GURDWARA HISTORY

In the 1930's there was a size able Sikh community residing around Batu Gajah, Perak. They were concentrated in the north, off Jalan Pusing (a place they often referred to as d), in the south at fourth mile along Jalan Tanjung Tualang, and at the east in Kampung Serani, Jalan Gopeng. Some were employed in the numerous tin mines in the area, while others were cattle farmers providing milk to the community or owned either bullock carts or horse carts which fulfilled the transport needs of the residents of the town in general. The nearest Gurdwaras at that time were located some 2-3 km from the centre of town in Desa Changkat (formerly also known as Indian Settlement), and some 5-6 km north in Pusing.

The need to have a Gurdwara in town further increased when Sikh brethrens who arrived at night by train from either the North and South Malaysia or Singapore had to spend a night in front of a Hindu temple (Sri Swami Subramaniyar) as no taxi or bus services were available during the night. They could therefore only meet up with their families, relatives and friends in Tanjung Tualang, Changkat Tin, Tronoh, Siputeh, and Changkat the very next day. This also caused a lot of inconvenience to devotees at the Hindu Temple who found these sleeping travellers obstructing their entrance to the temple in the early hours of the morning.

Sardar Jawala Singh S/O Jewan Singh Bolewal and his fellow Sikh brothers in the transport community then proposed to build a Gurdwara Sahib in the vicinity of the railway station, which would not only provide a place for the travelers to spend a night comfortably but would also have adequate facilities, allowing them to wash-up in the morning and do their Nitnem without any disturbance.

Sardar Jawala Singh, who had two 2 plots of land, each held under CT: 11642 lot no 1124 in the vicinity of the railway station, offered one of the plots for the construction of the Gurdwara Sahib. This offer was readily accepted by their fellow Sikhs. Five trusties were then appointed to attend to the construction of the Gurdwara.

The first five trusties were

(i) Sardar Jawala Singh Bolewal,

(ii) Sardar Sundar Singh s/o Narain Singh,

(iii) Sardar Pall Singh s/o Rattan Singh Chender,

(iv) Sardar Puran Singh s/o Nasib Singh and

(v) Sardar Patham Singh @ H. Jaswant Singh s/o Hakam Singh.

Following the death of the last of the five trusties, on the 13th of March 1987, two new trusties were appointed. They were

(i) Sardar Joginder Singh s/o Sham Singh Momanwal and
(ii) Sardar Harbans Singh s/o Nand Singh Gehl.

Sardar Santa Singh s/o Khiva Singh Bolewal was appointed as the first Jathedar of the Gurdwara Sahib Jalan Gopeng. He was followed by Sardar Darshan Singh s/o Nand Singh Sandhu, sardar Ranjit Singh s/o Rattan Singh Thunda, and Sardar Joginder Singh Momanwali.

The current Jathedar is Ratan Singh s/o Ganda Singh Bolewal. The management community comprises of President,Vice President, Secretary, Vice Secretary, Treasurer, Vice Treasure, 7 members and 2 Internal Auditors.

Bhai Gurcharan Singh s/o Bhagat Singh Bolewal first served as a Granthi from early 1942 to August 1945. He continued his seva again on 15 January 1951 after completing his studies for Gianiship from Punjab University India till his death on 14 March 1966.

In between 1945 and 1951, Bhai Bhaktawar Singh Khera (September 1945-1947) and Gaini Ajab Singh Sangatpur (1947 to December 1950) served as Granthis at the Gurdwara.

During the service of late Bhai Gurcharan Singh, the children of the Sikh community around Batu Gajah were taught Gurmukhi every week day from 2.30pm to 5.00 pm. This service was continued after his demise by Gaini Ajaib Singh Sangatpur and then for a number of years afterwards by Gaini Bakhtawar Singh Khera.

After the demise of the late Bhai Gurcharan Singh, Sardar Karnail Singh Jamara served as a granthi until December 1967, and for a about one and half-years afterwards the family of late Bhai Gurcharan Singh continued the seva.

Bhai Gurbaksh Singh Badal, Bhai Naranjan Singh, Mata Satvinder Kaur, Dr. Surindermohan Singh, Gaini Fateh Singh too contributed their services to the Gurdwara Sahib in the following years.

The Gurdwara Sahib is currently being served by Gaini Lekhpal Singh .

In 1940, a single story wooden building with an attap roof was erected at its present site. The attap roof was later changed to zinc roof in 1952. Several renovations have taken place to this Gurdwara Sahib over the years. The wooden plank walls were replaced with bricks in 1973 at a cost of RM25,000.

Besides continuous improvements to the Gurdwara Sahib’s structure itself, quarters for the Granthi, langgar hall, langgar preparation hall (kitchen) and a guest room were built in 1975 at a cost of RM 70,000.

In 1996, at a sum of RM70,000 the langgar hall and langgar preparation hall (kitchen) were upgraded while the corridors were tiled. BRC and grills were also fitted in the langgar hall and kitchen. The langgar hall was further furnished with steel tables and benches.

There are currently 200 Sikhs families residing in this area and participating in the religious activities at the Gurdwara Sahib.

Apart from the religious programs held as and when necessary at the request of the Sikh sangat , monthly Sangrand programs are always held. If the Sangrand falls on weekends the program is held in the morning from 7.30-9.00 and if the Sangrand falls on a weekday the program is held in the evening from 7.00-9.30 followed by langgar. A program never missed by sangat from the day the Gurdwara was erected, is the Shaheedi Gurpurab of Guru Arjan Dev Ji, which is often marked with an Akand Path.