Sikh Reference Library

Last updated

Sikh Reference Library
Sikh Reference Library entrance and building.jpeg
The entrance of the library
Sikh Reference Library
31°37′09″N74°52′35″E / 31.619268432138938°N 74.87647883793478°E / 31.619268432138938; 74.87647883793478
Location Amritsar, Punjab, India
ScopeMainly Sikhism and Punjab, but also contained works on various other topics
Established27 October 1946
Dissolved7 June 1984, Operation Blue Star
Later revived and continues in operation to present-day
Branch of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC)
Collection
Size
  • Estimated 20,000 total literary works just prior to its destruction in June 1984
  • Revived library estimated to contain 24,540 books in 2017
Other information
Affiliation Golden Temple complex
Sikh History Research Board of the SGPC
There is controversy surrounding the government's version of events on what happened to historical manuscripts, books, and artifacts before the Sikh Reference Library was burned. Sikh Reference Library Burned.jpg
There is controversy surrounding the government's version of events on what happened to historical manuscripts, books, and artifacts before the Sikh Reference Library was burned.

The Sikh Reference Library was a repository of an estimated 20,000 literary works located in the Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple) at Amritsar, Punjab which was destroyed during Operation Blue Star. [1] [2] [3] In 1984, the library's contents were confiscated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the empty building allegedly burned to the ground by the Indian Army on 7 June. In recent years the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has attempted to recover the looted material but has not yet recovered substantial materials. To date, the status of library manuscripts and artifacts is unclear; the vast majority remain in the hands of the government, a few office files and passports were returned, and as many as 117 items were destroyed for being "seditious" materials. [1] After the events of Operation Blue Star, the library was revived and its current collection has surpassed the total contents of the original library.

Contents

Origin

The Sikh Reference Library was established by the SGPC with a resolution dated 27 October 1946. [1] The library had its roots in a meeting of the Sikh Historical Society under the presidency of Princess Bamba on 10 February 1945 at Khalsa College, Amritsar which established the Central Sikh library. [1] The Central Sikh library was then folded into the Sikh Reference Library.

Historical materials

Prior to its destruction by Indian troops, the library hosted a vast collection of an estimated 20,000 literary works, including 11,107 books (another estimate puts the number of books having been 12,613), 2,500 manuscripts, 20–25 handwritten edicts ( hukamnama ) signed and issued by the Sikh Gurus, newspaper archives, historical letters, and documents or files. [4] [2] [3] It also contained handwritten manuscripts ( bir ) of the Guru Granth Sahib, the primary and central Sikh scripture. [1] [5] The library also held documents related to the Indian Independence Movement. Most of the literature was written in the Punjabi-language and related to Sikhism, but there were also Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Sindhi, Persian, Arabic, Tibetan, English, and French works touching upon various topics. [2] [4]

Destruction

According to the Indian Army white paper on Operation Blue Star, the library was destroyed on the night of 5 June 1984 in the midst of a firefight. [6] However, according to V. M. Tarkunde, the library was still intact on 6 June when the Army had gained control of the Golden Temple, and was in fact burned down by the army at some point between 6 June and 14 June. [6] Although the Indian Army has maintained that the library's contents were completely destroyed on 5 June, the SGPC has contradicted their version of events. By using witness accounts, the SGPC has alleged that material from the library was taken in gunny sacks on military truck to Amritsar's Youth Club, a temporary office of the CBI, and the empty library was burned by the army afterwards. [1] At that location, the CBI catalogued the materials until September 1984, when in light of a Sikh convention being held in the city, the library's contents were moved to an undisclosed location.[ citation needed ]

