandak Committee of Gurudwara Saheb Barambala, Sikh Chawniat, Chairman, S Harban Singh, President, S Sukdev Singh and Secretary S Ranveer SIngh and others said that this was biggest Gurudwara to be built in Telangana where at a time, 9,000 to 10,000 devotees can be seated in the hall.

Separate areas for singers who recite kirtans and for the preparation of Prasad, ramp for the benefit of senior citizens and physically challenged are constructed.

For the first time in the history of Hyderabad, Jathedars of major Sikh Takhats from across the country (seat of Sikh authority) and Sangath from all Gurudwaras in the city took part in the inauguration of the Gurudwara.

Later in the evening, a colourful 'Nagar Keertan' (Holy Procession) was taken out from Gurudwara Saheb premises in which all the Sikh Gurudwaras from Telangana state would participate in the events. Ragi Jathas Bhai Gagandeep Singh of Ganganagar, Rajasthan and Baba Dharamveer Singh Khalsa from Punjab, rendered shabad keertans and thrown light on the teachings of Sikh Gurus.