The Indian Government is contemplating reopening the Kartarpur Sahib Gurudwara corridor to Pakistan after a 20-month Covid-19 pandemic-induced closure. The reopening is planned for November 19, 2021, which coincides with the birth anniversary of Sikhism’s founder Guru Nanak, known as Gurpurab or “Prakash Parv”.
Significance of the Corridor
The corridor plays an integral role as one of the limited new initiatives taken between India and Pakistan amidst strained relationships. Tensions rose post-2019 due to the Pulwama attack, Balakot strikes, and the decision to alter Article 370 on Jammu and Kashmir, leading to diplomats’ recall and cancellation of trade relations on both sides. The project also stands out because visa-free “human corridors” are generally employed during emergencies like refugee crises or humanitarian disasters rather than for pilgrimages.
About the Kartarpur Corridor
Connecting the Darbar Sahib Gurdwara in the Narowal district of Pakistan with the Dera Baba Nanak shrine in the Gurdaspur district of India’s Punjab province, the Kartarpur corridor was constructed to mark the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism, on November 12, 2019.
Guru Nanak Dev and His Teachings
Guru Nanak Dev Jayanti is celebrated on a full-moon day in the Katak month to honor the birth of Guru Nanak Dev (1469-1539). He was a strong proponent of the ‘Nirguna’ form of Bhakti and rejected practices such as sacrifices, ritual baths, image worship, austerities, and the scriptures of both Hindus and Muslims. He established rules for congregational worship (Sangat) which involved collective recitation.
Guru Nanak Dev appointed one of his disciples, Angad, to succeed him as the guru, a practice followed for approximately 200 years. The fifth preceptor, Guru Arjan, compiled Baba Guru Nanak’s hymns along with those of his four successors and other religious poets like Baba Farid, Ravidas (also known as Raidas), and Kabir, into the Adi Granth Sahib. These hymns, referred to as ‘Gurbani’, are composed in different languages.
Kartarpur Gurudwara
Situated about 4km across the border from India, the Kartarpur gurudwara is a revered shrine where Guru Nanak spent the last 18 years of his life. This location holds an emotionally resonant place in the hearts of Sikh worshippers and plays a significant role in Sikh religious practices. The reopening of the corridor will provide Sikh pilgrims with a cherished opportunity to visit this sacred site once again.
