asmlondon

The Sher Singh palace is in a pretty poor state and is difficult (if not impossible) to gain access to. As a previous commentator on this site just said, it is a victim of Punjabi officialdom and the bureaucracy seems to be paralysed with inaction becuase that is easier to do nothing than actually saving this building. You will know that there are precious few (if any) buildings from the period of Ranjit Singh that are left intact within East Punjab. These two stories illustrate the history and the importance of this building: http://www.punjabheritage.org/content/view/765/32/ http://www.punjabheritage.org/content/view/359/32/ The second building is the Qila Mubarak in Patiala. I visited this last in 2002 so it has been some years, but the building is truly one of the most important fortress palaces of the entire sub-continent. It also happens to be architecturally one of the very few truly Sikh buildings left in existance. MOst other truly Sikh forts have been destroyed pretty systematically over the years. It had been undergoing quite serious and very well funded restoration whilst Amrinder Singh was CM (not a huge surprise) but this stopped when the politics changed. I am not sure just how accessible it is now- perhaps someone else can let us all know. I have been inside the fortress a number of times and each time I have had to either lie, bribe or sneak my way in or use some personal connection to gain access. It's a scandalous situation where Punjabis are not given access to the most remarkable pieces of our heritage and we have to bribe or use political muscle to get into these places. I hope this helps. aman

Firing this woman doesnt really solve the problem - in a sense the BBC has quickly washed its hands of the issue. The big issue is there there are still lots of people around the world who equate the turban with terrorism. This is not in the mind of ill-educated racist yobs but clearly even middle-class journalists like this woman. The BBC is one of the world's most influential news sources and they should (in my opinion) use this event to solve the underlying problem by: 1) sending this woman to meet Sikhs, learn about what we are and make a program about us, the turban and the issues we face from people like her. It would show that we are welcoming, normal and certainly not anything for her to fear. It woudl also be in the best principles of Sikhi. 2) commissioning serious programming on the issue of mistaken identity but also serious programming about Sikhs which is sorely lacking in the BBC schedules. Like I said, I think that the BBC have really washed their hands of this and they need use their influence to help cure the disease rather than simply deal with the symptom. Amandeep

Great job - a fitting tribute. Amandeep

Some of the personal effects of Bhai Maharaj Singh are in the British Library http://www.punjabheritage.org/material-her...tion-d1856.html

curious_man thanks for posting this - I added a story on Punjab Heritage news with a very breif translation of the narrative voiceover http://www.punjabheritage.org/manuscripts/...of-neglect.html Amandeep

The program was very poor. It was simply a wide ranging attack. The principle allegations were completely unsubstantiated. Allegations as serious as those presented were simply conjecture on conjecture. I have written to complain and asked them to present the evidence or withdraw that allegation. They also interviewed someone from the "Institute of Conflict Management in Delhi". I Googled it, this is an organisation set up by, and headed up by, KPS Gill. It was presented as if it were some kind of honest broker, but essentially it is a Punjab Police mouthpiece. A really disgraceful program aired on the day that 7 Muslims were actually convicted of preparing terrorist act. Instead of covering the actual threat the BBC are making up imaginary ones. Sanghera was a poor interviewee and did himself no favours; but I applaud him for standing up for himself and doing the interview in English. But I wonder if the program makers did that intentionally? I wonder if they asked Sanghera if he preferred to speak in Punjabi rather than English? interestingly they didn't embarrass Sohi by asking him to speak in English? Did they interview strong articulate voices from the Sikh Federation and choose to drop these as they didn't support their view? What ever your political views are I urge you all to make your voices heard on the BBC complaints website. Aman

Please visit this video lecture from Author and Historian Parmjit Singh which includes a piece on the photograph that you have posted. This video lecture includes some fascinating details and facts about this photograph and the characters therein. You can forward to slide 26 but I woudl recomend that you watch the entire lecture which is stunningly illustrated. The second in the series of Punjab Heritage Lectures launches today. Parmjit Singh presents a “Picture of the Sikhs” a presentation on the photographic record of the last 150 years of Anglo Sikh History. The last one hundred and fifty years also coincide with the age of the development of photography. In 1849 on the eve of the second Anglo-Sikh was that ended the kingdom created by the legendry Maharaja Ranjit Singh, John McCosh, a surgeon in the British India army, took the first grainy shots of Sikhs and monuments of Lahore. Since then the history of the Sikhs has been played out in front of the camera’s lens. McCosh heralded the firs of the military photographers who went on to capture the Sikhs in the British army. Early Victorian photographs of the Sikhs highlight attitudes connected with the British presence in India, indicating both the power of photography as a colonial tool of classification and appropriation. a unique opportunity to view images from public collections including the National Army Museum, Imperial War Museum and the British Library. This lecture now accompanies Christy Campbell’s superb presentation on Maharaja Duleep Singh that was launched last month. Please visit www.punjabheritagelectures.org to view the lecture

