AMRITSAR: While Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) will observe death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh on Sunday, monuments related to him in Amritsar - Burj Vaniake, where the ruler used to stay and even hold his durbar, and Pul Kanjari, where nautch girl Moran used to entertain him, largely remain neglected by the government
. Pul Kanjari has been preserved with private efforts, but Burj Vaniake's little fort-like structure is in dilapidated condition and could cave in any day. Once a lively township, Pul Kanjri, about 35km from Amritsar, was built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh and has a "baradari", a "baoli" (bathing pool), a temple, a gurdwara and a mosque. Legend has it that Moran, a nautch girl from Makhanpur, would entertain Maharaja Ranjit Singh with her dances whenever the Sikh ruler would stay at the "baradari". Once on her way from Lahore, she lost her shoe in the canal, which used to provide irrigation water to the king's orchards in Shalimar Bagh, Lahore. When Maharaja Ranjit Singh came to know that his favourite nautch girl was upset after losing her footwear, he ordered construction of a bridge (pul) across the canal. Since then, the place is known as Pul Kanjari. Shiv Singh, a resident, said that sometimes, tourists visit the place but there was no arrangement or facilities for them. "Maharaja Ranjit Singh was the bravest of all rulers and government should make it a lively place in his honour," he observed. Another resident, Darshan Singh, said that tourists get harassed there was no one to give them any information. "Many a time, we offer them water, which is otherwise duty of the government," he said. Burj Vaniake stands at Vaniake village near Attari. "The two-and-a-half storey building is unique as it has 12 sides but unfortunately its preservation is not on government's priority list," said historian Surinder Kochhar. Residents of the village don't know beyond that Maharaja Ranjit Singh used to stay in this citadel and hold his durbar. "We have heard from our elders that Maharaja Ranjit Singh used to stay here but we don't know much about it," said Vaniake resident Surinder Singh. Kochhar said that the Maharaja had once fallen seriously ill during his stay at Vaniake. "History books have the mention of Maharaja Ranjit Singh often staying at Vaniake on way to Gurdaspur from Lahore," he said. He said that during the British regime, the Burj was used by them for various purposes. SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar said that bhog of Akhand Path in memory of Maharaja Ranjit Singh would be performed in Sunday. He also stressed on preserving memories of the great legend who once ruled Punjab. Former president of PSGPC Bishan Singh opined that SGPC and PSGPC should make joint efforts with help of their respective governments to conserve all places related to the maharaja.
