CHANDIGARH, JULY 13: With the acquisition of artefacts for display in the Khalsa Heritage Memorial Complex scheduled to begin shortly, the Anandpur Sahib Foundation has sought the help of the Delhi-based National Institute of Punjab Studies for authentication of various objects traditionally associated with Sikh history.The aim is specially to get artefacts in the possession of private individuals, who display them for the faithful as objects of veneration, authenticated. They include the famous chola of the sixth Sikh pontificate Guru Hargobind, which is with a family at Daroli Bhai in Ferozepur district. According to tradition, the chola has 52 stitches, which were tugged at by various kings to come out of the Gwalior prison where they were lodged.The Anandpur Sahib foundation has now written to the National Institute of Punjab Studies, headed by former finance minister Manmohan Singh, seeking the help of experts, particularly historians and those associated with the history of art, to grant some of these artefacts a certificate of authenticity.``It is after authentication that we will try to procure these items'', says P S Bhopal of the foundation.The Anandpur Sahib foundation has identified 20 sources of holy relics for collection. They include private parties, state archives and universities. Important artefacts in private collections include the khanda used by 10th pontificate Guru Gobind Singh for preparation of amrit and was given to Shiam Singh along with a sword. It is still with the family at Anandpur Sahib.The toshakhana in Faridkot has a shield of Guru Gobind Singh. Gurdwara Siropao Nabha has a turban of Guru Gobind Singh's, traditionally associated with the battle of Bhangani. Gurdwara Dhillwan Kalan in Faridkot has a blue chola of Guru Gobind Singh's, while Gurdwara Meon Sahib in Jalandhar has the wedding dress of the fifth Sikh pontificate, Guru Arjun Dev.Among the other collections, Gali Takher Dwara Quila Bhagian at Amritsar has an absa, a wooden stick covered with silvered plates of the seventh Sikh pontificate, Gur Har Rai. Sur Singh Jhabal of Amritsar has a copy of the Adi Granth, done at Kartarpur by Bhai Bidhi Chand.Some private collectors have offered their collections for the Khalsa Memorial Complex. Retired Indian Revenue Service officer S S Hitkari has offered his collection of rare 18th century paintings - some of them dating back to the time of Guru Gobind Singh - to the Anandpur Sahib Foundation. He has claimed that he possesses some phulkaris associated with Sikh history.The decision on acquisition, however, will depend on the recommendation of a panel of experts on the value of items. An earlier offering for the collection came from a Ludhiana-based group, which claimed to possess some old coins. However, the committee decided that they were not rare and set the price at much less than what was sought by the group.
