Peep into splendid artworks in India, Pak gurdwaras

Neeraj Bagga

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 29

Balvinder Singh, a 1991 passed out of Centre for Conservation Studies, Institute of Advanced Architecture Studies, University of York (UK), has come out with a book, “Splendid Artwork in Historic Shrines of India and Pakistan”.

The book brings out in-depth technical detail of frescoes in 15 historic gurdwaras in India and Pakistan.

Balvinder Singh says these shrines are repository of artworks in the form of jaratkari (inlaid stone), mohrakashi (frescoes), tukri (mirrors), gach (gypsum) and gold embossing.

He says most of these artworks are carried out during the period of Sikh emperor Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The book represents a passionate attempt to bring into cognisance the condition of splendid artworks in these gurdwaras of the two nations.

There are 317 illustrations in the 172-page book, which serve as photographic documentation of the artworks, besides offering a peep into important facets and values of the society of that period.

The book informs about patience, belief in nature, soberness and above all, the memories of out great Gurus. The book also focuses on preserving the dilapidated art forms, especially the various Sakhis related to Guru Nanak in the form of mohrakashi displayed at Gurdwara Baba Atal Rai in the Golden Temple Complex.

The conservationist took initiative in documenting those historic shrines that have artworks with the objective to save the precious treasure into a book form that could have been otherwise lost. The book mentions five gurdwaras in Pakistan and 10 in India. He visited these shrines nearly 10 times for the purpose.

For him, the most important thing is maintaining original ambience of the place that transposes a worshipper to the Guru’s time. For instance, meditation centre of Guru Angad Dev at Khadoor Sahib, which was restored with traditional materials and techniques by conservationists, offers a divine solace to a worshipper.

He says the maximum damage to the artwork is visible at Gurdwara Dehra Sahib in Lahore. Ignorance about restoration is the major fault behind losing the old ambience.