The Dhubri Gurdwara

Dhubri, May 28: Guess who is coming to pay obeisance to the Northeast’s most revered pilgrimage for the Sikhs? None other than Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The Dhubri Gurdwara, built by Guru Tegh Bahadur in the 17th century, will host the Prime Minister, a Sikh, during the Martyrdom Day celebrations observed in December every year.

Former President Gyani Zail Singh visited this holy shrine in 1983 and the Prime Minister will be the most famous personality after the former first citizen to visit the gurdwara on the banks of the Brahmaputra.

“When we extended an invitation a few years ago, he was very keen to visit the shrine. But he could not come because of other important engagements,” Sikh Pratinidhi Board vice-president Jaswant Singh said.

Jaswant Singh has been entrusted with liasing with the PMO for the Prime Minister’s visit. He, however, added that “many things have to fall in place for the Prime Minister’s visit to be confirmed”.

Office-bearers of the Sikh Pratinidhi Board pointed out that with the Lok Sabha elections approaching, there could be many developments on the political front. Singh quoted PMO officials as saying that a Dhubri trip “was on the agenda” but cited “the pressure on the Prime Minister’s post”.

The secretary of the Sikh Pratinidhi Board, Sardar Resham Singh, too, said: “When Manmohan Singh was finance minister, he had consented to visit the gurdwara but owing to other official engagements, he had to cancel the programme. But this time, we are very positive about his visit during Swahidi Divas beginning December 3.”

Around 50,000 Sikh pilgrims from across the country visit the gurdwara every year. The Sikhs observe Martyrdom Day coinciding with the day of Guru Tegh Bahadur’s execution by Aurangzeb.

Guru Tegh Bahadur had visited this part of the country following the trail taken by Guru Nanak, the first Sikh guru. While in Dhaka, a Mughal general, Raja Ram Singh, had met Guru Tegh Bahadur and sought his blessings to win the battle against the Ahoms. Both of them then left Dhaka and reached Dhubri.

The Guru encamped there and Raja Ram Singh set out for the town of Rangamati — where his commander Mir Jumla was camping — on the right bank of the Brahmaputra. Soon after, the battle between Raja Ram Singh’s army and the Ahoms ensued. However, the Ahoms fought bravely and defeated Aurangzeb's army.

As Raja Ram Singh looked for divine intervention, Guru Tegh Bahadur told him to ask his soldiers to bring a shield full of earth to raise a tall mound in the memory of the founder of Sikh religion. A pavilion was erected at the top of the mound where the present gurdwara stands.