Freed, Another great posting with some really special pictures in that lot. I thought it was just my parents that used the term "Good maan di lallten" My understanding was that Goodmans Lanterns were a brand of matches (or possibly cigarettes!) that then entered common parlence aman

It is worth looking at some of the recent interventions made by the custodians of the Darbar Sahib The electrification of the building and indeed the more recent cabling to support the broadcasts from the Darbar Sahib are positive but their implemetnation has been far from positive. PLease see the images below taken in 2006 by Taran Singh of how the electrification has been carried out. By looking at these I think we have a legitimate right to question very strongly the exact need for this intervention becuase there is no going back once they start. http://www.punjabheritage.org/material-her...emple-2704.html

Friends The SGPC is now at an advanced level of planning to install air conditioning units in the Harimandir Sahib (Golden Temple). This move demands holes to be punched through the ancient walls of the structure. The sub-committee leading this plan has been influenced by a single political "VVIP" who is apparently visiting the site on a monthly basis and finds it uncomfortable. Please visit the story and leave your comments. http://www.punjabheritage.org/material-her...emple-2704.html The pressure applied by advocacy groups like Punjab Heritage News over the last few months on the authorities at Nanded have assured that the Ranjit Singh Baradari were conserved instead of destroyed. Please keep up the good work. Amandeep Madra

http://www.punjabheritage.org/editorials--...estruction.html Reports are coming in from India that the historic Ramgharia Bunga in Hazur Sahib, Nanded is slated to be pulled down. This historical site linked to the Ramgharia Misl is one of the last of the great buildings related to Ranjit Singh in the region. It pre-dates the takht and was constructed with funds from the Ramgharia Sardars at Ranjit Singh's court to act as a place of safety and rest for visiting pilgrims. This historical site, with Ranjit Singh's own Baradari, is now in grave threat of being torn down, despite the wishes of the local community, sevadars and the Sikh clergy. These priceless Sikh buildings which have witnessed 150 years of history and are some of India's last surviving examples of Sikh architecture from the period of Sikh rule from Lahore are to be sacrificed to make way for modern buildings by a Sikh committee charged with making arrangements for the 2008 commemorations in Nanded. Please help us save these priceless buildings from destruction by adding your comments to this story (to the above link) which we will press upon Dr D. S. Pasricha chairman of the Prashasak ("logistics/arrangements") Committee for the 2008 event.

This is an extrordinarily important video and something that everyone interested in Sikh material heritage shoudl look at. Its important note that this kind of documentation is all that is often left of our heritage. It is a shame that the SGPC have started to rebuild the Sikh reference library with Manuscripts and objects but havent thought of either cataloguing them properly (so wee knwo what's there) or digitising them. amandeep

Thanks for putting this up.. its a real treasure. The gallery is housed inside a Haveli known as "Maharani Jindan's Haveli" and is much the same today. I was especially interested in seeing Ranjit SIngh's jewelled Horse trappings pieces that were lost in a robbery in 1996, but these werent covered in that documentary http://www.punjabheritage.org/index.php?op...8&Itemid=30 Do you know if the yatra video covers the Ranjit Singh Samadhi next to Dehra Sahib? I'd be really interested to see the condition of this before the works in 1999? Amandeep

The latest story on www.punjabheritage.org in the Hidden Heritage series is about a remarkable order of merit instituted by the flamboyant Maharaja of Patiala, Bhupindar Singh. The Nishan-i-Phul is a striking piece and something that speaks volumes about Sikh symbolism of the turn of the 20th century. One of the Maharaja's personal pieces and something that he considered the highest order of merit, the Nishan-i-Phul is a window into the extravagant world of Bhupindar's Patiala court.

