The Hindu : National : Prince's assurance to Sikhs

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Wednesday, Mar 29, 2006

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National

Prince's assurance to Sikhs

Sarabjit Pandher

Says Britain will consider returning important articles related to the lives of the Gurus When the weapons used by Guru Gobind Singh were shown to him, the Prince asked: "Was he a warrior?"

OFFER PRAYERS: Britain's Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, at the Anandpur Sahib in Punjab on Tuesday. -- PHOTO: AP

ANANDPUR SAHIB (ROPAR): Prince Charles of Britain on Tuesday assured the Sikh community settled globally that he would help "these brave and hardworking people" on issues related to their unique identity as well as protection against discrimination. Also, Britain would consider returning important articles related to the lives of the Gurus.

The assurances came during his interaction with top Sikh leaders, including Avtar Singh Makkar and Sukhdev Singh Bhaur, president and general secretary of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) respectively, and Giani Tarlochan Singh, Jathedar, Takhat Keshgarh Sahib, at the place of the birth of the Khalsa order in Sikh faith here.

According to Mr. Bhaur, the Sikh leaders told the Prince of Wales that the community would like to take possession of certain articles — preserved in the British Museum in London — related to the lives of the Gurus. When the Sikh leaders requested him to use his influence in "Her Majesty's Government," the European Union and the Commonwealth for a solution, the Prince assured favourable action and sought a written representation. The Prince, clad in a grey suit and sporting a maroon patka (scarf), was accompanied by his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, who wore a light grey dress. A long white scarf covered her head. Unlike Queen Elizabeth, who preferred to wear fresh socks in the holiest Sikh shrine, the Golden Temple, a few years ago,the couple went around the Takhat Keshgarh Sahib barefoot.

Bestowed robes

The royal couple bowed before the Guru Granth Sahib and offered a delicate pink coloured Rumala (robes) and accepted the kardah parshad. The Jathedar of the Takhat bestowed the sipopa (robes of religious honour) on the couple. The Jatha led by Kartar Singh, Director of the SGPC-run Gurmat Sangeet Academy, gave a recital of the Gurbani using traditional musical instruments such as the Tanpura, Dilruba and Israj. When the weapons used by Guru Gobind Singh were shown to him, the Prince asked: "Was he a warrior?" He was heard sharing his knowledge about how the Guru created the Khalsa to demolish all social divisions based on caste, colour and creed.

The guests were impressed by the display of gatka, a traditional martial arts form, by the Nihangs of Taruna Dal (Hariyanbelanwale) and the American students of the Miri Piri Academy.

Martial arts display

A blindfolded Ranjit Singh danced around on the beat of the dhol, menacingly brandishing his sword. He chopped a banana whose each end was held by cousins Atamjot and Gurjot, both less than 10 years old, in their mouth. He went on to chop the bananas held or placed on the bodies of other Nihangs. He used a baseball bat to smash coconuts placed on the heads of yet another two.

They also visited the prestigious Khalsa Heritage Complex, under construction since 1999 and on completion would showcase the entire Sikh history.

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