Gurudwara Sangat Tola

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A collapsed section of the Gurdwara that urgently needs repairs.

Gurdwara Sangat Tola associated with a visit by Guru Tegh Bahadur, the 9th Guru of the Sikhs at 14 Sreesh Das Lane of Bangla Bazar. Guru Tegh Bahadur, who stayed for two years (1666-68) stopping over in Dhaka on his return from Assam. The Guru and his devotees had accompanied a force of Mughal Soldiers dispatched to Assam. Guruji's assistance averted hostilities between Assam and Mughal Hindustan.

On his way to Assam his local followers had received him with great affection. They built the two storied structure of the Gurdwara especially for his stay. Sikh devotees visited him in hundreds every day listening to the kirtan and holy discourses. Some hand written manuscripts of the holy Granth Sahib and a portrait of Guru Tegh Bahadur done by an artist of his time and some epistles sent by Guru Gobind Singh have been discovered at the shrine.

Gurdwara Sangat Tola in 14, Sorees Das in Bangla Bazar, Dacca marks the place where Guru Tegh Bahadur resided and held congregation during his stay in Dacca. On the retirement of Granthi Bhai Ram Singh, who had served the shrine from 1895 to 29th January 1939, his son Bhai Kirpal Singh was appointed Granthi. While he left in the wake of Partition, his mother Kanchan Devi, continued to look after the Gurdwara (She was popularly called Shikker Ma mother of the Sikh). But she, too, had to flee to join his son in Calcutta when the Pakistan military government started its reign of terror. The Gurdwara fell into disuse until in early 1972 when a Sikh soldier was deputed, temporarily, to serve it. He left when his unit moved back to India.

At present, these two Gurdwaras are being maintained by Bangla Desh Gurdwaras Management Board, attached to Takht Sri Patna Sahib. Captain Bhag Singh was its first indefatigable general secretary.

Gurdwara Sangat Tola (Dhaka)..jpg

There used to be another memorial to Guru Nanak Dev in Dacca, a well, which was blessed by the Guru. It is mentioned in Dacca district Gazetteer, Calcutta, 1912.

There used to be an annual fair here in the month the Chet (March-april). There is however no trace of it now. The site is now covered with residential building near the present Dhan Mandi (paddy market).

Baba Sukha Singh ji and sangat in Gurdwara Sangat Tola (Dhaka).jpg
Baba Sukha Singh ji and sangat in the Darbar Sahib of Gurdwara Sangat Tola (Dhaka)..jpg

Buidling of Gurdwara Sangat Tola, Bangla Bazar, where the 9th Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji stayed for two years, during his Dhaka sojourn, is very dilapidated. Bangladesh Gurdwara Management Board with the active cooperation of the local committee have decided to construct a new building in its place. It also decided to grant the request of Sant Baba Sukha Singh, chief of Kar Sewa Sampardai Sarhali (Amritsar) to render his services for the construction of the new building Kar Sewa. Sant Baba Sukha Singh was then invited to visit Bangladesh and inspect the site.

In August 2005 Baba Sukha Singh along with his jatha visited Dhaka where he, after visiting the Gurdwaras, had a discussion with Shri Suresh Kumar, and the local Sangat regarding the construction of the new building of Gurdwara Sangat Tola. It was decided to evacuate the families from the Gurdwara's premises, who were illegally staying there, before the work for the construction starts. Baba Sukha Singh Ji then asked Shri Suresh Kumar to talk to the concerned families so that they are evacuated at the earliest and the Kar Sewa is started. Baba Sukha Singh along with his jatha again visited Bangladesh in March 2006 to see the work going on there. In the meantime, Granthis and Sevadars sent by Baba Sukha Singh Ji are performing the day to day religious functions at Gurdwara Nanakshashi, Gurdwara Sangat Tola, Gurdwara Chowk Bazar, Chittagong and Gurdwara Pahar Tali, Chittagong. It is expected that Kar Sewa of Gurdwara Sangat Tola Bangla Bazar Dhaka will start soon.