Maharani Moran’s Grave Reflects Decline Of Sikh Heritage In Pakistan

ISLAMABAD-The dilapidated grave of Maharani Moran, queen of Sikh ruler Maharaja Ranjit Singh, is not only a neglected monument but also reflects the broader crisis facing Sikh heritage in Pakistan, according to a report that says years of neglect have left many historically significant Sikh sites in poor condition.

Maharani Moran, who died in 1867, is buried at Lahore’s Miani Sahib Cemetery. According to a report published by Khalsa Vox, the crumbling structure, overgrown vegetation and years of neglect raise questions about Pakistan’s commitment to preserving Sikh history and heritage despite showcasing itself internationally as a custodian of important Sikh religious sites.

The report noted that many sites linked to Sikh history, including those associated with Guru Nanak Dev, the other Sikh Gurus, the Sikh Empire and prominent Sikh warriors, are located in Pakistan. It said that while more than 400 historic gurdwaras connected to the Sikh Gurus remain in the country, many historic sites in Balochistan, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have either disappeared or fallen into disrepair.

Pakistan frequently highlights Gurdwara Janam Asthan Nankana Sahib and Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur as examples of its commitment to preserving Sikh heritage. However, the report said the condition of many lesser-known historic sites continues to deteriorate, even as Pakistani Sikh leaders raise funds from the global Sikh diaspora to maintain gurdwaras across the country.

“The memories of great Sikh warriors such as Hari Singh Nalwa, Akali Phula Singh, Sardar Sham Singh Attariwala, and many others remain rooted in this land. Unfortunately, many monuments associated with them have fallen victim to neglect, encroachments, illegal construction, and the natural decay of time,” the report said.

As another example, the report referred to the demolition of the 125-year-old Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Sahib in Farooqabad in June. It said a large portion of the historic shrine was demolished by a local businessman without legal clearance or a court order, and authorities acknowledged the incident only after members of the local Sikh community protested.

“For the Sikh community of Farooqabad, the night of June 24 was not an abstraction. It was the sound of machinery tearing into a building their grandparents’ grandparents had prayed in — a gurdwara built over a century ago, when the Singh Sabha movement was still reshaping what it meant to be Sikh in a modernizing Punjab,” another Khalsa Vox report stated.

An official later admitted that the department failed to take notice of the demolition until local Sikhs protested. The report said the authorities responded only after members of the minority community were forced to mobilize to protect their heritage. (IANS)