GUWAHATI, March 14 – It dates back to 1820 when some 500-odd Sikh soldiers arrived in Assam at the instance of Maharaja Ranjit Singh to help Ahom rulers in a war. Of these 500 soldiers, some died during the course of the war, some went back and a few decided to stay back and make Assam their home.
After the passage of so many years, it is the successors of those few soldiers, mostly concentrated in the Nagaon district of Assam, who are a part of a ‘root searching’ mission to Harminder Sahib, Amritsar (Golden Temple) for the first time ever.
The trip which is being organised under the joint banners of Gurudwara Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib Sikh Pratinidhi Board, Eastern Zone, Dhubri, Fancy Bazar Gurudwara Committee and Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandak Committee, Amritsar left on Tuesday. The expenses of the trip are being borne by Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee.
“Over 160 Assamese Sikhs from Borkula, Lanka and Hojai areas under Nagaon district began their journey hoping to get a peep into their ancestral land and the life style of the people there,” said Major Singh, president, Fancy Bazar Gurudwara Prabandak Committee while talking to this correspondent here.
He said that these Sikhs have never been to Golden Temple, which is regarded as the most famous pilgrimage place for the people of Sikh community.
“The entire trip has been sponsored by the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandak Committee, Amritsar, which showed great enthusiasm in making the trip happen,” said Singh.
Papinder Kaur of Borkula, one of the members of the team leaving for Amritsar, expressing her feelings, said, “ Most of us have only seen Golden Temple either on television or movies but have never been there. This will be a dream come true for all of us.”
However, for Trilokya Singh, the visit will constitute a homage to his ancestors, who hailed from Punjab.
“I am very eager to feel and trace the lifestyle of our forefathers,” said Singh.
Assam Director General of Police GM Srivastav, who also attended the function at the Fancy Bazar Gurudwara, hailed the efforts of the people, who conceived the idea of the trip.
“Harminder Sahib is a very good place to visit and I am sure, it would be a memorable trip for everyone. Besides, I also feel that there is a lot that we can learn from the people there, especially their work culture,” the DGP pointed out.
The DGP also distributed identity cards among the volunteers on the occasion. The trip will come to an end on March 18.
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