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In 2019, a series of events occurred that led to a paradigm shift in the future conservation of Sikh heritage. At Gurdwara Sri Darbar Sahib in Tarn Taran, founded by Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji, there is a historic Darshani Deori gateway that was constructed during Sikh-rule by Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s grandson, Kunwar Nau Nihal Singh, who felt a deep connection to the sacred gurdwara. However, as with all buildings, overtime lack of surveillance and maintenance led to cracks developing in the structure. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee passed a resolution allowing the Kar Seva baba Jagtar Singh to “restore”, “renovate”, or “reconstruct” the Darshanj Deori. On 14 September 2018, a Jagtar Singh’s group attempted to topple the structure but local Sikh activists stopped them, saving it. By October of the same year, the resolution was withdrawn and the decision was put on-hold. However, that didn’t stop the zealous baba in his mission to destroy the historical building. The following year on the night of Saturday, 30 March 2019 at 9:00 P.M., a 300-man strong “army” of Kar Seva workers under Jagtar Singh armed with sharp-edged weapons, baseball bats, hammers, and sticks started toppling the structure, allegedly without the SGPC’s permission. For two hours, they continued their destructive rampage on the edifice ignoring desperate calls to stop their demolition from local Sikhs. The SGPC ignored calls trying to draw their attention to the issue. Finally at around 11:00 P.M., a police team led by deputy-superintendent Kawaljit Singh arrived and intervened, putting a stop to the Kar Seva destruction. Sadly, four domed-structured and other features located at the top of the building had been destroyed but the rest of the building was saved, for now. Local Sikhs demanded that a criminal case be put against the Kar Seva baba Jagtar Singh and warned that they would protest if this was not done. The manager of the gurdwara complex, Partap Singh, claimed to have called Jagtar Singh and told him to cease the vandalism but he did not lodge a police complaint. Sikhs were rightfully outraged at the wanton razing of their historical heritage by corrupt and ignoramus parties. The SGPC, seeing the anger of the Sikh Quom, decided instead to renovate and conserve the historical deori rather than demolishing it and rebuilding a new one. Before initiating the renovation work, a meeting was held in this regard and experts of Directorate of Cultural Affairs Archaeology and Archives Museum Punjab, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, local intellectuals and members of Sikh organisations assembled for discussion. The SGPC formed a three-member panel to investigate the issue. Partap Singh, manager of the gurdwara, was suspended for failing to prevent the dismantlement of the deori. All further gurdwara repair-related responsible were withdrawn from the Jagtar Singh-led Kar Seva group. An alliance of 30 Sikh organizations demanded an independent probe into the role of the SGPC and criminal action against the Kar Seva group. Surely, someone must be profiting from this affair, whether that means pocketing funds gathered under the guise of well-meaning Kar Seva from the Sikh community or other nefarious activities. The darshani deori would eventually be restored over the years following the incident by an archeological agency under the guidance of experts, without tampering with the original structure. This remains a critical moment in Sikh history: for the first time ever, the Sikh community stood-up and said NO, enough is enough. Too much has been lost, we will not allow more to be taken from us. The Kar Seva babas have destroyed 90-95% of Sikh heritage in Punjab within the past decades, the SGPC allows them to do so. Only we as Sikhs have the power to stop them. We have to raise our voice and allow ourselves to be heard! Staying silent and docile means more of our history will be stolen from us by these dushman, who prefer to pocket funds while converting Sikh history into mythology by wiping out all evidences of our past from this Earth. IMAGE CREDITS These photographs were sourced from various news articles and social-media posts documenting the incident. Two of the historical photographs (both from 1934) were provided by the Sikh History Research Centre of Khalsa College while another historical photograph was sourced from SikhMuseum.com. The colour photograph of the darshani deori taken prior to the destruction was sourced from the Facebook account of Rajwant Singh (Washington).

