Gurdwara nanak niwas

Gurdwara is an integral part of the Sikh society. Wherever the Sikhs went in the world, the first institution they ever established after making arrangements for their living and shelter was always a gurdwara. It was so because the gurdwara was not only a source to meet their religious needs but it was also a center of their cultural, social, and political activities. Outside India, in the beginning, gurdwaras not only met the collective needs of the Sikh community but also played a multi-dimensional role as multi-purpose organizations for all Indians including Hindus, Muslims and Parsis. For the purpose of research in the history of the Canadian Sikhs, the old record of the first gurdwara is the only most important and most authentic historical source today. So, It would not be an exaggeration to say that the history of the Sikhs in Canada can never be separated from the history of the Gurdwaras.

Gurdwara Nanak Niwas 8600, No. 5 Road, Richmond is the third stage of the historical journey of gurdwaras of Vancouver. 

The first stage was the gurdwara at 1866, 2nd Ave. Vancouver and the second stage was gurdwara at 8000 Ross Street, Vancouver. We will try here to give brief stage-wise information of how Sikhs from Punjab or say India, went to Burma, Malaya, Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai (China), Australia, and other countries of Africa in search of better living and a better future. According to new research, the first group of Sikhs came to Golden, B.C. through America in the 1880s but went back after a few years.

Then in 1897 three Sikh army men came to Canada as part of a military regiment to take part in the golden jubilee celebrations of Queen Victoria. But intending to work and stay here, the first group of Sikhs came to Vancouver in 1903. By 1906 the number of the Sikhs who came here in small groups and worked in lumber mills reached up to a few hundred. Sant Teja Singh double M.A. mentioned in his book, “Life Story of Sant Attar Singh’ that the Sikhs who were working in the Millside Lumber Mill were used to recite Shabad’ at night with the music of Dholki and Chimta to get rid of the tiredness of their day-long hard working and were used to hold late night assemblies (Diwan) on weekends. Waryam Singh, who came from Shanghai, brought with him some musical instruments and a small-sized copy of Guru Granth Sahib. During these days some of the Sikhs made arrangements for their dwelling in Vancouver city. They rented a place and temporarily established a gurdwara there. The Sikhs living on the Vancouver side were used to recite Shabad and to do Path from Panj Granthi because they didn’t have any copy of Guru Granth Sahib. Despite their small number they established a committee for the management of gurdwara and other related purposes.

Indian newcomers were given shelter and other help without any kind of discrimination in the gurdwara. In the absence of a permanent and whole-timer priest, clean-up arrangements were not so good. Due to that, the city doctors ordered to close it.

But after, A short period another neat and clean place was rented and the gurdwara was re-established. Now, the Sikhs decided to buy some land and establish a gurdwara permanently.

Bhai Arjun Singh of village Malik, district Ludhiana bought some land for the gurdwara in Port Moody. But as it was far away from Vancouver, it was sold and landed on 2nd Ave. Vancouver was bought. To raise funds for the construction of the gurdwara, to buy materials, and to make other arrangements, a seven-member committee was formed. Discussions were held about the building, some people were of the view that the building should be a single-story building but Bhai Chanan Singh Chakar suggested that the building would be a double story and said that he would pay double of his share. A resolution for a double-story building was passed. Each of the Sikhs made a maximum contribution. In October 1907 a contract for the building was given and by the end of that month, construction work was started by laying the foundation stone. During this time a full-sized copy of Guru Granth Sahib reached here with the efforts of Bhai Arjun Singh Building was completed by January 1908. Khalsa Diwan Society held a huge congregation in it. assembly at the rented building gurdwara and the inauguration of the new gurdwara was planned there several resolutions were passed One of the resolutions was to bring Guru Granth Sahib to the new gurdwara with great respect, pomp, and show in the form of a parade (Nagar Kirtan). One of the resolutions was about making special arrangements for benches/ chairs and tables as per the tradition of this country because non-Sikhs were also expected to come.