Mohali Golf Range Threatens To Wipe Out Sikh History

[cool water]

Ramaninder K Bhatia, TNN 17 September 2009, 02:40am IST

CHHAPAR CHIRI (Mohali): The most significant slice of Sikh history, the battleground where the Khalsa avenged the killing of the two younger sons of the 10th Sikh master Guru Gobind Singh, may soon be lost to a swank golf range if the recently approved master plan of Mohali is executed.

Barely 20 km away from Chandigarh, off Kharar-Landran road, lies Chhappar-Chiri village — once known for its plentiful ponds and mangroves on the banks of Patiala Ki Rao — where in 1710, the brave Banda Singh, anointed general of the Khalsa army by Guru Gobind Singh and sent to stop the tyranny of Mughals, defeated the army of Wazir Khan, the subedar of Sirhind who had ordered the killing of Sahibzada Zoravar Singh and Fateh Singh by bricking them alive. Khan was put to death and his body dragged to Sirhind, about 25 km from the village, before the Khalsa army proceeded to decimate the town.

Sikh historians are unanimous in their observation that this was the most important victory against the Mughals as it paved the way for a number of similar triumphs across several towns in Punjab. Yet, except for a simple board, bearing a history of the place, outside the local gurdwara, there are no memorials even though the place, spread across 14-15 acre of dense forests, has been visited by many VIPs, including CM Parkash Singh Badal, SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar and his predecessor GS Tohra.

The gurdwara displays five handmade iron weapons and turban rings (chakkar) which were dug out by a farmer while installing a tubewell. ''We've heard from our ancestors how the Khalsa forces, despite being outnumbered and ill-equipped, used the forest and guerrilla warfare tactics to defeat a far superior army," says Zora Singh, a former sarpanch, whose ancestors' participation in the war has been documented in books on the battle.

[Jag_Singh]

:6 Who's exactly going to play golf there?

[Matheen]

Frigging idiots

Who can we contact to stop this going through?

[KEERPA]

They want to cut down everything just so some guy can hit a golfball??????????????????? india loves to cover up Sikh historical places so they dont feel so guilty of them not doing anything but letting Sikhs do the grunt work and years later covering it up so they dont feel so bad about how they treat Sikhs in modern history.

How many people in india even play golf??? or are they trying to endorse it only in this region to cover up a historic battleground??? You dont see golf courses being built in Gettysberg USA.

[citizen_soulja]

This topic has made me very unhappy.  

why dont we have a Sikh archaeology trust or other organisation that can preserve our history and heritage for future generations???!!!

How much more insubordination and downright treachery will we have to see from our "leaders" until we take action and purge the ranks and disown these cretins!!

Why the heck do we have SGPC and Akali Dal are they SOOOOO UNEDUCATED that they fail to recognise these basic tactics and attempts to deprive us of our heritage and history!!

[Jag_Singh]

cs, can you contact sgpc or akali dal? can anyone, report not only these but many more issues........

[citizen_soulja]

yes i can, and i will.

you are right there are so many issues!! not to mention the duality and treason of our own people! what we need is a government, a Sikh body, responsible for all issues and decisions that effect the Sikh people. We need to follow the Jewish example there are less Jews than Sikhs (around 18 million, compared to approx 25 million Sikhs) yet they have their own nation and huge international organisations and they dictate and influence the foreign and domestic policy of many nations (US and UK included).

what we need is, like, The Government of Khalistan (in exile) we need central representation that would create unity and bring much needed reform to the Sikh Quom.

Only Vaheguru can help us.

[Jag_Singh]

forgive me if I'm wrong, but didn't we want an independent country 25 years ago? all look what happen when we asked for it.....there's just so many secrets. Your right about an government, we need alot of power.

[apnepart2]

we need to know how much land is held by the gurdwara? usually gurdwara land is leased out to affluent person of every pind who does not pay any rent for that , barring some honest persons, and there have been cases where gurdwara land has been sold for money. Same goes for common village land known as shamlat land or panchayti land. I have been to this gurdwara and it was in a shabby condition. Land in those parts is more expensive than gold. And yep, a lot of people play golf there, just for show off. Usually a club would be formed for holding parties and organising weddings.

[vikramjitsingh]

Fateh parwaan karro jiyo,

I'm and avid golfer with a reasonably good handicap and I live in Chandigarh. I love the game but this love pales in front of my love for Sikhi.

In case anyone feels strongly on this issue I think then they must put this in writing and send their objections to Newspapers : Tribune, Indian Express, Hindustan Times and Times of India (Chandigarh Editions)

Hopefully some Sikh Body will take up this issue and could even go to Court.

Guru Rakha