Coverup

In 2003, Ranjit Nanda, a former inspector for the Central Bureau of Investigation, (CBI) turned whistleblower and revealed he was part of a five-member team which scrutinized the documents at the CBI's makeshift office at Amritsar's Youth Club. [1] He revealed that officials from his department were "desperately looking for a purported letter written by Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister, to Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale", and reported seeing letters from the other leaders addressed to Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale. [1] Manjit Calcutta, a former secretary of the SGPC, corroborated Nanda's version of events but further alleged that the army set the library "on fire in desperation when it failed to find the letter". [1] Nanda further confirmed the SGPC's version of events by describing how after inspecting each book and manuscript the CBI packed the documents into 165 numbered gunny sacks and bundled the material into waiting army vehicles because of a meeting of Sikh high priests taking place at the time. [1] He also showed a letter from his superiors commending his work "during examination of documents from SGPC ". [1]

Efforts to recover the material

A manuscript of the Guru Granth Sahib of the Damdami recension which was reduced to ashes in 1984 (Operation Blue Star) A manuscript of the Guru Granth Sahib of the Damdami recension which was reduced to ashes in 1984 (Operation Blue Star) which had no Ragamala at the end.png
A manuscript of the Guru Granth Sahib of the Damdami recension which was reduced to ashes in 1984 (Operation Blue Star)

Since 1988, the SGPC has written to the Central Government asking for the return of the material taken by the CBI but has only received minor office files. [7]

On 23 May 2000 George Fernandes wrote to the SGPC Secretary, Gurbachan Singh Bachan, and acknowledged that the Indian Army had taken the books and other documents from the Sikh Reference Library and handed them over to the CBI. [7] He asked him to refer the matter to the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, whose jurisdiction the CBI falls under. [7]

In a visit to Jalandhar, Punjab Fernandes announced that the CBI had destroyed 117 "seditious" documents from the material taken from the Sikh Reference Library. [1]

On 25 March 2003, A. P. J. Abdul Kalam made assurances that the books, documents, and manuscripts would be returned; however, he took no further action. [8]

On 26 April 2004, the Punjab and Haryana High Court ordered the Central Government, Government of Punjab, and the CBI to return the "valuables, books, scriptures, paintings, etc, that were seized from the Golden Temple during “Operation Bluestar” in 1984". [9]

In February and May 2009, A. K. Antony, defense minister of India, claimed in parliament that the Indian Army no longer had any material taken from the library. [10] [11] Various members of parliament and the SGPC criticized him for "misleading parliament". [10] [11]

In a statement dated to 3 August 2018 as a response to a request-to-information inquiry, the Centre claimed it had returned confiscated items to the SGPC or Punjab Government already, stating: "About 4000 documents/books/files gold/gold ornaments, silver/silver ornaments, precious stone currency at sector were recovered by a central agency during Operation Blue Star in 1984. The articles and documents handed over either to SGPC or to the Government of Punjab." [12] However, the SGPC denies the claim and claims the items were not returned to it. [12]

Revival

Restocking

The library was restored after the original and its collection was destroyed in Operation Blue Star. Its collection has been refilled due to community, institutional, and individual-based donations of literary works. The revived library continues in operation to the present. [13] It has amassed a collection of 24,540 books according to a 2017 estimate. Estimates for individual types of other literary works is 550 Guru Granth Sahib manuscripts, 75 Dasam Granth manuscripts, and 1,300 general manuscripts. No issued edicts (hukamnama) signed by the Sikh Gurus have been recollected in the revived library.

Preservation

A special fumigation treatment chamber has been installed to preserve the works from insect and environmental damage. [14]

Digitization

Digitization work began in 2008 and is being conducted to save the collection for posterity and to prevent a similar loss of its contents again. [14] [4] Digitization work first began under a private firm but this led to disappointments so the library started digitizing its own collection itself starting in 2013. [14] As of September 2017, 4,000 works were fully digitized, with 15% of the entire stock being digitized since 2008. [14] At the then rate of digitization using two cameras, one scanner, four lights, and other equipment, six books are transformed into PDF format weekly. [14]

The literary collection of the library is planned to be available for online reading through a digital portal: [15]

The digitisation process is under way. Till date, around 80 per cent of our prized possessions have been scanned and digitised. Our motive is to make these available online so that the devotees can access those on their mobile phones or PCs.

