If Kartarpur happens, Why not Sharda Peeth?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dura Europos Church (Syria), Etchmiadzin Cathedral ( Armenia), Aqaba Church (Jordan), Church of Holy Sepulchre (Jerusalem), Church of Nativity (Bethlehem), Hagia Sophia (Istanbul/ Constantinople/ Byzantium), The Holy Kaaba (Mecca), Quba Mosque (Medina), Al Aqsa Mosque( Jerusalem) , Jannat-al-Baqi (Medina), Cheraman Mosque (Kerala), Hazrat bal Shrine (Kashmir), Temple Mount (Jerusalem), El Ghriba Synagogue (Tunisia) , Ben Ezra Synagogue (Cairo), Old New Synagogue (Prague).

 

 

Mentioned above are some of the holiest, ancient, revered and historical places of faith and worship for three of the world’s largest Abrahamic faiths (Christianity and Islam also being the largest and second largest religions of the world, respectively) Now, apart from everything the element of our interest among these structures or sites is that some among them stood functional to their adherents and worshippers even in the worst times of war and geopolitical tensions, some are not in function now but still have their heritage and memory preserved through various Institutions and Universities like the Ben Ezra Synagogue , many like Dura Europos Church, which are presently in ruins but there’s a series of archaeological endeavours and networks of global intelligentsia pumping air to its historicity and keeping its significance intact, some like Hagia Sophia who have faced several transitions in its official status but still their architecture stands firm on the face of earth.

 

 

But, the common factor among all of them is that by any means possible the people to whom these structures stand as symbols of identity and heritage were able to keep a connect with them at minimum; it didn’t get separated from them into oblivion; something which has been the case with the Sharda. Sharda Peeth is not just important for over a billion adherents of world’s third largest faith Hinduism as one of the 18 highly revered Maha Shakti Peeths. But it was also what one would describe in Western terminology as “one of the foremost Temple Universities” in the Indian Subcontinent”.

 

 

Situated barely 10 kms from the Line of Control , which divides Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir but due to geopolitical tensions combined with the government’s apathy on the other side these 10 kms appear to be a million miles for those whose eyes long to see it live.

 

 

People must understand that in these modern times specifically, it’s an undeclared global human moral that even in the worst of crisis the iconic places of religion and heritage are always best attempted to not be caught ‘between the fire’ they are always preserved and the pilgrims are always allowed as far as possible.

 

 

Morocco, despite not having any formal relations with the state of Israel and not having any significant Jewish population left, it is attempting to rejuvenate its synagogues which are parts of its Jewish Heritage.

 

 

Despite the tension between Iran and Saudi Arabia, Iranians can still go for Hajj. Just imagine the uproar in the global and Islamic community if Israel were to permanently shut down the Al Aqsa Mosque. Even in the worst of times, Arabs can go there to pray at the Al Aqsa Mosque.

 

 

There is a constant demand for ancient churches and synagogues; some in ruins and others still functional, to be accredited UNESCO heritage site.

 

 

International government bodies and the government of Pakistan must realise that the Sharda Peeth may be in ruins today but for an entire community of Hindus, the Kashmiri Pandits and many South Indian Hindu communities, it’s what temple Mount is to Jews, what Holy See is to Roman Catholics and Mecca-Medina to Muslims.

 

 

Both India and Pakistan are members of UN; both the countries formally recognise each other and have maintained formal diplomatic missions to one another. Then, it’s really a pity that several times formal inter-Governmental plans to initiate cross LoC pilgrimage for the Sharda Peeth have resulted into nothing. Lastly, sites like Sharda Peeth are a collective mankind heritage. It’s for all of us to see that we don’t let it to be lost into oblivion, and the very first and crucial step towards that will be to allow an easy passage for its pilgrims. Kartarpur corridor opening should be an eye-opener to the hawks on both sides. If Kartarpur can happen, why not Sharda Peeth!