remember when the kar sewa babe tried demolishing the 200 yr old dharshan deori in the middle of the night at tarn taran darbar sahib, well 10 months on and nothing has been restored yet! no one has been arrested for the damage despite a complaint made. Funny how the youth that damaged the statues of the dancing people at amritsar were arrested straight away, yet the people involved in demolishing a 200 yr old building at Tarn Taran darbar sahib are still walking around free. https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/10-months-on-no-progress-on-restoration-of-darshani-deori-in-tarn-taran-gurdwara/story-TUnzuVr5i9TtVxaJqbnRHK.html 10 months on, no progress on restoration of Darshani Deori in Tarn Taran gurdwara CITIES Updated: Jan 30, 2020 22:55 IST Anil Sharma Hindustan Times, Tarn Taran A view of the partially demolished Darshani Deori of Gurudwara Darbar Sahib in Tarn Tran in on Saturday. (HT PHOTO) Tarn Taran Ten months after Kar Sewa activists demolished a portion of the Darshani Deori, the main entrance leading to the sanctum sanctorum of the historic Gurdwara Darbar Sahib on March 31, restoration and preservation of the structure is yet to begin. Baba Jagtar Singh headed the Kar Sewa Group involved in the incident, but was not present at the spot. The only work towards restoration has been that the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has formed a sub-committee of its members and subject experts for the preservation and renovation of this important relic of Sikh heritage. Gurdwara manager Balwinder Singh said, “Restoration work of the Deori has not been started as SAD (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann has filed a writ petition in the Punjab and Haryana high court. However, we have no stay order from the court on restoration and preservation work of the structure.” Mann has filed a plea in court seeking action against Baba Jagtar Singh and the activists, who, he claimed, had ‘destroyed’ the gurdwara. An SGPC member Bhagwant Singh Sialka claimed, “Experts from Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College, Ludhiana, have scanned the structure for its restoration.” No action against accused, despite SGPC panel indictment  The accused in the case are roaming free, in spite of a four-member SGPC probe committee’s recommendation of a police case against them. The panel comprised Sialka, Bhai Ram Singh (both SGPC members); Gurmeet Singh and Harjit Singh Lalu Ghuman (assistant secretaries). It had submitted its report to SGPC president Gobind Singh Longowal on April 5, 2019. After this, Longowal had said they will get police cases registered against the accused. The panel had held the Kar Sewa and the then manager of the gurdwara, Partap Singh, ‘guilty’ of demolishing the historic structure without its permission. It had also taken back the right of doing Kar Sewa (voluntarily religious service) at the gurdwara from Baba Jagtar Singh. “The Kar Sewa head had tendered an apology, and had claimed that he had not received the new order from the SGPC for not demolishing the historic structure. The probe into this claim is on,” Sialka told HT over phone. When questioned, if a police complaint had been lodged against the accused, SGPC chief secretary Roop Singh said, “I am not aware. I hope the manager of the gurdwara must have lodged a police complaint.” Gurdwara manager Balwinder said no complaint had been lodged. “The SGPC is not only shielding the accused, it is also playing with the sentiments of devotees,” claimed Harpal Singh, general secretary, SAD (Amritsar). Tejbir Singh, of Tarn Taran, said, “For trying to demolish folk dancers’ statues at the Heritage Street, police have registered a case of attempt to murder. For demolishing a 200-year-old historic structure, however, no action has been taken. This is shameful.” Quotes (if needed) Restoration work of the Deori has not been started as SAD (A) president Simranjit Singh Mann has filed a writ petition in the Punjab and Haryana HC. Balwinder Singh, manager, Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Tarn Taran The SGPC is not only shielding the accused, it is also playing with the sentiments of devotees. Harpal Singh, general secretary, SAD (A)

The 200 year old darshan deori at tarn taran sahib is getting demolished by kar sewa babas. That's another bit of our heritage going gone ... https://sikhsiyasat.net/2019/03/30/historic-darshani-deori-of-tarn-taran-sahib-being-demolished-tonight/