This weekend will see an explosion of coverage about the Battle of the Somme, commemorating the 90th anniversary and remembering the 1 million men who were killed during the campaign. The role of the Sikh soldier is often forgotten during the First World War. The latest in the "Hidden Heritage" series goes some way to remember these forgotten heroes during this commemorative weekend. Please visit www.punjabheritage.org for the latest story with rare and unpublished pictures and a remarkable story using the words of the men who fought the battle Amandeep

Here is Gurdwara Hazur Sahib in Nander Visit www.punjabheritage.org for more google earth views of punjab

Dear Friends Please do visit www.punjabheritage.org today and see the latest story in the Hidden Heritage series. This takes a view of some of Punjab's most important heritage sites, from the air vie Google Earth which has just released high definition pictures of parts of the region. These are accompanied with photos, from the ground. Amandeep

Dear Friends, Today, I am really excited to announce a new series of enlightening photo stories that will feature the "The Hidden Heritage of the Punjab" on www.punjabheritage.org The series of stories over the next month will highlight some of the very best of Punjab's material heritage which have otherwise been overlooked in recent years. Punjab Heritage News on www.punjabheritage.org has seen tremendous success in the six months since it was launched. Over 200 new stories have been added and tens of thousands of visitors read the latest news on the state of Punjab's material heritage every month. Highlights of the new series of picture stories include: - An inside look at the palaces & forts of the Maharajas and Rulers of Punjab - Some of the finest pieces of Punjabi art in private collections - A walk through the old city of Lahore & its fine Sikh period havelis - The finest Punjabi illuminated manuscripts Our first story is a rare look inside one of the most magnificent buildings in the ancient walled city of Lahore; the haveli of Raja Nau Nihal Singh, grandson of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Avid readers will know that the daily news stories on www.punjabheritage.org continue to tell the story of the decay and neglect of Punjab's heritage. Campaigning and education on conservation issues remains the highest priority for www.punjabheritage.org but this series will, I hope, illuminate the beauty, importance and splendour of Punjab's hidden heritage. Please do take the time to look at www.punjabheritage.org today and over the next 30 days to catch the latest news on the heritage of the Punjab. Or subscribe to the RSS/XML feed to have the stories delivered direct to your desktop.

The pictures that are on the www.punjabheritage.org site were taken last year. There are a number of issues with the Dera Sahib Gurdwara site that are slightly unclear in this news report. On the first picture on the site you can see the inside of the tiny sanctom sanctorum of Dehra Sahib. This was once embellished with some of the finest marble and pietra dura work (inlay work). THe best of this work dates from the time of Ranjit Singh and there was some renovations made in the 1930s I believe that above this marble work were wall paintings that covered the walls for the last two feet before the ceiling. You can see at the top of the picture some really gaudy modern mirror work replacing those wall paintings . This was done in the last couple of years. You can see this all over pakistan in mosques and houses. This very cheap, nasty, gaudy work is even less appealing than the bathroom tiles that seem to be popping up in India. The upper conrices of the central shrine are now covered in this horrible addition. OUtside of this is a covered walkway that surrounds the central shrine on all four sides. This was once covered in wallpaintings in floral motifs and had shallow alcoves that contained paintings of the Sikh Gurus and other religious scenes. Again whitewashing has replaced most of the painted surfaces and the religious scenes are in a deplorabel condition. You can see exactly what I mean in the 2nd and 3rd pictures on the punjabheritage.org site. Some of the scenes have been completely whitewashed and it would be interesting to know what was underneath . Aman

Kar seva is big business. When a site is opened for Kar Seva the person behind it can start to wave the "kar seva" flag and the sangat dutifully responds with donations. As a result the "KAr Sevaks" have to demonstrate that they have done something that was worth donating to, hence the need to replace the modest and artistically intricate and valuable buildings of the past with monstrous and ostentatious modern structures. The SGPC doesn’t just hand over the keys to any kar sevaks to do a job. They want a cut too, so the Kar Sevaks effectively bid for the premiere sites with cash. That is how the economics of the process works. In all this the real victim is our priceless heritage and also the whole concept of Kar Seva. It is far from a selfless act of service .. it is a business proposition. The key to turning this around is education. Sangat must not give money to those destroying heritage and Kar Sevaks have to understand that they must only do work with guidance from heritage bodies. After all, the priceless heritage of the Sikhs belongs to all of us, it is not the property of any statutory body to pass off to the highest bidder.

