SIKH HERITAGE IN GUJRANWALA: HISTORY, PRESERVATION, AND TOURISM POTENTIAL OF A SHARED CULTURAL LEGACY

Abstract

The city of Gujranwala in Punjab Province of Pakistan holds a unique and relatively neglected position in the history and heritage of the Sikhs. Being the birthplace of Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1780-1839), the founder of Sikh Empire and the place of significant holy places visited by Guru Nanak Dev Ji, this city houses a great number of heritage places for the Sikh faith, culture and architecture. Following the Partition of India in 1947 and subsequent near total relocation of Sikhs from this region, there has been left behind a considerable amount of heritage material, which, since then, has been neglected, encroached upon, repurposed or deteriorated. Based on field observations of 12 principal Sikh heritage sites of the contemporary Gujranwala district, supplemented with interviews of site caretakers, construction workers and locals and research of primary and secondary sources, this research explores historical significance, present state and preservation problems of the Sikh heritage in this region. It suggests that these heritage sites should be considered not only the religious heritage of Sikhs but also the cultural heritage of Punjab. Furthermore, the research emphasizes the role that these places could play in terms of heritage and pilgrimage tourism provided there is better conservation, interpretation, accessibility, and institutional coordination. The conclusion drawn from this research is that it would be necessary for the conservation of the Sikh heritage of Gujranwala to adopt an integrated approach in which the state institutions, local community, and diaspora of Sikhs should be involved.