Ravinder Pandita
Prior to 1947, Teetwal was considered as the biggest business hub of North Kashmir and it was considered to be the largest Tehsil of Muzaffarabad division. After partition, the Hindu and Sikh properties wore a deserted look as it was destroyed in Tribal raids with Pak proxies in the lead. The Sikh members still remembered are Chanda Singh, Santu Singh, Lakha Singh, Jodh Singh amongst others. To add to it the then MLA of the area Yunus Khan spread rumour that the chunk of land will got to Pakistan, which led to enmasse migration of whatever minorities and their properties were left behind. Sikhs were mostly into Goldsmith and Jewellery businesses besides Transport and employment. The only village with a sizeable Sikh population resisted and still exists in Tribhoni village on offside of Tangdhar. A lone Sikh Gurdwara used to exist in Khokhar Mohalla of Teetwal, along with a Hindu Dharamshala, built with a wooden structure that was burnt in 1947 carnage, leaving a vacant plot that was converted into a garbage bin. This plot was reportedly encroached by Ghulam Rabbani and later vacated due to interference of saner elements of society. After 1971 Indo-Pak war this militarized zone became active and saw some development and Sikhs like Joginder Singh of Tribhoni and Lala Mela Ram, and contractor came into prominence and regained the lost businesses & properties. But unfortunately no Sikh or Hindu family tried to resettle in Teetwal. Whatever was left in their possession went out of their hands in 1990 terrorism era.
It was Joginder Singh who was posted in Teetwal tried to search for roots in Teetwal and regained possession of Gurdwara & Dharamshala land and gave it to local tiller to get some meager income out of maize crops annually. The Dharamshala was dug and some valuables excavated from time to time, by a few bad elements for petty gains. This Dharamshala would act as base camp for the Sharda Yatra that unfortunately still is in illegal occupation of Pakistan and no Yatra was possible since 1948. The official ‘Charri’ Yatra with a holy mace would be taken out from here annually, facilitated by businessmen of Khatri clan and cross to Chilhana on other side of river Kishenganga on way to Sarvagnya Sharda Peeth. The Yatra used to be received with gaiety by local Muslims & Sikhs on its successful return till 1948. It was on September 14, 2021, when members of Save Sharda Committee Kashmir, a group for reopening of Sharda, led by its Founder Ravinder Pandita went to this place for an annual Yatra. Teetwal was one of the traditional Yatra routes to Sarvagnya Sharda Pilgrimage besides Keran, Liddervan & Gurez. Earlier the committee in search of roots had travelled to Keran and Liddervan routes in year 2020. To its astonishment the committee was received to a great reception at Tangdhar by locals, a few of whom were already in touch with Ravinder Pandita, and they requested the committee in presence of Army officials to reestablish Teetwal Traditional route and rebuild Temple and Gurudwara. This challenge was accepted by the committee and this piece of land including 5 marlas of Sikh Gurdwara was shown to Ravinder Pandita, duly identified & in possession of Joginder Singh. Thus a new era on reclamation of lost heritage began on December 2, 2021 with Bhumi Pujan of Sharda Temple & Center wherein Save Sharda Committee decided to lay foundation stone of Gurdwara first. A construction committee was formed led by Ravinder Pandita that includes Ajaz Khan, Retired Captain Ilyas, Khawaja Iftikhar, Joginder Singh, Surinder Mirza, Satish Bhat, S K Koul & Mahveer Thussu, the first of its kind having members of all faiths. The funds were raised through public and Gurdwara work preceded Temple and was completed within a year’s time much ahead of temple. Ajaz Khan a neighbor and construction committee member in tandem with Ravinder Pandita monitored the construction. A very few Sikhs donated towards the cause, but committee stood by its commitment to construct Gurdwara and temple under aegis of Save Sharda Committee as parent trust. The keys of the completed Gurdwara were handed-over to Sangat of Tribhoni led by Joginder Singh in January while Nishan Sahib was also erected earlier on September 4, 2022 being annual Sharda Yatra day called ‘Sharda Diwas’.
The Sharda yatra temple was inaugurated on 22 March, 2022 1st Navratra called ‘Navreh’ locally by Home Minister Amit Shah via Live streaming in presence of LG Manoj Sinha, MP Tejasvi Surya and SSCK head Ravinder Pandita, in presence of a 500 strong audience comprising of Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs alike. The holy Granth Sahib was installed inside Gurdwara at Teetwal on September 30, 2023 in presence of a large number of devotees, thus recreating history. Shabd Kirtan & religious chants filled the air back again after 75 long years. Home Minister praised the committee and locals as well as civil societies under Ravinder Pandita on both sides of LoC on this occasion. The lost heritage of a Gurdwara and temple that was lost in 1947 carnage is standing to its pristine glory as on date. It is urged that Sikhs and Hindus should come forward in management and running of both these religious places, which have a common compound without a partition wall, setting an example of Hindu-Sikh Unity and universal brotherhood. At last, the way local Muslims had preserved this piece of land and handed over the same to Save Sharda Committee also deserves accolades and all appreciation.
(The author is Head/ Founder of Save Sharda Committee Kashmir).
