THE Sikh community gatherered in Chigwell Sunday to mourn the loss of one of London’s most important temples which was partially destroyed in a suspected arson attack.
The Sangat gathered at midday at the Guru Gobind Singh Khalsa College, on Roding Lane, to perform religious rites for the damage done to the Gurdwara Sikh Sangat, in Bow.
It housed priceless religious books which were destroyed in the fire, and a criminal investigation has been launched by police and fire investigators who are treating the blaze as suspicious.
Most of the building’s roof collapsed as more than 50 fire-fighters battled the fire for almost eight hours on Monday afternoon (March 16).
United Sikhs director Harsharen Kaur said: “Great are the fire-fighters who put out the fire, and risked their lives to recover our guruji's saroops.
“May everyone's prayers, presence and seva be parvaan (accepted), and may we continue to come together in ekta, with nimrata an pyaar (unity, humility and love), hopefully in less tragic circumstances."
The temple opened in 1979 and has been a vital part of the Sikh community. It dates back to 1854 and was formerly a synagogue and before that a chapel.
Shriomani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee(SGPC) President Avtar Singh Makkar Friday condemned the attack and fire incident and said that he would himself visit there.
Makkar said that fire incident of London’s Gurdwara hurt sentiments of Sikhs living all over the world. H e said that he had already written to the Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to take initiative to get the guilty punished responsible for the unfortunate incident in London. He said that Dr. Manmohan Singh being a Sikh knew the gravity of the situation and here it became his prime duty to take up the matter seriously with the UK Government.
Makkar said that he had urged Dr. Manmohan Singh to take up the issue with the UK Government at the earliest possible as it was the matter of grave concern.
Makkar said that SGPC executive has passed resolution, whereupon attack on Sikh shrine in London was condemned and every possible help to be extended to them by SGPC.
Makkar also made it confirmed that very shortly high powered delegation of religious people under his leadership would visit London to take stock of the situation and to interact with the Sikh community there.
Makkar said that SGPC was making special arrangements for sending BIRS of Guru Granth Sahib (copies of holy Sikh scripture) to London as numerous religious books were damaged in the fire incident.
Makkar said that the reports stated that during the fire incident on March 17, this year, priceless religious sacred books were gutted in a suspect racist attack in Britain.
Makkar said that SGPC would also honor the Sikh women in London who were present at the time of incident and tried their best to save the holy religious books from flames.