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Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Seven decades of faith: When ‘Ardas' was performed to keep B'putra calm
Dibrugarh: For the Sikh community residing in Dibrugarh, Aug 15 is not just a day to celebrate the country's independence, but also a grim reminder of the time when the mighty Brahmaputra river threatened to wash away half the town. Observing 'Brahmaputra Ardas Diwas', a unique 70-year-old tradition, the Sikh community commemorates the events of Aug 15, 1950, when a catastrophic 8.6 magnitude earthquake struck Assam during Independence Day celebrations, drastically altering the region's geography and raising the Brahmaputra's riverbed and setting the stage for devastating floods that would follow four years later. "The earthquake changed everything about our landscape, but the real crisis came in 1954 when the river started eroding with unprecedented force. Almost half of Dibrugarh town was being washed away, and our gurudwara on Assam Trunk (AT) Road was directly in the path of its destruction," said Sardar Jaspal Singh Bhurji, current president of Shri Guru Singh Sabha Gurudwara. The situation became so dire that the district collector of then undivided Lakhimpur district (before Dibrugarh district was formed) announced plans to evacuate the population, if the river reached AT Road. Essential infrastructures, including the district court, DC bungalow and post office faced imminent danger. Faced with this existential threat, the gurudwara's leadership called for an emergency meeting. Dr Khiem Singh Grewal, the then-president, initially proposed dismantling and relocating the CI sheet-roofed Dibrugarh Gurudwara located on AT Road. However, prominent community members, including Dhanna Singh, Sorain Singh, Dileep Singh and others had different ideas. "The Sikh Sangat had complete faith in Shri Guru Granth Sahib and refused to abandon the gurudwara. Instead, they decided that if disaster struck, they would simply rebuild," said Rupa Rani Kaur, general secretary of the gurudwara. They resolved to begin an Akhand Path (continuous reading of the Guru Granth Sahib) and perform Ardas (prayer) to protect the town. The culminating moment came during the Bhog ceremony, when Sardar Dhanna Singh led the community in Ardas, while Sardar Pratap Singh and four other members offered prasad directly to the Brahmaputra, seeking to calm it down. "From that very moment, the erosion stopped. The gurudwara still stands in the exact same place today, and we believe it was by the grace of Waheguru that both our gurudwara and Dibrugarh town were saved," Sardar Jaspal Singh Bhurji said. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Happy Independence Day wishes , messages , and quotes !
India Gazette
08-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
"Indian govt will take revenge for this wicked act": Manjinder Sirsa condemns Poonch Gurudwara attack by Pak
New Delhi [India], May 8 (ANI): Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Thursday condemned Pakistan's shelling on Shri Guru Singh Sabha Gurudwara in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch, asserting that the Indian government will take revenge for the 'wicked' attack. In a self-made video, Sirsa slammed Pakistan and stated that it is such a 'cowardly' nation that is attacking civilians with missiles. 'I strongly condemn Pakistan attacking Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Poonch with missiles... Pakistan is such a coward that it is attacking our civilians. When I spoke to the chief of the Gurudwara, he said that each one of them is ardent about avenging this attack... I want to tell the scoundrels of Pakistan that my Indian government will take revenge for this wicked act,' Sirsa said. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal also condemned Pakistan's shelling on Shri Guru Singh Sabha Gurudwara, terming the incident as 'highly condemnable' and 'shameful for humanity.' The AAP convenor further paid tribute to the victims and extended his condolences to the bereaved families. In a post on X, Kejriwal wrote, 'The bomb attack by Pakistan on Gurdwara Sahib located near LOC in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir is highly condemnable and shameful for humanity. The death of Raggi Singh, Bhai Amrik Singh, Amarjit Singh, Ranjit Singh and Ruby Kaur Ji in this attack is extremely sad. We pay tribute to all the departed souls and express our deepest condolences to their families. We pray to Guru Sahib Ji to give place to the departed souls in his feet and give strength to the family members to bear this unbearable pain.' Pakistan Army's shelling has caused huge damage in civilian areas of Poonch, leading to the death of nearly 12 people in the district, and a shell hit a corner of Shri Guru Singh Sabha Gurudwara, President of District Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee Narinder Singh said on Wednesday. Akal Takht, the supreme temporal body of Sikhs, has strongly condemned the attack by Pakistani forces on the Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Sahib in Poonch. (ANI)
India Gazette
08-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Pakistan has been completely isolated: Congress leader Pawan Khera condemns Poonch Gurudwara attack
New Delhi [India], May 8 (ANI): Congress leader Pawan Khera on Thursday slammed Pakistan over the Poonch Gurudwara attack, asserting that the 'world must see' that India is destroying terror sites in Pakistan, but they are attacking Indian 'civilians'. Pawan Khera said that Pakistan has been completely 'isolated' in the present time and believed that it is 'good' that India is conveying the situation to the world continuously. 'What is happening in Poonch, the way Pakistan is attacking the innocent civilians there, even a Gurdwara was damaged. The world must see that we are destroying the terror sites, which nurtured the terrorists who attack India, but Pakistan is attacking civilians. Pakistan has been completely isolated today... It's good that we are conveying the situation to the world continuously', Pawan Khera told ANI. He further urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the all-party meeting set to take place at 11 am on Thursday. He stated that the world would 'listen' if PM Modi moves ahead by taking the opposition into 'confidence'. 'The PM should attend the all-party meeting. When the world sees that the PM is moving ahead by taking the opposition in confidence, the world will listen', he added. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal also condemned Pakistan's shelling on Shri Guru Singh Sabha Gurudwara, terming the incident as 'highly condemnable' and 'shameful for humanity.' The AAP convenor further paid tribute to the victims and extended his condolences to the bereaved families. In a post on X, Kejriwal wrote, 'The bomb attack by Pakistan on Gurdwara Sahib located near LOC in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir is highly condemnable and shameful for humanity. The death of Raggi Singh, Bhai Amrik Singh, Amarjit Singh, Ranjit Singh and Ruby Kaur Ji in this attack is extremely sad. We pay tribute to all the departed souls and express our deepest condolences to their families. We pray to Guru Sahib Ji to give place to the departed souls in his feet and give strength to the family members to bear this unbearable pain.' Pakistan Army's shelling has caused huge damage in civilian areas of Poonch, leading to the death of nearly 12 people in the district, and a shell hit a corner of Shri Guru Singh Sabha Gurudwara, President of District Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee Narinder Singh said on Wednesday. Akal Takht, the supreme temporal body of Sikhs, has strongly condemned the attack by Pakistani forces on the Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Sahib in Poonch. (ANI)