— Roop Singh, SGPC Chief Secretary

Relocation

The original library building is a small, two-story complex. [14] A new building is being constructed at Bhai Gurdas Hall to rehouse the library in, as the current building in the Golden Temple complex is deemed too small to meet the needs of the growing collection. [14] This has been opposed by some on the grounds that the original location is a witness to history of the events of Operation Blue Star and serves as a reminder for devotees of that episode. [4]

There are also plans for the setting up of a building to be named Guru Granth Sahib Bhawan, where historical manuscripts of Sikh scriptures will be displayed for public viewing. [14]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Operation Blue Star</span> 1984 Indian military operation against Sikh militants

Operation Blue Star was a military operation by the Indian Armed Forces conducted between 1 and 10 June 1984 to remove Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and other Sikh militants from the Golden Temple, a holy site of Sikhism, and its adjacent buildings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gurdwara</span> Place of worship in Sikhism

A gurdwara or gurudwara is a place of assembly and worship in Sikhism, but its normal meaning is "place of guru" or "Home of guru". Sikhs also refer to gurdwaras as Gurdwara Sahib. People from all faiths and religions are welcomed in gurdwaras. Each gurdwara has a Darbar Sahib where the Guru Granth Sahib is placed on a takht in a prominent central position. Any congregant may recite, sing, and explain the verses from the Guru Granth Sahib, in the presence of the rest of the congregation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guru Granth Sahib</span> Primary scripture of Sikhism

The Guru Granth Sahib is the central holy religious scripture of Sikhism, regarded by Sikhs as the final, sovereign and eternal Guru following the lineage of the ten human gurus of the religion. The Adi Granth, its first rendition, was compiled by the fifth guru, Guru Arjan (1564–1606). Its compilation was completed on 29 August 1604 and first installed inside the Golden Temple in Amritsar on 1 September 1604. Baba Buddha was appointed the first Granthi of the Golden Temple. Shortly afterwards Guru Hargobind added Ramkali Ki Vaar. Later, Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh guru, added hymns of Guru Tegh Bahadur to the Adi Granth and affirmed the text as his successor. This second rendition became known as the Guru Granth Sahib and is also sometimes referred to as the Adi Granth.

The following outline is provides an overview of Sikhism, or Sikhi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee</span> Indian Sikh administrative organization

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee is an organization in India responsible for the management of gurdwaras, Sikh places of worship, in the states of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh and the union territory of Chandigarh. SGPC also administers Darbar Sahib in Amritsar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Damdami Taksal</span> Sikh cultural and educational organization

The Damdamī Ṭaksāl, Jatha Bhindra(n), or Sampardai Bhindra(n) is an orthodox Khalsa Sikh cultural and educational organization, based in India. They are known for their teachings of vidya as well as gurbanisanthiya. Its headquarters are located in the town of Mehta Chowk, approximately 40 km north of the city of Amritsar. It has been described as a seminary or “moving university” of the Sikh countryside.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Akal Takht</span> Sikh religious site in Amritsar, Punjab, India

The Akal Takht is one of five takhts of the Sikhs. It is located in the Darbar Sahib complex in Amritsar, Punjab, India. The Akal Takht was built by Guru Hargobind as a place of justice and consideration of temporal issues; the highest seat of earthly authority of the Khalsa and the place of the Jathedar, the highest spokesman of the Sikhs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kehar Singh</span> Former Indian politician and convicted criminal

Kehar Singh was an Assistant in the erstwhile Directorate General of Supply and Disposal, New Delhi, and was tried and executed for conspiracy in the plot of the Indira Gandhi assassination, carried out by Satwant Singh and Beant Singh. He was hanged in Tihar Jail on 6 January 1989. Beant Singh was the nephew of Kehar Singh. The assassination was motivated by Operation Blue Star.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sikh scriptures</span> Holy books of the Sikh religion

