SGPC Restores Bunga, Frowns on Film

Recently, the Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) completed the restoration of the Ramgarhia Bunga, a 250-year-old “fortress-like dwelling”near the Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple). The building suffered damage over the years – including a 1903 earthquake and the 1984 Indian Army attack. It was previously restored using modern interventions which historians and archaeologists criticized. This time, the SGPC used Nanakshahi bricks set in lime-and-mud mortar to ensure the restoration replicated the original construction methods. The use of these traditional materials is believed to make the building stronger and more resistant to cracks compared to modern bricks and cement. Such preservation is a good example for organizations involved in preserving and restoring old structures, but there is no clarity on which of those structures come under the Indian government, the Panjab government, and the SGPC. There were 73 bungas until the 1947 Partition; almost all have been destroyed. Meanwhile, on the one hand, the three-month deadline on satellite rights for broadcast of Sabad singing from Darbar Sahib worldwide lapsed. The approval procedure by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is yet to be completed. On the other hand, makers of a new animated film Dastaan-e-Sirhind on the Sahibzadas (Sovereign's sons) of the tenth Sikh Guru caught the attention of the SGPC. Sikhi is against idolatry and visual representations. In a digital age, with the pervasiveness of the image, the SGPC and scholars need to decide on the complete framework of representation of Gurus, their families, their associates, and Sikh history in general. The issue is not limited to this movie alone. With AI playing a major role in knowledge creation and discourses, the need for such a framework is urgent.