Dubai: Sikhs in the UAE believe that the creation of the Kartarpur corridor is a “dream come true” for the community, fulfilled by the Indian and Pakistani authorities.
Two days after the foundation stone for the religious corridor between India and Pakistan was laid in India, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan laid the foundation stone in Kartarpur for the passageway joining Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, the final resting place of Guru Nanak Dev in Pakistan, to Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur, India.
The move would greatly help ease the flow of devotees, between the countries, travelling to the shrines.
Sikhs living in the UAE
“The entire Sikh community is very happy with this initiative taken by the Indian and Pakistan governments. We are looking forward to a very promising future,” said Surender Singh Kandhari, chairman of the Gurudwara Guru Nanak Darbar Sikh Temple in Dubai.
The entire Sikh community is very happy with this initiative taken by the Indian and Pakistan governments. We are looking forward to a very promising future.
The Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur shrine is highly sacred amongst the followers of the Sikh religion. It is where the religion’s founder, Guru Nanak spent his last days.
“It’s a very important place. If people in India can go to Kartarpur without any difficulty and carry out their pilgrimage, it will be great,” the Indian national said.
Kandhari has previously visited the shrine in Pakistan, over 10 years ago. “The process that time wasn’t very difficult but recently, it got tougher to get there,” he said.
Remembering his visit, he said: “We received a very warm welcome. The people there [in Pakistan] were very hospitable and we got the highest of respect from everybody. I’d love to again.”
“I have many nostalgic memories of my visit. There was a water well drying up at the site. I decided to fund it from Dubai to get back to shape and water soon started flowing into it,” he added.
Kandhari believes that the move will ease people’s flow between the two nations. “I have many Pakistani friends that I enjoy the company of, why can’t I do it there [in Pakistan]?”
Jasdeep Sahni is a Dubai resident and Indian national who has previously been to Pakistan to visit Sikh shrines and believes that the move is “a very positive step”.
Sahni had been to Nankana Sahib, a city in Punjab, Pakistan which is named after the first Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Nanak, who was born in the city as well as first began preaching there.
“It was a very warm feeling and the people were welcoming. I had misconceptions and predisposed notions but that changed once I visited the country,” Sahni said.
He said that he resonated with the people of Pakistan after his visit. “They are regular people, like anybody, like any Indian,” he said.
The development of the Kartarpur corridor comes ahead of Guru Nanak’s 550th birth anniversary that will be marked next year.
“Once it opens up, the people who have always been wanting to go will finally get a chance,” Sahni said.
Once it opens up, the people who have always been wanting to go will finally get a chance.
Each year, a limited number of Indian Sikh pilgrims are allotted visas to visit Pakistan to celebrate the birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak. The visa-free access would ease the process for such Sikh devotees.
Speaking about the future, Sahni said: “I hope that this move sticks around. Efforts have been made previously but it hasn’t lasted.”
Simran Sawhney, a homemaker living in Sharjah has similar sentiments. She believes that the move will shape the lives of future generations.
“The move is good for both mine and the upcoming generations. With easier access, they would be able to know more about the place, the religion and about Guru Nanak,” she said.
Sawhney has not been to Pakistan previously, however, wishes to visit one day. “In the future, if I get the opportunity, I will definitely visit. I’ll take my three daughters as well,” she said.
Whereas, the founder of Lama Hospitality Group, Kulwant Singh said that he never visited Pakistan because of “fear and hesitation” that came with the process.
“I did not want to get questioned at the border and I have heard stories from friends of having difficulty coming back,” the Indian national said.
However, after hearing about the Kartarpur initiative put in place, Singh said: “I feel excited and happy. It’s a dream come true for any Sikh wishing to pay their respects at sacred shrines.”
The 40-year-old thought the concept of having a ‘corridor’ was unique. “We live in a world of borders and boundaries, having a corridor between these nations is fascinating,” he said.
He believes that the move should be an example to the rest of the world and it is an important event in history. “Besides the religious importance it has, it is a historical move,” Singh said.
Besides the religious importance it has, it is a historical move.
Speaking about Sikhs living in the UAE, he said: “We live in a such a tolerant nation with more than 200 nationalities living here and people coming from all backgrounds, we forget the luxury of not being signified by our cultural or religious backgrounds. I hope to see that everywhere one day.”