I have a .kmz file of a number of Sikh heritage sites that you cn load into google earth and view from there. This includes Hazur Sahib, Dera Sahib, Darbar Sahib & even (where I think) Hamkunt Sahib is? It also includes a number of the major cities in Punjab so you can get your bearings email/PM me for the file amandeepm@gmail.com

Take a look at the latest story on www.punjabheritage.org which reports the very latest discovery of a tomb of one of the Prophet's descendants in East Punjab. Forgotten since the partition in 1947 it became the property of the Buddha Dal who have some kind of guardianship ever since. It was discovered only recently, almost by chance, and has been creating a great deal of interest in the muslim world. Click onto the home page of Punjab heritage news onwww.punjabheritage.org or straight to the news story here.

Back to the original issue. Take a quick look at the front page of www.punjabheritage.org and you will see two new stories that illustrate the destruction of SIkh and Punjabi heritage. The first is the regilding of the Drabar Sahib at Tarn Taran, where the Baba Jagtar Singh had originally whitewashed out the old sikh frescoes that date back to the time of Ranjit Singh and has more recently unvelied new garishly painted ones that come straight out of the pages of a "Hemkunt Press" comic book. The second story speaks of the demolition of a haveli in Amritsar, some of the last architectural remains of the old city. If you get a chance then look at the archive of stories - there are hundreds there, many are illustrated and again you will see what terrible condition Sikh heritage is in. This destruction is happeneing with the unwitting support of the sangat. It is funded by Kar Seva - an honourable endevour which is now twisted into a commerical contract between Kar Seva Babas and the SGPC. Aman

The proposed bus services from Amritsar to Pakistan is great news but is very likely to be a Trojan Horse for Sikh Heritage in West Punjab. The by-product of the really encouraging news that was reported this morning on the BBC is that it will bring Kar Sevaks to Pakistan. The Kar Sevaks are determined to "beautify" Sikh shrines in Pakistan that have been largely untouched since Independence. In India after 1947 the Sikhs took control of the important Sikh shrines in Punjab from the British and over a single generation have wiped out virtually all historical monuments and replaced them with modern structures (see www.karsewa.org) . In Pakistan this has not happened to the same extent but the fear amongst conservators, architects and historians is that the same will take place. I want to illustrate this point with a couple of pictures. These are from within the samadh (funerary monument) of the great Sikh leader Maharaja Ranjit Singh. For 150 years a portion of his ashes (and those of the 11 wives and courtesans that performed Sati on his funeral pyre) were preserved in lotus-flower shaped urns embedded on a marble platform under a beautifully pietre dure canopy in an impressive monument in Lahore. In 1999 in preparation for a visit of Sikh priests from India the Sikh guardians of the shrine whipped off the offending reminders of both the maharajah and his wives. This is just one simple illustration of the devastation that we fear will happen. Please do try to take a look at www.punjabheritage.org which documents many many other cases of neglect, destruction and religious vandalism. With regards Amandeep Madra Image A picture taken in 1992 of the Samadh of Ranjit Singh which shows the central samadhi built by his son Kharack Singh and completed by Duleep Singh where a portion of the maharajahs ashes were inturned. A picture taken in 2005 where all the samadhis have been flattened in preparation for a visit of SGPC heads in 1999.

Bindy Bains' signature graphic reminded me of somethign: BAck in the nineteenth century Buffalo Bill Cody became rich and very famous after he trapped North American INdians and made them dress up like the cartoon-like deptcition of an INdian brave and had them stage mock battles with Wild West heroes who woudl always ultimately win. He toured the world withthis show ... and it is remebered as a very sad and humiliating end for the indigenous peple of North america who were basically reduced to permorning animals rather than the "braves" taht they actually were. You have to ask the question "what were these self-styled community leaders thinking". I am sure that the gatka boys were proud to display their skills and their passion but this kind of cheapo coon show degrades them horribly. They are nothign but the performing minstrels for people like the Duleep Singh Trust which is a pretty horrible place to be. You also have to ask whether the people who are teaching gatka to these kids are themsleves aware of the power play that they are in? Whilst these kids havce acquired skill and agility they must also be told ofthe nobility and honour of their forefathers. aman