Pak Grants Funds For Maintenance Of Rai Bular Khan’S

[kdsingh80]

Pak grants funds for maintenance of Rai Bular Khan’s graveyard

Gagan K Teja

Tribune News Service

Patiala, September 2

In the wake of letter written by Punjabi University Prof Harpal Singh Pannu, Head of the Department of Religious Studies, to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh regarding the pitiable condition of the grave of Rai Bular Khan in Pakistan, the PM has sent a letter to Dr Pannu, assuring him that his request had been accepted.

In a letter to Pannu, the PM wrote, "We have taken up this matter with the relevant authorities in Pakistan. The Government of Punjab, Pakistan, has informed us that the Chief Minister has allocated funds for the maintenance of the graveyard, tree plantation and construction of a tomb at the grave of Rai Bular Khan. According to them, the resources are being mobilised for the work to start at the earliest. They are also taking steps to improve the basic infrastructure in district Nankana Sahib to facilitate visits of Sikh pilgrims and other tourists. We will continue to liaise with the relevant authorities in Pakistan to follow up the matter.”

Thanking the PM and the Government of Pakistan to concede to his demand, Pannu said he was delighted by the letter. He informed that he went to Pakistan on a pilgrimage to Nankana Sahib in 1996 when he saw the pitiable condition of the grave of Rai Bular Khan.

Narrating his experience, he said “When I visited the grave, the women were making dung cakes and cattle were tied to the trees of the graveyard. I met the family members of Rai Sahib and requested them to maintain the spot gracefully. A member of the family said Rai Sahib had given 750 murrabas of land to Guru Nanak Sahib and why cant Sikhs maintain it themselves now”.

Throwing light on the life of Rai Bular, Pannu said he was a landlord of Rai Bhoi village, now known as Nankana Sahib. He owned 1500 murrabs land in 6 villages. “He was the one who recognised the powerful spirit in Guru Nanak when he was very young. He possessed everything but no successor. At the age of 13, Guru Nanak prayed for him and his wife gave birth to a son. Rai arranged a grand lunch for the neighbouring villagers. Overwhelmed, Rai announced to transfer half of his property in the name of Guru Nanak. This land is in the title of Guru Nanak till date,” he further added.

[chatanga1]

A member of the family said Rai Sahib had given 750 murrabas of land to Guru Nanak Sahib and why cant Sikhs maintain it themselves now”.

Overwhelmed, Rai announced to transfer half of his property in the name of Guru Nanak.

I dont think that is true. When Maharaja Ranjit Singh went to Guru Nanak Dev Ji birthplace, he saw that there was practically nothing there to commemorate Guru Ji's birth. He then gave the land himself.