The principal Sikh scripture is the Adi Granth, more commonly called the Guru Granth Sahib. The second most important scripture of the Sikhs is the Dasam Granth. Both of these consist of text which was written or authorised by the Sikh Gurus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baba Deep Singh</span> Sikh martyr (1682–1757)

Baba Deep Singh is revered among Sikhs as one of the most hallowed martyrs in Sikhism. He is remembered for his sacrifice and devotion to the teachings of the Sikh Gurus. Baba Deep Singh was the first head of Misl Shaheedan Tarna Dal – an order of the Khalsa military established by Nawab Kapur Singh, the then head of Sharomani Panth Akali Buddha Dal. The Damdami Taksal also state that he was the first head of their order.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sikh architecture</span> Style of architecture

Sikh architecture is a style of architecture that was developed under the Sikh Confederacy and Sikh Empire during the 18th and 19th centuries in the Punjab region. Due to its progressive style, it is constantly evolving into many newly developing branches with new contemporary styles. Although Sikh architecture was initially developed within Sikhism its style has been used in many non-religious buildings due to its beauty. 300 years ago, Sikh architecture was distinguished for its many curves and straight lines; Keshgarh Sahib and the Harmandir Sahib are prime examples.

Rehat refers to the rules and traditions which govern the unique Sikh lifestyle and determines correct Sikh orthodoxy and orthopraxy. The Sikh Rehit Maryada is a code of conduct and conventions for Sikhism. The final version of the Rehat Maryada was controversially approved by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Amritsar in 1945. The Rehat Maryada was created to provide guidance to Sikhs on practical and functional aspects of daily life, including the operations of Sikh Gurdwaras, and religious practices to foster cohesion throughout the community. Rehitnāma is a Punjabi term that refers to a genre of Sikh religious literature which expounds upon specifying an approved way of life for a Sikh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chief Khalsa Diwan</span> Sikh organisation

The Chief Khalsa Diwan or Chief Khalsa Diwan Charitable Society is a Sikh organisation that is the central organization of various Singh Sabhas spread across Punjab, India. Unlike the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee, the C.K.D. is an apolitical body and only concerns itself with religious, educational and cultural issues. The organization originally controlled Sikh religious and educational concerns and was an advocate of Sikh political rights, though it presently is mostly limited to educational spheres. It was the main council of Sikhs until the birth of more radical organizations, such as the Central Sikh League, the S.G.P.C., and the Akali Dal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hukamnama</span> Hymn from the Guru Granth Sahib taken as an order

A Hukamnama, in modern-times, refers to a hymn from the Guru Granth Sahib which is given as an injunction, order, or edict to Sikhs. It also refers to edicts issued by the contemporary Takhts. In the historical sense, it was used to refer to an issued commandment, instruction, injunction, order, or edict given by one of the Gurus of Sikhism or their officiated followers and associates during their lives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harjinder Singh Dilgeer</span> Sikh historian

Harjinder Singh Dilgeer is a Sikh historian and author.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Panjab Digital Library</span> Organization digitizing and preserving Punjabs cultural heritage

The Panjab Digital Library is a voluntary organization digitizing and preserving the cultural heritage of Panjab since 2003. With over 65 million digitized pages, it is the biggest resource of digital material on Panjab. There are many historically significant documents stored and made available online. Its scope covers Sikh and Punjabi culture. The library funded by The Nanakshahi Trust was launched online in August 2009. Its base office is located at Chandigarh, India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Golden Temple</span> Sikh religious site in Amritsar, Punjab, India

The Golden Temple (also known as the Harmandir Sāhib, or the Darbār Sāhib, is a gurdwara located in the city of Amritsar, Punjab, India. It is the pre-eminent spiritual site of Sikhism. It is one of the holiest sites in Sikhism, alongside the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur in Kartarpur, and Gurdwara Janam Asthan in Nankana Sahib.

