As I mentioned in my previous post about the Ghanta Ghar of Faisalabad (The Clock Tower of Lyallpur), this city is one of the newest in Pakistan, a well-planned city of 3.2 million. Its construction began in the 1890s as the centre of administration, trade, industry, and education for the Chenab Colony. To populate the vast but sparsely inhabited lands of the Sandal Bar, a large number of settlers were brought in from the more densely populated districts of north-central Punjab. These settlers were good and hardworking farmers who, within a few decades, turned these colonies into prosperous communities and the granaries of India.
Many of them were Sikhs from Amritsar, Ludhiana, Gurdaspur, Jullundur, etc. Naturally, these people also established their places of worship. One of them, probably the biggest, is located in Faisalabad, formerly Lyallpur. I saw its pictures on the internet, but I could not find much detail, so I marked it for a visit. On one hot and humid day, 21 July 2017, I finally reached there. The gurdwara complex is situated at 31°25'9.85"N, 73°4'50.24"E, between Katchery Bazaar and Rail Bazaar.
It currently houses a school, Government Pakistan Model High School Faisalabad, claimed to be "The Best English Medium School," as stated on the board at the entrance. It was summer vacation time, so there were no students in the school. However, some staff members were present. The guard advised us to meet the headmaster in his office and explain the purpose of our visit.
We met Mr. Shamim Mohiuddin, the headmaster, in his office. He asked about the purpose of our visit and whether we had any permission, which, obviously, we did not have. I assured him that I was not a journalist and only wrote for a very harmless kind of blog. After just a little hesitation, he allowed us to take “a few” pictures. By now, with some experience of such kind of situations, I fully understand the meaning of that signal. So we went about our business and took a lot of photos, without any disturbance.
Gurdwara Singh Sabha, Lyallpur. (21.07.2017.)
Towards the main entrance. (21.07.2017.)
Main gate of the School / Gurdwara. (21.07.2017.)
Structure of the gate. (21.07.2017.)
ਖ਼ਾਲਸਾ ਗਰਲਸ ਮਿਡਲ ਸਕੂਲ
Khalsa Girls Middle School
The Headmaster, Mr Shamim Mohiuddin. (21.07.2017.)
Office Block. (21.07.2017.)
One can clearly see that the complex of this gurdwara actually consists of three main buildings. One is the gurdwara itself; the second is a Musafir Khana (guest house) attached to the gurdwara. The third building was originally a school, Khalsa Girls Middle School, as a Gurmukhi inscription clearly shows on the outer wall. All three buildings are architecturally distinct and were probably constructed at different times.
Beautiful facade of the gurdwara. (21.07.2017.)
The base of the Nishan Sahib, a pole for the holy Sikh flag. (21.07.2017.)
The picture given below is of a plaque on the marble base of the Nishan Sahib.
੧ ਓੰਕਾਰ
ਸ਼੍ਰੀ ਨਿਸ਼ਾਨ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਦੀ ਸੇਵਾ
ਮਿਤੀ ਮਾਘ ੨ ਸੰਮਤ ਖ਼ਾਲਸਾ ੨੪੦* ਨੂਂ
ਭਾਈ ਰਤਨ ਸਿੰਘ ਸੇਹਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਜੀ
ਬਾਜ਼ਾਜ਼ ਲਾਇਲਪੁਰ ਨੇ ਕਰਾਈ
ਦਾਸ:ਸੰਗਤ ਜੀ ਗੁਰੂ ਸਿੰਘ ਸਭਾ
ਲਾਇਲਪੁਰ
੧੫.੧.੧੯੩੯
اک اونکار
شری نشان صاحب دی سیوا
مِتی ماگھ 2 سمت خالصہ 240* نوں
بھائی رتن سنگھ سہر سنگھ جی
بزاز لائلپور نے کرائی
داس: سنگت جی گروسنگھ سبھا
لائلپور
15.1.1939.
Ek Onkar
Honourable Nishan Sahib's Service
On Date 2 Magh 240* Khalsa
By Brother Ratan Singh Sehar Singh Ji
Cloth Merchant Lyallpur Was Rendered
Servant: Sangat (Congregation) Ji Guru Singh Sabha (Meeting)
Lyallpur
15.1.1939.
*The year is given as 240 of Samvat Khalsa. It seems to be different from Nanak Shahi or Samvat Bikrami.
A corridor on the first floor of the gurdwara. (21.07.2017.)
A room on the 1st floor. (21.07.2017.)
Another view of the corridor on the first floor. (21.07.2017.)
The Darbar Hall of the gurdwara. (21.07.2017.)
A side view of the front of the gurdwara. (21.07.2017.)
