Minorities, and Their Heritage Well Protected In Pakistan: Punjab Governor Sarwar

by Jatinder Singh Bedi, Chief Editor, Hello NRI

CHICAGO- Pakistan’s Punjab Province Governor Chaudhary Mohamand Sarwar has said that the “minorities in Pakistan carry immense importance to the government” and Sikhs amongst them are the “dearest.”

He was addressing the Sikhs at Chicago’s oldest Palatine Gurudwara on 28 May 2021. During the visit his wife Ms Perveen Sarwar accompanied him. Senior Pakistan officials Ms Nazia Mohal, Deputy Secretary; and Mr Tariq Karim, Consul General of Pakistan at Chicago also accompanied him.

Speaking at the Gurudwara, Governor Sarwar said that “We [Government] are very much alive to problems and challenges that the minority communities face in form of discrimination and racism. …We have special respect for the minorities and our doors are always open to them.” He informed that festivals like Diwali, Christmas, and Vaisakhi are permanently on celebrations-calendar at the Punjab Governor House that Governor Sarwar currently occupies.

Governor Sarwar made an emphatic mention of the added impetus that Pakistan Government has been giving to the Punjabi Language. “Punjabi is being aggressively promoted at the Universities’ level in Pakistan. …Independent departments for Punjabi Language have been set up at the Lahore University. Newly conceived Guru Nanak Dev University at Nankana Saheb will also have an independent department for Punjabi Language.” A Sikh lady heads the Department of Punjabi at the Lahore University, he added.

Governor’s address revolved mostly around strengthening of the Sikh relations and preservation of heritage as well. He said that the identity of minorities is well respected, preserved, and secured.  “We never make changes to any heritage or religious places till such time the [affected] community itself makes a request,” Governor Sarwar said while citing the example of Toba Tek Singh.

“Despite repeated requests from many quarters to rename the District of Toba Tek Singh as Darussalam, the Government rejected the proposals because its domiciles objected to the name change,” Governor Sarwar, who is also the Chairman of Religious Heritage Committee, informed.

A mention: At legendary village Toba Tek Singh, Tek Singh at his Toba [pond] would quench thirst of the resting travellers. The British named it Toba Tek Singh. Post-independence, this village became centre-stage of famous writer Manto’s novel titled ‘Toba Tek Singh.’ Its poignant plot revolves around partition-time division of mentally insane Hindu, Sikh, Muslims inmates between India and Pakistan. One insane amongst them is from Toba Tek Singh; and he refuses to go. When forced, he lies down on no-man-land. The story ends thus: “There, behind barbed wire, was Hindustan. Here, behind the same kind of barbed wire, was Pakistan. In between, on that piece of ground that had no name, lay Toba Tek Singh.” Manto’s ‘Toba Tek Singh’ has been made into a feature film in both countries.

From the Left: Ms Salwinder Kaur Sandhu, SRS Board of Trustee; Ms Nazia Mohal, Ms Parveen Sarwar, Ms Nussrat Arien, and Mr Amardev Singh, SRS President.

On similar lines, Pakistan Government has preserved the historic 120 Acres of agriculture land around Kartapur Saheb that Guru Nanak Dev Ji once tilled.

While repeatedly expressing affinity with the Sikh community, Governor Sarwar made a detailed mention of the Kartarpur Saheb Guru Nanak Corridor. He said that the 70-year-long strenuous wait that Sikhs underwent for Corridor’s opening is reflective of the insensitivity and “unintelligence” of both the Governments. Determined Prime Minister Imran Khan made it happen.

Developing the Kartarpur Corridor was a humongous challenge for the Government. It involved building a bridge over River Ravi, renovation of Gurudwara building, development of amenities and infrastructure. All this had to be completed before the commencement of the 550 Guru Nanak Dev Anniversary celebrations. Governor Sarwar informed that his wife Ms Perveen Sarwar set up a water filtration plant at Kartarpur Saheb that their Sarwar Foundation donated.

A mention: At legendary village Toba Tek Singh, Tek Singh at his Toba [pond] would quench thirst of the resting travellers. The British named it Toba Tek Singh. Post-independence, this village became center-stage of famous writer Manto’s novel titled ‘Toba Tek Singh.’ Its poignant plot revolves around partition-time division of mentally insane Hindu, Sikh, Muslims inmates between India and Pakistan. One insane amongst them is from Toba Tek Singh; and he refuses to go. When forced, he lies down on no-man-land. The story ends thus: “There, behind barbed wire, was Hindustan. Here, behind the same kind of barbed wire, was Pakistan. In between, on that piece of ground that had no name, lay Toba Tek Singh.” Manto’s ‘Toba Tek Singh’ has been made into a feature film in both countries.

Intermittently, Governor Sarwar would digress to touch a personal chord with the Sikh community. “I missed the Sikhs in Britain,” he said. He described Sikhs to be: “Khule! Dulle! Yaaran De Yaar!” The bond that has developed with Sikhs cannot be broken, no matter how much anyone attempts at it, Governor Sarwar added.

Governor Sarwar has a unique distinction of being a Member Parliament of the British Parliament from Glasgow as well as the Governor of Pakistan’s Punjab thereafter. He also heads the family foundation named Sarwar Foundation of which his wife Ms Perveen Sarwar is the Vice Chairperson.

Governor Chaudhary Mohamad Sarwar bows before Guru Granth Saheb at Palatine Gurudwara in Chicago.

Mr Tariq Karim, Consul General of Pakistan at Chicago expressed "extreme delight" on having visited Palatine Gurudwara. He assured full support to Sikh community at which ever Pakistan Mission they visit worldover.

On arrival at the Gurudwara, Governor Sarwar went straight to the Durbar Hall to pay obeisance to Guru Granth Saheb and bowed there. President of Sikh Religious Society (SRS) that administers Palatine Gurudwara, Mr Amardev Singh received him on arrival. Head Priest Bhai Mohinder Singh greeted him with a bouquet of red roses.

Earlier, welcoming Governor Sarwar, the SRS President Amardev Singh said, “Today we refer to East Punjab and West Punjab; but, when we talk of Punjab what comes before our eyes is the Punjab that extends from La Khyber Yamuna River along Delhi. … Governor Sarwar has come from Punjab that is the land of our Gurus. Not only that, our heritage, Sikh poets, and many great personalities from Sikh history have lived there. Punjab is our motherland irrespective of the fact that its been divided into two. I call upon the Governor to encourage Punjabiat in Pakistan’s Punjab and ensure development of Punjabi language and culture there.”

Governor Sarwar obliged those present with a variety of photo-ops.