GS Paul Tribune News Service Amritsar August 24 While three copies of Guru Granth Sahib saroops have been flown carefully to India from Kabul efforts need to be made to ensure the sanctity of historic Afghanistan gurdwaras and evacuate the rare century-old holy scriptures enshrined over there to avoid any instance of sacrilege. Fear of desecration looms If the Centre doesnt take steps for the upkeep and sanctity of Sikh shrines there is every possibility of their desecration in Afghanistan. — Nirmal Singh CKD Chief Afghanistan has been a home to many historic gurdwaras across several cities as well as villages. Many of them have been lost in the civil war leading to the exit of most Hindu and Sikh families from the country. Chief Khalsa Diwan (CKD) president Nirmal Singh said as the circumstances compelled the Sikhs to vacate their native place the concern was that who will take care of historical Sikh shrines and rare manuscripts left behind? “The CKD is all set to assist in any way. If the Centre doesnt take steps for the upkeep and maintain sanctity of Sikh shrines there is every possibility of their desecration” he said. Former SGPC chief secretary Dr Roop Singh said “At a time when the people were making desperate efforts to be evacuated from the war-torn Afghanistan the Afghani-origin Sikhs have sent a global message by showing concern about the safety and sanctity of the holy scriptures.” Dr Roop Singh said one of the most authentic texts which provided information about these gurdwaras was Afghanistan Da Safar written by Prof Ganda Singh who toured Afghanistan on September 2 1952. Prof Ganda Singh had located around 40 gurdwaras then in Jalalabad Ghazni Kabul Kandahar and Sultanpur. Now there are seven main gurdwaras in Kabul five in Kandahar and one each in Ghazni Jalalabad and Sultanpur. These include the oldest gurdwara Khalsa (Dera Bhai Gurdas) in Shor Bazaar Kabul. Similarly at a gurdwara in Ghazni there are seven old handwritten copies of Guru Granth Sahib and one Dasam Granth. Gurdwara Shri Guru Har Rai Sahib has got two written volumes of Guru Granth Sahib.

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