The Musafir Khana (Guest House) of the gurdwara. (21.07.2017.)
Veranda of the first floor of the Musafir Khana. (21.07.2017.)
A room in the Musafir Khana (Guest House). (21.07.2017.)
The building of the Musafir Khana is currently undergoing a complete renovation and hopefully will restore its original beauty and enhance its life for by a few decades. On the first floor, I found some plaques, providing some very interesting information about the construction of this building and the people who donated money for this sacred cause, in the memory of their loved ones.
੧ ਓਂਕਾਰ
੪੦੦ ਮੁਸਾਫ਼ਰ ਖਾਨੇ ਕੀ ਸੇਵਾ ਕਰਾਈ ਭ. ਪਜਨ ਸਿੰਘ
ਨੇ ਆਪਨੇ ਪੁਤ ਦਿਆਲ ਸਿੰਘ ਤੇ
ਅਪਨੀ ਨੂਹ ਆਗੀਆ ਕੋਰ ਦੀ
ਯਾਦਗਾਰ ਵਿਚ ਸੰ. _______
۱ اونکار
400 روپے مسافر خانے کی سیوا کرائی بھائی پجن سنگھ
نے آپنے پُت دیال سنگھ تے
آپنی نوں آگیا کوردی
یادگار وچ سمت: _______
A service worth Rs 400/- was rendered for this guest house by Bhai Pajan Singh
in memory of his son Diyal Singh and daughter in law Aagiya Kaur,
In Samvat: _____
੧ ਓਂਕਾਰ
੩੬੪ ਕਮਰੇ ਦੀ ਸੇਵਾ ਕਰਾਈ
ਸ੍ਰ. ਭਗਵਾਨ ਸਿੰਘ
ਸਬ ਇੰਸਪੈਕਟਰ ਸਪੁਤ
ਭ. ਹੀਰਾ ਸਿੰਘ ਜੀ ਚਕ ਨੰ ੬੫
ਝੰਗ ਬਰਾਂਚ ਸੰ. ੧੯੮੦
۱ اونکار
364 روپے کمرے دی سیوا کرائی
سردار بھگوان سنگھ
سب انسپکٹر سپُت
بھائی ہیرا سنگھ جی چک نمبر 65
جھنگ برانچ سمت: 1980
A service worth Rs 364/- for this room was rendered by Sardar Bhagwan Singh,
Sub Inspector, son of Bhai Heera Singh ji, Chak No. 65 Jhang Branch.
Samvat: 1980 (1923 AD)
੧ ਓੰਕਾਰ
੪੦੦ ਮੁਸਾਫ਼ਰ ਖਾਨਾ ਚੁਬਾਰਾ
ਕੀ ਸੇਵਾ ਕਰਾਈ ਭ. ਬਲਵੰਤ ਸਿੰਘ
ਲਕੜ ਮੰਡੀ ਵਾਲੇ ਨੇ ਆਪਨੇ ਪਿਤਾ
ਭ. ਬੂੜ ਸਿੰਘ ਦੀ ਯਾਦਗਾਰ ਵਿਚ
ਸੰ. ੧੯੮੩
۱ اونکار
400 روپے مسافر خانہ چوبارہ
کی سیوا کرائی بھائی بلونت سنگھ
لکڑ منڈی والے نے آپنے پِتا
بھائی بوڑ سنگھ دی یادگار وچ
سمت: 1983
A service worth Rs 400/- for the guest house and the upper storey was rendered by Bhai Balwant Singh of the wood market, in memory of his father Bhai Bor Singh.
Samvat: 1983 (1926 AD)
੧ ਓਂਕਾਰ
੪੦੦ ਮੁਸਾਫ਼ਿਰ ਖਾਨਾ
ਕੀ ਸੇਵਾ ਕਰਾਈ
ਭ. ਨਿਹਾਲ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੇ ਆਪਨੇ
ਪਿਤਾ ਭ. ਸੈਹਜ ਸਿੰਘ ਦੀ ਯਾਦਗਾਰ
ਵਿਚ - ਸੰ. ੧੯੮੩
۱ اونکار
400 روپے مسافر خانہ
کی سیوا کرائی
بھائی نہال سنگھ نے آپنے
پِتا بھائی سیہج سنگھ دی یادگار
وچ - سمت 1983
A service worth Rs 400/- for the guest house, was rendered by Bhai Nihal Singh
in memory of his father Bhai Sehaj Singh.
