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04/17/2006

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Ajay Banerjee, Tribune News Service


A view of the Khalsa Heritage Complex at Anandpur Sahib which will be inaugurated on Friday.
— Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

Anandpur Sahib, April 13
Ensconced in the aura of the majestic and historic Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib, the first phase of the Khalsa Heritage Complex, the world's largest story-telling museum on the Sikh community, opens here tomorrow. The first phase comprises a library, an auditorium and exhibition halls.

The complex will be another jewel in the crown of this holy place where Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa Panth 307 years ago. The impressive structure of the complex emanates peace and serenity that smoothly gels with the blissful foothills of the lowers Shivaliks. The Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib is located just a hundred meters away while the famous Naina Devi temple is located on the mountain top that forms the backdrop of the complex.

In its final shape -- expected to be completed in the next 12 months -- it will showcase the history of the Sikhs starting from the times of Guru Nanak till the Partition.

Today teams of engineers, workers and artists were busy with officials of the Anandpur Sahib Foundation (ASF), giving final touches to the imposing structure that has been built using the very latest in technology.

When a team of The Tribune visited the place, yellow sandstone floor on the pathways was being given a final scrubbing.

At the gate of the complex, private security guards had a tough time telling people that they could not enter till tomorrow. Within the precincts of the complex, the ASF has set up an elaborate preview of what will be available in the museum in its final form. A group of non-resident Indians satisfied themselves by clicking photos of the preview. Ajmer Singh and his wife had come all the way from Nangal on their motorbike to see the museum.

The first phase of the complex measuring about 3800 square meters will be opened tomorrow. It will provide facilities for people to set up their works in this hall, said an engineer present on site. The entire area is air-conditioned. The library shall have a special section devoted to rare books and also provide computer connectivity. The auditorium has special vents for air-conditioning at the floor-level and has a capacity of 400 and boasts of a specialised projection and sound system.

Once complete the main museum shall have separate sections on the birth of Guru Nanak , his revelation, on Guru Teg Bahdaur, Guru Gobind Singh, martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev, on the Anglo-Sikh wars, the birth of the Khalsa, the Gurdwara reforms, the Guru Granth Sahib, the Battle of Chamkaur and on Banda Bahadur, among others.

The Chief Executive Officer of the ASF, Mr Dilsher Singh Kalha, who is also the Finance Secretary of the Punjab Government, this evening inspected the place before the inauguration. He told The Tribune that the latest technology was being used and said he expected that the civil works of the entire project were expected to finish by the end of this year.

Heritage Complex to be completed by next Baisakhi: Inaugural function of first phase of the Khalsa Heritage Complex (KHC) here today turned out to be a show of Chief Minister Amarinder Singh’s religious and political strength the SGPC had protested that the KHC should be inaugurated by ‘Panj Piaras’ not by the CM. Religious heads of Sikh organisations from Delhi, Punjab and prominent Congress leaders were present here, more

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