Operation Sundown was codename of a covert plan of India's external intelligence agency Research & Analysis Wing (R&AW), in which the Special Group, which is an ultra-secretive armed unit of the R&AW, was to abduct Sikh extremist leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale from Guru Nanak Niwas in the Golden Temple complex, Amritsar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1978 Sikh–Nirankari clash</span> Violent conflict in Amritsar, India

The 1978 Sikh–Nirankari clash occurred between the Sant Nirankari Mission and Sikhs of Damdami Taksal and Akhand Kirtani Jatha on 13 April 1978 at Amritsar, Punjab, India. Sixteen people—thirteen traditional Sikhs and three Nirankari followers—were killed in the ensuing violence, occurring when some Akhand Kirtani Jatha and Damdami Taksal members led by Fauja Singh protested against and tried to stop a convention of Sant Nirankari Mission followers. This incident is considered to be a starting point in the events leading to Operation Blue Star and the 1980s Insurgency in Punjab.

The 2015 Guru Granth Sahib desecration refers to a series of desecration incidents of the Sikh Guru Guru Granth Sahib and subsequent protests that took place in Punjab, India in October 2015, although it is known as the 2015 Guru Granth Sahib desecration it started from 2014 and continued until 2021. The first incident of desecration was reported from Bargari, Faridkot district, where 110 torn Angs (pages) of the holy Book were found on 12 October. On the early morning of 14 October, two Sikhs were protesting and were shot dead by the police.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Walia, Varinder (7 June 2003). "Fire of controversy in Sikh library still smoulders". The Tribune . Retrieved 21 February 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 Brar, Kamaldeep Singh (20 June 2019). "Explained: The mystery of missing articles of Sikh Reference Library". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 25 December 2020.
  3. 1 2 Kaur, Jaskaran; Crossette, Barbara (2006).|http://ensaaf-org.jklaw.net/publications/reports/20years/20years-2nd.pdf Archived 19 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  4. 1 2 3 4 "The missing chapter of 1984: Book by book, Sikh Reference Library struggles to restore glory". Hindustan Times. 6 June 2018. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
  5. ↑ "The Smoking Gun Recovered, United Sikhs documentary" | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6AFP1NiF-U
  6. 1 2 Kaur, Jaskaran; Crossette, Barbara (2006). Twenty years of impunity: the November 1984 pogroms of Sikhs in India (PDF) (2nd ed.). Portland, OR: Ensaaf. p. 16. ISBN   0-9787073-0-3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 January 2012. Retrieved 21 February 2011.
  7. 1 2 3 "George Fernandes admits Army removed items from Golden Temple during Operation B". Bombay: Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd. 25 May 2000. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 21 February 2011.
  8. ↑ Rana, Yudhvir (25 March 2003). "Precious books will be returned: Kalam assures SGPC chief". The Times of India . Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 21 February 2011.
  9. ↑ "Material seized during Bluestar to be returned". The Tribune . Chandigarh: The Tribune. Retrieved 21 February 2011.
  10. 1 2 Bharadwaj, Ajay (27 February 2009). "SGPC, Centre spar over Golden Temple's missing manuscripts - India - DNA". Daily News and Analysis . Chandigarh. Retrieved 22 February 2011.
  11. 1 2 Walia, Varinder (21 May 2009). "No Sikh reference books with us: Antony". The Tribune . The Tribune . Retrieved 22 February 2011.
  12. 1 2 Brar, Kamaldeep Singh (11 June 2023). "1,500 manuscripts of Sikh Reference Library not returned after Op Blue Star: SGPC tells High Court". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  13. ↑ Pal, Sanchari (25 September 2017). "How The Golden Temple's Amazing Library of Rare Manuscripts Was Revived". The Better India. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Singh, Surjit (24 September 2017). "33 years after Operation Bluestar: Sikh reference library at Golden Temple thriving, and how". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  15. ↑ SinghStation (15 January 2018). "Literature at Sikh Reference Library to be Available Online soon". SinghStation. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.