Reclaiming Lost Heritage: Teetwal Gurudwara at LoC Reopened After 75 Years

75 long years after Independence, the village of Teetwal in Jammu & kashmir, located less than 20 KMs from the Line of Control, can now boast of housing a Gurudwara. Dedicated to Guru Teg Bahadur Singh, the Nishan Sahib Gurudwara in Teetwal was thrown open to the public today. The reopening witnessed over 250 Sikh devotees flocking to the holy site as the Guru Granth Sahib was installed inside the Gurudwara. Kirtans and chants echoed in the lost heritage, and a langar set in stone the Gurudwara’s true glory.

Reconstructed by the Save Sharda Committee, the Gurudwara is located within the Sharada Temple complex, which was inaugurated by Home Minister Amit Shah on 22 March, 2023. If lores and legends are to be believed, the plot of land on which the Sharada Temple and Nishan Sahib Gurudwara stand today was protected by local Muslims for 75 years. Speaking to NewsX, Ravinder Pandita, chairman of Save Sharda Committee said ‘The Gurudwara is located right on the LoC and was preserved by the locals for Hindus & Sikhs.’ Speaking of the struggle to rebuild the holy site, Pandita said ‘Our Committee has been struggling for over 20 years to reopen the Sharada Peeth. It is not just a temple, but a civilisation which marks the confluence of Madhumati, Kishanganga and Saraswati. It is the oldest university which is much older than Takshilla and Nalanda.’ Save Sharda Committee has worked tirelessly to reconstruct the Sharda Temple and the Nishan Sahib Gurudwara to bring back the forgotten, pre-partition glory of the site.

As per revenue records accessed by the Sharda committee, 5 marlas are recorded as Sikh land and 18 marlas as demarcated as Hindu land. Speaking to NewsX, Joginder Singh, President of the Gurudwara said ‘I have been fighting to get this Gurudwara made for 19 years. The Sharda Committee serves an a ‘misaal’ (example) for all Indians. All part of the committee, whether they be Hindu, Muslim, Sikh or Isai, have worked together and tireselessly for the cause.’

A testament to the secular fabric of India and a commitment to reclaiming our lost heritage, the Sharada Peeth site in Teetwal today is once again home to the Sharada Temple and the Nishan Sahib Gurudwara, which were once demolished during the partition of India and Pakistan.