A fresh controversy has surfaced over the proposed change in the nomenclature of a gurdwara in Gulmarg, Kashmir, prompting the District Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (DGPC), Baramulla, to temporarily shelve the move in response to strong local sentiment.
The dispute began after the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Amritsar, “directed” the DGPC to rename Gurdwara Bhai Vir Singh as Gurdwara Guru Angad Dev Ji. This triggered widespread concern among local Sikh devotees, intellectuals and community leaders, who viewed the move as “unjustified and insensitive”.
The legitimacy of the SGPC’s “directive” was also questionable, as Gurdwara Bhai Vir Singh does not fall under its administrative jurisdiction. Instead, the gurdwara comes under the Jammu and Kashmir Sikh Gurdwaras and Religious Endowment Act, 1973, that governs the administration, superintendence and management of Sikh shrines, properties and religious endowments across the Union Territory of J&K.
Adding another dimension to the controversy were allegations of “backdoor manoeuvring” for commercial motives by reportedly leasing out the gurdwara property to transform the site into a hospitality or commercial complex, potentially undermining its spiritual and historical sanctity.
DGPC member Rajinder Singh opposed any attempt to alter the shrine’s identity.
Emphasising its deep historical association with Bhai Vir Singh, a towering figure in Sikhism and pioneer of modern Punjabi literature, he said, “We will not tolerate commercialising the shrine under the guise of religious development or to erase the legacy of Bhai Vir Singh by converting it into a hospitality complex.”
Another DGPC member, Manmeet Singh, claimed that such actions risked diluting the spiritual and historical character of the shrine through external influence.
The shrine, which suffered damage around 37 years ago, is currently under reconstruction. The rebuilding work was approved by the Jammu and Kashmir administration and has been underway for the past two years through a Delhi-based “kar sewa” sect.
In the face of mounting opposition, DGPC, Baramulla, president Paramjit Singh issued a clarification, announcing that the renaming proposal had been put on hold.
“Taking into account the sentiments of the local Sikh community, the move to rename the shrine has been deferred for now,” he said.
Explaining the circumstances, Paramjit acknowledged financial constraints and the need for external funding.
“We approached SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami after facing a shortage of funds as the kar sewa group reduced its involvement. Mumbai-based businessman Gurinder Singh Bawa, an SGPC member from Maharashtra, stepped in and provided Rs 50 lakh. Since he also ran a charitable trust in the name of Guru Angad Dev, a wrong narrative was spread that the gurdwara property could be transferred or leased out to the Trust, which was totally false,” he said, showing a copy of the Sub-Registrar, Gulmarg, that testified that no Trust deed or lease deed or any other similar document had been registered by the office.
He, however, admitted to a lapse on broader consultation. “I consulted nine of the 11 DGPC members on the name change; I should have taken the matter to a wider sangat. I apologise for the oversight,” he said.
He said the final decision now rested with the community.
“The proposal will be placed before the sangat. If the majority opposes it, the renaming will not take place,” he said.
Meanwhile, Bawa could not be contacted despite repeated attempts.
