KARTARPUR, at a tantalisingly approachable distance of 3 km from the border, has a multi-hued significance for the Sikhs. It is here that Guru Nanak Dev spent 17 years, establishing the first Sikh centre, naming his successor before giving up his mortal body. Kartarpur is within sighting distance, but the route is barred by the two armies. The birthplaces of Guru Ram Das and the samadhi of Guru Arjan Dev, both in Pakistan, are also out of bounds, except for a fortunate few who make the pilgrimage to Pakistan, as much a land of gurus as is India. Navtoj Sidhu’s announcement about Pakistan’s readiness to open a corridor to the Kartarpur shrine naturally sent a thrill of anticipation among the devout.

The sentiment for reviving lost connections while forsaking the baggage of the past has strong bipartisan support in both Punjabs. Sukhbir Badal disregarded rabid anti-Pakistan discourse by his alliance partner to visit Lahore in 2012. The present CM Amarinder Singh preceded him by a decade and was gifted a horse. Neither the horse lived for long nor did the Captain’s initiative to break the ice. Each time the two Punjabs have tried to make amends, the initiative has run into the wall of obdurate and unyielding state interests where the bigger picture does not allow for minor concessions.

A visa-free corridor was first proposed by Benazir Bhutto nearly 25 years back and has since then struck an emotional chord in Indian Punjab. New Delhi has much to be upset with Islamabad but gurdwara diplomacy and a reciprocal ‘shrine diplomacy’ in India will build up a badly-needed peace constituency to neutralise the existing negativity in Indo-Pak ties. A liberal visa policy will bring increasingly larger number of Sikh devotees which will help in the upkeep of the nearly 200 gurdwaras and historical sites in Pakistan. A constructive approach towards the Kartarpur shrine will not just heal emotional scars, but also help move towards peace in the region, more so as the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak approaches.

Kartarpur corridor: ‘When opportunity knocks, open the door,’ Sidhu writes to Swaraj

Tribune Web Desk
Chandigarh, September 9

Punjab Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu has written to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj asking her to “make every possible effort and bring boundless joy and happiness to the Sikh community world over” over the demand to open up a Kartarpur Sahib corridor.

Sidhu says in his letter dated September 8, 2018: “Pakistan has shown a positive intent towards the long-pending demand of ‘Kartarpur Sahib Corridor’.”

Full contents of the letter have been reproduced below.

I hope you are doing well and in the best of spirits. Sushma Ji, when the partition happened in 1947, not only geographical, economic, emotional and social setbacks came but many historical Gurudwaras were left in Pakistan. Since then, the Sikhs living in India, who always offer prayers to pay obeisance in the separated Gurudwaras have to rely on visas to make a visit to the holy shrines left there.

Among various historical Gurudwaras left in Pakistan, Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib Ji is of great significance. This is the place where Guru Nanak Dev Ji spent almost 18 years of his life. The Gurudwara Sahib is very close to the International border.

Such is the sentiment of the pilgrims in India that they visit the border everyday just to have a glimpse of this holy shrine through binoculars arranged by the Border Security Force at the Border in the Dera Baba Nanak region of India.

Some touch the holy earth and some depart with tearful eyes. But are deprived of paying obeisance at this holy shrine.

The visa wrangles have deprived numerous pilgrims from reaching this historic Gurudwara over the years. The rift between two neighbours grew so much over the years that even visiting historical Gurudwaras at will became a problem.

Now an opportunity has knocked on our doors. Pakistan has shown a positive intent towards the long pending demand of ‘Kartarpur Sahib Corridor’. Pilgrims and we all have been demanding for this corridor since years. Some positivity came on this issue when I visited Pakistan for the oath-taking ceremony of Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan but now with their Information Minister Fawad Chaudhary categorically saying that Corridor will be opened and even visa won’t be required to visit this as part of the 550th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak dev Ji, it is time for India to take a positive step on this highly emotional issue.

When opportunity knocks, kindly step up and open the door.

The opening of this Corridor will be a huge thing for the Sikh community all over the world. Even though both neighbours have had sour relations for decades but the corridor if opened can bring peace and prosperity between the two countries.

This can break barriers, build bridges and improve relations between the two nations.

My humble submission to you is to make every possible effort and bring boundless joy and happiness to the Sikh community world-over as the Kartarpur Sahib corridor is one dream they have lived forever. With Pakistan showing positive intent, common belief is that this can turn into reality.

Appropriate measures on the Kartarpur Sahib corridor must be taken as Sikh sentiments are strongly attached with it. Hoping for a positive response from you!

Thanking you.  

Personal regards
Navjot Singh Sidhu
Cabinet Minister, Punjab