After Kartarpur Corridor, demand for restoration of Guru’s Chola grows

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 5

With the Kartarpur Corridor project, the demand for restoring and conserving other significant places of religious and historical importance in Sikh faith has increased. The Dilbir Foundation, a city-based NGO, which works in creating collaboration and community reach out plans, has raised demand of restoring the Chola Sahib at Dera Baba Nanak.

At Dera Baba Nanak lies the divine robe of Guru Nanak with written texts believed to be Quranic Verses. It is perceived that this “Chola” was presented to him by his Muslim faithful upon his visit to Mecca. Alongside lies the exquisitely hand embroidered kerchief (Rumaal) presented by his sister Bebe Nanaki to Nanak upon his betrothal. “Other artifacts of significance are also displayed by the present generation of the Bedi progeny. However, despite repeated attempts by DF to get all members of the family to accede to restoration and conservation, as well as esthetical display of these universal assets, one of the cousins vetoed the inevitable and let the fabric degenerate,” informed Gunbir Singh, president, DF.

A common meeting even in 2014 with all four wings of the family, in the presence of the restorer, Namita Jaspal of the Heritage Atilier, did not fructify into sensible process. “Some of the family members have been lauding the efforts made by DF, and continue to lend support for this endeavour by the Foundation to date. It is hoped that the present development may find favour with all members of the Bedi clan, and they will find opportunity in allowing the restoration and display of these sacred robes to the faithful of the subcontinent,” he added.

The Kartarpur Corridor also opens up possibilities of it becoming a pathway of peace where pilgrims from both sides of the sub continental border could find spiritual solace. Pilgrimage to the Harmander Sahib (Golden Temple) sees an estimated 35 million visitors of all faiths and creeds, including the Sikh faith, of which Guru Nanak was the founder. Similarly, Gunbir Singh says that developing more religiously significant places would boost spiritual tourism as well as preserve the legacy of Sikh faith.