After 75 years, Sikh Gurudwara reopens in Teetwal

Srinagar, May 02: After 75 years, a Sikh Gurudwara dedicated to Guru Teg Bahadur has been reopened in Teetwal, in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.
This was made possible by the Save Sharda Committee, who reconstructed the Gurudwara and a nearby temple to their original state before partition in 1947.
According to senior Sikh members, “ A Dharamshala and Gurudwara existed at this location before they were destroyed during tribal raids and the partition war in 1947.” However, it was only in September 2021 that members of the Save Sharda Committee stumbled upon the plot of land. Committee thanked local Muslims for cooperation and army officials who handed it over to the committee for reconstruction.
Despite the fact that not a single Hindu or Sikh resides in Teetwal, the local Muslims had preserved the plot of land, and the Save Sharda Committee took up the challenge to reconstruct both the temple and Gurudwara on the same lines as they used to exist before partition.
As per revenue records, 5 marlas of land are recorded as Sikh land called ‘Ahl-e-Singha’ and 18 marlas as Hindu land called ‘Ahl-e-Hanood’. The land was demarcated and Bhumi Pujan was done on December 2, 2021, paving the way for the installation of Guru Granth Sahib inside the Gurudwara amidst chants.
A large number of Sikhs, including women, participated in the installation of Guru Granth Sahib, bringing back the lost heritage to its pristine glory.
The Save Sharda Committee thanked the locals and the LG administration for their support and cooperation, demonstrating the power of communal harmony and unity.
The Save Sharda Committee’s efforts to reconstruct the gurudwara and temple in Teetwal serve as an inspiration to all those who seek to preserve cultural heritage and promote peaceful coexistence.