In a remarkable display of religious harmony and ancestral devotion, Baba Harjit Singh Rasulpur, the eighth descendant of Nihang Baba Fakir Singh Khalsa, is set to organise a langar during the consecration ceremony of Bhagwan Ram in Ayodhya on January 22. This event comes 165 years after his ancestor’s historic capture of Ayodhya’s Babri Masjid in 1858, an incident etched in history when 25 Nihang Singhs led by Baba Fakir Singh Khalsa raided the Mughal mosque built over Bhagwan Ram’s birthplace.
Sharing the family’s long-standing tradition of devotion to Bhagwan Ram, Rasulpur revealed that in November 1858, Baba Fakir Singh Khalsa and his Nihang Singh companions inscribed ‘Ram Ram’ on the walls of the mosque and hoisted a saffron flag. The audacious act, aimed at reclaiming the sacred site, resulted in the Awadh police booking them on November 30 of the same year based on a complaint by a mosque officer (muezzin). This historic event is documented even in the Supreme Court’s verdict of November 9, 2019, underlining its significance in the chronicles of Ayodhya.
Defying attempts to drive a wedge between Sikhs and Hindus, Baba Harjit Singh Rasulpur, who claims equal faith in Sanatana Dharma and Sikhism, emphasised that the first FIR for reclaiming the Ram temple was not against a Hindu group but a Sikh one. Describing himself as an apolitical bearer of eternal traditions, Rasulpur stated that he has faced criticism for maintaining the link between Nihangs and Sanatana Dharma. As an Amritdhari who wears a garland of rudraksha, he embodies a unique blend of Sikh and Hindu spiritual practices.
The upcoming langar organised by Rasulpur during the consecration ceremony of Bhagwan Ram is a testament to the enduring connection between the Nihang Sikh community and their devotion to the Hindu deity. The langar, a Sikh community kitchen known for providing free meals to all, symbolises the values of selfless service and communal harmony. This event is expected to draw participants from diverse religious backgrounds, fostering a spirit of unity and shared reverence for Bhagwan Ram.
As the nation eagerly awaits the Consecration ceremony in Ayodhya, the presence of Baba Harjit Singh Rasulpur and his langar stands out as a living testament to the rich tapestry of India’s religious heritage, where traditions are intertwined, and communities find strength in diversity.
