Prof Nater Singh
Book Name : Lost Heritage- The Sikh legacy in Pakistan
Author : Amardeep Singh
Publisher : The Nagaara Trust
Printers : Aegean offset Printers, Greater Noida
* I have gone through almost all 492 pages of the book containing 505 excellent photographs which provide; inter alia, author’s deep pursuits in arts and literature. Pouring into the pages, one after the other, one feels as if he himself is visiting such places having architectural and historical value in general and rich Sikh legacy in Pakistan in particular.
In a way, the author has obliged everybody and particularly the members of the Sikh community enabling them to have a glance of historical Gurdwaras in Pakistan including Pak Administered Kashmir and an old Shiva Mandir in Peshawar. Few but important areas from Pak occupied Kashmir have been left out by the author e.g Gurdwara built by Sant Baba Sunder Singh Ji at Alibeg (Mirpur), the remains of Parl Deri Sahib, Rawalakote, Sharda Peeth and temple of Hindus which exists in the beautiful Neelam valley about 40 miles away from Muzaffarabad etc etc.
*However, sincere efforts of the author by undertaking a long journey from Singapore to Pakistan (in 2014) with the active cooperation of his old and new friends he could accomplish the task in Pakistan within a shortest period of time. He has shown his courage while undertaking visit to as many as 36 places involving risk of life in a militancy prone areas. To quote him “I gathered that some Sikhs from Peshawar travel daily to Jamrud to operate their shops. Desires to visit Jamrud, I saw this as an opportunity to travel with one of them. I proposed this idea, but my excitement was subdued when there were consistent refusals. No one wanted to take the risk of my going to Jamrud. They were already surprised that I had risked visiting Peshawar, and advised against venturing my further.’’
* However despite all expected odds, the author left for Jamrud at early dawn next and within 30 minutes drove the crossed the Khyber Gate. He visited Jamrud but was not allowed to enter the famous Fort built by Hari Singh Nalwa. Interacting with few and clicking necessary photographs, he returned to Peshawar by 9 am the same morning.
* The Sikhs by and large deprived of its past heritage in Pakistan since independence. No doubt few lakhs might have visited Pakistan on some special occasions enabling them to pay their obeisance only to less than a dozen of historical Gurdwaras. But hundreds of other Gurdwaras still exist in Pakistan though many now in ruined shape but some of them are well maintained till this time.
The author’s dream has come out true by showing to lakhs of other community members something which we lost in the lost heritage with particular reference to the Sikh Shrines, historical forts, monuments and battlefields having bear on Sikh history not only in the erstwhile the Punjab but spread over to NWFP including State of Jammu and Kashmir.
* In a very limited time, he has successfully interacted with hundreds of people and the views so obtained has helped him to write the required text with rare photographs which are of immense importance historically, culturally and religiously. The book has been nicely printed with excellent get up having fascinating but rare photographs touching the hearts of readers. These photographs mesmerize and speak the bygone history. The contribution of the author in this form is sure to provide a strong impetus to those interested in undergoing research in pre-independence history of India.
It is an inspirational work and I expect that many readers will go through this book and enjoy it as a pride possession. I have only one fear that while looking at many of the photographs, the healed wounds of old people may not start bleeding once again.
Finally I expect and wish the author to write more books about Sikhs and Sikh Shrines in both open and closed societies which exist around the globe.
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