Gurdwara Mehdiana Sahib, located in Mehdiana village near Jagraon, is often referred to as the ‘School of Sikh History’. It is believed to be the place where Guru Gobind Singh rested after the Battle of Chamkaur and wrote parts of…
Gurdwara Mehdiana Sahib, located in Mehdiana village near Jagraon, is often referred to as the ‘School of Sikh History’. It is believed to be the place where Guru Gobind Singh rested after the Battle of Chamkaur and wrote parts of the Zafarnama (Epistle of Victory)
letter to the Mughal emperor, Aurangzeb.
A major attraction at the gurdwara is the uniquely coloured monuments, sculptures and statues, depicting important events from the Sikh history, particularly those linked to Guru Gobind Singh, and the persecution of Sikhs under the Mughal rule. These sculptures serve as a powerful visual narrative of the sacrifices and bravery of the Sikh community with the aim of educating visitors. The gurdwara also houses a museum which showcases various facets of the Sikh history and culture.
In the vicinity of this gurdwara are sculptures and statues of Sikh warriors, including Tara Singh, recipient of a number of awards, including the Punjab Rattan Award, Baba Farid Award and the Sobha Singh Memorial Award. Iqbal Singh Gill, an artist based in Nihalsingh Wala, has also made statues for the gurdwara.
“My main aim behind making these statues was not only to depict history but also to educate people that religion was more important than their lives. The Sikh religion was born from the sacrifices of our ancestors and that religion should not be taken for granted,” said Gill.
There are a number of sculptures inside the gurdwara complex which include eminent Sikh generals like Akali Phoola Singh, Sardar Hari Singh Nalwa, Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Sardar Sham Singh Attariwala, Baba Deep Singh and Baba Banda Singh Bahadur. There are other sculptures depicting the sacrifices made by Chhote Sahibzade, and Sikh men, women and children who did not convert to Islam and instead preferred martyrdom. The statue of Bhai Kanhaiya, one of the soldiers of the 10th Guru, serving water not only to the wounded soldiers in their own army but also to enemy soldiers, is also present. Arvinder Sandhu, an NRI from Jagraon, never fails to visit the gurdwara whenever he is in India. “This gurdwara gives us the powerful message to respect our religion and realise how many sacrifices have been made by our Gurus for our identity. I have been living abroad for 15 years but I have never cut my hair and still wear a turban. Since childhood, I have been visiting this gurdwara. It is not just one statue that is installed here but entire episodes from Sikh history are depicted through these statues, which leave a powerful impact on the minds of everyone paying a visit here,” he said.
The sculptures at the gurdwara act as a powerful visual narrative, bringing Sikh history to life and allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the past.
The Tribune
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