CHOHA GURU NANAK GURDWARA SAHIB at Jhelum, Pakistan
By Inderjeet Singh, Shahid Shabbir & Mirza Baig
Gurdwara as seen from the Fort
The town of Rohtas in district Jhelum, West Punjab in Pakistan is famous for Rohtas Fort built in Sher Shah Suri in the 16th century. Rohtas is about 200 kilometres from Lahore on M2 motorway towards Rawalpindi. Unknown to most people, the town has a historical Gurdwara Sahib commemorating the visit of Guru Nanak while he was on one of his Udasi (or preaching tours).
History
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| Front of Gurdwara Sahib |
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| Gurbani verse at the side entrance |
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| Inside Ceiling |
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| Ruin of the Gate |
The Gurdwara Sahib is located towards the North side of Rohtas Fort near the Talaqi Gate was built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha in his Mahan Kosh writes that the Maharaja gave 27 Gumaoo land and an annual grant of 260 rupees for the Gurdwara Sahib. The Gurdwara Sahib was managed by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee till 1947 and an annual religious congregation (Jorr Mela) was held during the month of Katak to coincide with the Gurpurab of Guru Nanak.
Dr Harbans Singh in Sikh Encyclopaedia writes the nearest source of water for the people of this place during dry season was a spring at Tilla Jogian, about 14 km west of it. At the request of the people, Guru Ji caused a fresh water spring to flow out of the earth. In Persian, a stream or spring of water is called 'Choha' hence it came to be known as 'Choha Sahib' or holy stream. When the Gurdwara Sahib was raised, the spring of water was lined to form a sarovar or holy tank.
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| Sarovar - 'Amrit Khund' |
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| View of the sarovar from top |
Present status
Since partition in 1947 the Gurdwara Sahib has been abandoned but the building is still fairly strong. Islamabad based Shahid Shabbir of Pakistan Heritage Club who is spearheading the campaign to save the heritage (including Sikh) in Pakistan has made a video of the Gurdwara Sahib
His colleague and friend Mirza Safdar Baig who lives in Jhelum informs me that his elders have confirmed that a big Mela used to be held at the Gurdwara Sahib prior to the partition. The Sikh Sangat has requested to the authorities to grant permission to perform Kar Seva and open the Gurdwara Sahib so that Guru Granth Sahib Ji is installed and regular Prakash is performed.
Sangat from India who come with Sikh Jathas to Pakistan are currently not able to visit this Gurdwara Sahib as they have a fixed schedule. However Sikh Sangat from USA, UK, Canada, Australia and other countries who are granted unrestricted visit to Pakistan should visit this place.
Sikh Heritage in Pakistan
To raise the profile of the Sikh heritage in Pakistan, Shahid Shabbir is visiting California, USA from mid-October 2016 for a period of one month. He plans to visit Gurdwara Sahibs and Sikh/Heritage organisations across USA to give his presentation on Sikh heritage in Pakistan. Readers from USA may contact Shahid Shabbir through his Facebook page 'Khalsa Raj Footsteps in Pakistan' https://www.facebook.com/Khalsarajfootstepsinpakistan/ to arrange his presentation in their local Gurdwara Sahib or Sikh organisation.
Acknowledgement
I am thankful to Mirza Safdar Baig for providing the photographs of the Gurdwara Sahib and for guiding and acquainting visitors to the area to this important Gurdwara Sahib.
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Related Article:
http://www.sikhnet.com/news/research-sikh-heritage-pakistan-shahid-shabbir-aka-baba-ji
