Gurdwara Bangla Sahib.....
I read on someones blog about the Gurdwara Bangla Sahib, and the comments posted in regards to it. I also posted comments part of which comes from the write up that I am going to post below.......................
My dad who lives in New Delhi, used to tell me when I was in my teens that when he was a teenager, the buses used to pass right in front of the Gurdwara Bangla Sahib, where there are stairs now to enter the Gurdwara and it was a road where there is scooter parking lot now. I think it must have been late 50’s early 60’s he must be talking about. All my life when I was in India, I used to visit Gurdwara Bangla Sahib very frequently (in the 90’s) until in 1998 when I moved to Canada.
Over the period of time, the Gurdwara management has to keep up with the remodeling and restructuring of the compound to accommodate the vast number of people visiting the Gurdwara. In that event they utilized the land surrounding the gurdwara to build new structures, bought the school adjacent to the Gurdwara to expand the Darbar Hall. When I last visited in 2003, there was a multi level underground parking being built in front of the Gurdwara. It is good that the Gurdwara management is keeping pace with the changing time and taking action to get ready for the future. Of course, the number of people visiting in 50’s and 60’s has increased many folds in the present time.
According to my Dad, in 50’s and 60’s it was a whole lot greener than it was in 80’s and 90’s when I started going to the Gurdwara. And I guess I’ll say the same that it was a lot greener in 80’s and 90’s than it is now. The floor outside the Gurdwara Bangla Sahib and around the Sarovar in 80’s and before, was mostly made of Black marble / stone (as it was not that bad during that time) and as Gurdwara management were aware of the fact that Black marble / stone gets really very hot, they have now changed it to mostly white marble. But it is still hot and I agree with this fact, but they have done their best. I have also seen sevadars spraying buckets of water on the floor around the Sarovar and at the entrance of the Darbad Hall to keep it cool. In order for people to prevent from slipping they have put rugs on which people walk.
But it is not just the loss of greenery due to the expansion of Gurdwara that is contributing to the rising temperatures in Delhi. It is a Global effect that is evident from the facts that the temperatures has become more extreme, i.e. colder climates has seen sever cold and warmer places has witnessed more heat than usual and a lot of the parts has seen droughts with annual rainfall way below what it normally used to be. It is America not honoring the Koyoto accord, China to compete with other countries not enforcing the pollution control laws, Indian manufaturers to keep the cost of production low restoring to illegal means to manufacture goods, that all contribute to the Global warming.
In India besides the remodelling and construction for the Gurdwaras, look at the large amount of construction going on to reap the profits by selling those new flats, shops and houses. Look at the amount of motor vehicles people drive in there. All are not as per the pollution standards operable. People get their vehicle certified and get the pollution under control certificate for a small amount without fixing the problem. There are industries that do not follow the pollution control board (PCB) recommendations. They still use the old methods for manufacturing goods there by polluting the environment by emission of controlled gasses and other by products dumped in the water. Officials from PCB when go about inspecting, you know what happens… bribes and all…. They have been able to close a lot of such industries, but still a lot are out there polluting…
My point is it is good that Gurdwara Bangla Sahib and other Gurdwaras are keeping pace with the increasing numbers of devotees by making suitable changes and new construction. Yes, in that event, they should also replace at least some of the trees that they cut. But I see it this way that it is a lot better than downtowns of a lot of cities in the world, where you cant even have a look at any natural vegetation. It is all concrete jungle. Again, these are my views and I'm not arguing on any thing.
My dad who lives in New Delhi, used to tell me when I was in my teens that when he was a teenager, the buses used to pass right in front of the Gurdwara Bangla Sahib, where there are stairs now to enter the Gurdwara and it was a road where there is scooter parking lot now. I think it must have been late 50’s early 60’s he must be talking about. All my life when I was in India, I used to visit Gurdwara Bangla Sahib very frequently (in the 90’s) until in 1998 when I moved to Canada.
Over the period of time, the Gurdwara management has to keep up with the remodeling and restructuring of the compound to accommodate the vast number of people visiting the Gurdwara. In that event they utilized the land surrounding the gurdwara to build new structures, bought the school adjacent to the Gurdwara to expand the Darbar Hall. When I last visited in 2003, there was a multi level underground parking being built in front of the Gurdwara. It is good that the Gurdwara management is keeping pace with the changing time and taking action to get ready for the future. Of course, the number of people visiting in 50’s and 60’s has increased many folds in the present time.
According to my Dad, in 50’s and 60’s it was a whole lot greener than it was in 80’s and 90’s when I started going to the Gurdwara. And I guess I’ll say the same that it was a lot greener in 80’s and 90’s than it is now. The floor outside the Gurdwara Bangla Sahib and around the Sarovar in 80’s and before, was mostly made of Black marble / stone (as it was not that bad during that time) and as Gurdwara management were aware of the fact that Black marble / stone gets really very hot, they have now changed it to mostly white marble. But it is still hot and I agree with this fact, but they have done their best. I have also seen sevadars spraying buckets of water on the floor around the Sarovar and at the entrance of the Darbad Hall to keep it cool. In order for people to prevent from slipping they have put rugs on which people walk.
But it is not just the loss of greenery due to the expansion of Gurdwara that is contributing to the rising temperatures in Delhi. It is a Global effect that is evident from the facts that the temperatures has become more extreme, i.e. colder climates has seen sever cold and warmer places has witnessed more heat than usual and a lot of the parts has seen droughts with annual rainfall way below what it normally used to be. It is America not honoring the Koyoto accord, China to compete with other countries not enforcing the pollution control laws, Indian manufaturers to keep the cost of production low restoring to illegal means to manufacture goods, that all contribute to the Global warming.
In India besides the remodelling and construction for the Gurdwaras, look at the large amount of construction going on to reap the profits by selling those new flats, shops and houses. Look at the amount of motor vehicles people drive in there. All are not as per the pollution standards operable. People get their vehicle certified and get the pollution under control certificate for a small amount without fixing the problem. There are industries that do not follow the pollution control board (PCB) recommendations. They still use the old methods for manufacturing goods there by polluting the environment by emission of controlled gasses and other by products dumped in the water. Officials from PCB when go about inspecting, you know what happens… bribes and all…. They have been able to close a lot of such industries, but still a lot are out there polluting…
My point is it is good that Gurdwara Bangla Sahib and other Gurdwaras are keeping pace with the increasing numbers of devotees by making suitable changes and new construction. Yes, in that event, they should also replace at least some of the trees that they cut. But I see it this way that it is a lot better than downtowns of a lot of cities in the world, where you cant even have a look at any natural vegetation. It is all concrete jungle. Again, these are my views and I'm not arguing on any thing.
posted by Sifar at
3/19/2006 10:51:00 AM
2 Comments:
I agree, it would be great to see some more greenery. Its good for the air to
By
Otpreka Singh, at 3/19/2006 3:14 PM
Expansion of Gurdwara leading to Delhi warming! This is most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. You are right about tree planting. Whenever my kids want to help the environment, I ask them to help me in the garden. Great way to get your work done and help the environment! We don't need to go to Amazon.
By
SikhsRus, at 3/20/2006 2:38 AM
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