Samvat 1983 (1926 AD)
੧ ਓਂਕਾਰ
੫੦੦ ਮੁਸਾਫ਼ਿਰ ਖਾਨੇ ਤੇ ਬਰਾਂਡੇ
ਦੀ ਸੇਵਾ ਕਰਾਈ ਭ. ਗੁਰਦਿਰ ਸਿੰਘ
ਨੇ ਆਪਨੇ ਪਿਤਾ ______ ਸਿੰਘ ਤੇ
ਭਰਾਤਾ ਬਖਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਦੀ ਯਾਦਗਾਰ
ਵਿਚ ਸੰ. ੧੯੮੩
۱ اونکار
400 روپے مسافر خانے تے برانڈے
دی سیوا کرائی بھائی گوردِت سنگھ
نے آپنے پِتا _________ سنگھ تے
بھراتا بکھت سنگھ دی یادگار
وچ - سمت: 1983
A service worth Rs 400/- for the guest house and veranda, was rendered by
Bhai Gurdit Singh in memory of his father ______ Singh and brother
Bakht Singh.
Samvat 1983 (1926 AD)
੧ ਓਂਕਾਰ
੫੦੦ ਏਹ ਕਮਰਾ ਅਤੇ ਬਰਾਂਡੇ
ਦੀ ਸੇਵਾ ਮਾਤਾ ਪ੍ਰਸਿਨ ਕੋਰ
ਜੀ ਨੇ ਆਪਨੇ ਪਤੀ ਗੁਰਪੁਰ
ਨਿਵਾਸੀ ਸ੍ਰ. ਈਸ਼ਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਜੀ ਜ਼ੇਲ
ਦਾਰ ਪਿੰਡ ਡਸਕਾ ਚਕ ਨ: ੧੫੩
ਰਖ ਬਰਾਂਚ ਜੀ ਦੀ ਯਾਦਗਾਰ
ਵਿਚ ਬਨਵਾਇਅ ਸੰ. ਬਿ, ੧੯੭੯
۱ اونکار
500 روپے ایہ کمرا آتے برانڈا
دی سیوا ماتا پرسِن کور
جی نے آپنے پتی گورپور
نواسی سردار ایشر سنگھ جی ذیل
دار پنڈ ڈسکا چک نمبر: 153
رکھ برانچ جی دی یادگار
وچ بنوایا - سمت بکرمی 1979
A service worth Rs 500/- for this room and veranda, was rendered by mother Parisan Kaur ji
in memory of his late husband Sardar Eshar Singh ji Zaildar Daska pind, Chak No. 153
Rakh Branch.
Samvat Bikrami 1979 (1922 AD)
੧ ਓਂਕਾਰ ਸਤਿ ਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦ
੩੫੦ ਇਸ ਕਮਰੇ ਦੀ ਸੇਵਾ
ਭਾਈ ਆਸਾ ਸਿੰਘ ਜੀ ਦੀ ਸੁਪਤਨੀ
ਭਾਈ ਕਹਿਨ ਸਿੰਘ ਭਾਈ ਹੀਰਾ ਸਿੰਘ ਜੀ ਦੀ
ਮਾਈ ਨੇ ਕਰਵਾਈ
۱ اونکار ستِّ گرو پرساد
350 روپے اِس کمرے دی سیوا
بھائی آسا سنگھ جی دی سپُتنی
بھائی کاہن سنگھ بھائی ہیرا سنگھ جی دی
مائی نے کروائی
A service worth Rs 350, for this room, was rendered by Bhai Aasa Singh ji's
wife and Bhai Kahan Singh Bhai Heera Singh's mother.
Imposing inner view of the main entrance of the Khalsa Middle School For Girls. (21.07.2017.)
Left Wing of the school. (21.07.2017.)
Right Wing of the school. (21.07.2017.)
A general view of the school and the courtyard. (21.07.2017.)
A corridor in the school. (21.07.2017.)
The first floor of the school. (21.07.2017.)
A beautiful cupola like structure on the top of the school building. (21.07.2017.)
Umair Riaz. (21.07.2017.)
Tariq Amir. (21.07.2017.)
A wooden balcony of an old house, in front of the main entrance. (21.07.2017.)
I could not find the exact date of its construction, but some sources on the internet suggest that it began in 1911. Probably, the foundations of the gurdwara were laid in that year, and construction continued for a long time, perhaps until the very end of the era of united India. The plaques on the wall of the Musafir Khana clearly show that it was built in the mid-1920s. The building of the Khalsa Girls Middle School is actually so modern and in such good condition that, for a while, I thought it was a post-independence addition, until I noticed the symbol of the Sikh faith and read the inscription on the outer wall. Due to the summer vacation, some sections of the school were closed, and the administration was reluctant to open them for us. The passage to the cupola over the main gate was also locked. However, the visit was fruitful, and I learned about a piece of our history and heritage.
Tariq Amir
November 13, 2017.
Doha - Qatar.
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