Committee for tricentenary of 'Guru-ta-Gaddi' meets

New Delhi, Jun 24 (UNI) The National Committee for Commemoration of Tricentenary of 'Guru-ta-Gaddi' of the Guru Granth Sahib held its first meeting here, giving a clarion call for timely implementation of the programmes relating to the celebrations, keeping in view the reverence of the people to the holy scripture.

The commemoration is scheduled to be held in September-October, 2008. The main event is to be held at Nanded in Maharashtra, which is linked with the memory of Guru Gobind Singh, the Tenth Guru of the Sikhs.

It was at Nanded that Guru Gobind Singh declared the Granth Sahib as the ''Eternal Guru '' of the Sikhs. The Guru, known for his supreme sacrifice in defence of the Hindu faith, had fought many pitched battles against the Mughal rulers. He had sacrificed not only the life of his father Guru Tegh Bahadur Saheb but also of his two adolescent sons.

The Guru, however, declared that there would be no more Sikh Gurus after him and the Holy Book would serve as a substitute for a living guru.

The meeting, held yesterday, was co-chaired by Home Minister Shivraj Patil and Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, and was attended by Culture and Tourism Minister Ambika Soni and Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal, among others.

Keeping in view frequent pilgrimages from all over the world, Mr Badal suggested development of Shri Anandpur Sahib, Shri Damdama Sahib and Shri Talwandi Sahib on the pattern of Nanded Sahib.

The chief minister also suggested that the route taken by Guru Govind Singh from Talwandi to Nanded be named after him as a mark of respect to the poet-warrior.

His suggestion that a small committee be constituted for this purpose under the chairpersonship of Ms Ambika Soni, was accepted by the committee.

The Nanded Collector made a detailed presentation regarding the progress of development works being undertaken at Nanded at a cost of Rs.817 crore.

These development works are mainly being funded by the Central Government under the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission and the State Government.

The main components of the project are Gurudwara Area Development, including Yatri Niwas and Godavari River Front Development, city infrastructure development, including expansion of airport and upgrading railways, power and road.

Suggestions were also made for spreading the message of the Guru Granth Sahib to the entire humanity and its translation in foreign and regional languages.

Among the other suggestions made at the meeting were establishment of a research and resource centre and Chairs in Universities to commemorate the event, inclusion of the universal teachings of the Granth Sahib in various educational curriculum and setting up of a Rural University at Shri Talwandi Sahib.

A demand was made to develop Nanded airport as an international airport and improve road and railway infrastructure for pilgrims to reach Nanded.

Mr Patil thanked the members for their valuable suggestions and assured that these would be considered in consultation with the ministries concerned.

He emphasised on prioritisation and monthly monitoring to ensure timely completion of the works and also assured the members that in future the meeting of the National Committee would also be held in Mumbai, Nanded (Maharashtra) and in Punjab.

Tamil Nadu Governor S S Barnala, Kerala Governor R L Bhatia, Delhi Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (DGPC) President Paramjit Singh Sarna, Commission for Scheduled Castes Chairman Buta Singh, SGPC president Avtar Singh and Punjab Cogress Legislature Party leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal also attended the meeting.

UNI