People sensitive to history and heritage are looking up to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandak Committee (SGPC) as well as the Punjab Government to play this important role. They have reacted with outrage and disbelief to the ripping apart of the exquisite 19th-century craftsmanship, a result of the re-golding Kar Seva by the Guru Nanak Nishkam Jatha, Birmingham. The situation becomes more ironic with the Anandpur Sahib Foundation recently inserting an advertisement in national dailies for acquisition of objects related to Sikh history. On theone hand, museums are being planned and built to preserve history; on the other, living monumental history is being erased. To give those responsible for the damage the benefit of doubt, perhaps it is happening out of a lack of awareness.

A significant example of a very important historical site in the Golden Temple being re-built instead of being restored is that of the Ramgarhia Bunga, a pre-Ranjit Singh structure. Sikh scholar Patwant Singh, in an essay, The Golden Temple in Arts of the Sikh Kingdoms edited by Susan Stronge, curator in the Indian and South-East Asian Department of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, writes: ``The misl chiefs built imposing bungas (mansions) round the Durbar Sahib to house themselves and their retinues whenever they visited the shrine, and these could also serve as defensive bastions in times of war. Most of these were completed by the end of the 19th century.''

The widening of the corridor plan by the government in the late Eighties to check furtherterrorist activity in the Golden Temple Complex led to the demolition of many of these mansions. The Ramgarhia Bunga adjoining the parikarma is the only surviving mansion. However, it was given a crude make-over in a recent renovation by the Ramgarhia Federation, with the approval of the SGPC, which has autonomous control over the complex by the Gurdwara Act, 1925. The watch-towers damaged, sadly, during Operation Bluestar in 1984, have instead of being restored been rebuilt without following the original pattern and painted an odious pink which in no way synchronises with the white and gold symphony of architecture in the Complex. The next threat is to the arched entrance of the bunga with a plan to widen the parikarma.

When a conservation architect pointed out the relevance of this structure to a member of the Ramgarhia Federation, the member said they would preserve a few bricks as nishani (memento). And this has been the pattern in rebuilding gurdwaras in Punjab while decorating them with marble andbathroom tiles. It is not the keepsake of a few bricks but the grandeur of the entire structure and its periodicity which makes for heritage. Another reaction by the Federation member was, ``Madam, you don't know. We would like to build a 55-story mansion here just as they have them abroad.''

A reaction understood only in the context of foreign money and the urge to ape the West. Patwant Singh points out, ``All we are interested in building are high-rise five star hotels. We forget that foreigners come here and stay in these hotels for comfort but they come to see heritage sites. If we have no heritage left, there will be nothing to see.''

Meanwhile, the beautification of the corridor has meant use of cement plasters, following the style of modern shopping plazas in the West. At the same time, two sides of the Complex are used as dumping ground for debris and garbage. Rai points out, ``The principle of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is to have a No-Development Zone of 200 metres around aheritage site and 100 metres of a special regulated zone.''

The history of Harimandir Sahib is one of turbulence and it was re-built several times. The damage during Operation Bluestar in 1984 was most unfortunate. This leads the community to argue against any plea for preservation with, ``Well, didn't the Government damage the Temple?''

However, the issue is not of government damaging this and thus the SGPC being free to damage that. The question is of preservation and restoration. It is towards this goal that the various organisations and powers should direct their energy. What is required is that guidelines be laid down and experts be included in restoration and conservation when any project is taken up. The spirit of kar seva (voluntary service) in the community is amazing and unparalleled. This should be harnessed for the preservation of heritage. Anandpur-based scholar and poet Minder says, ``Heritage and history have been plundered in the name of Kar Seva. Architectural beauties were demolished andreplaced by obnoxious structures paved with marble and decorated with bathroom tiles.'' For Kar Seva to be meaningful, there must be guidelines. Otherwise, there will be anarchy. There should be re-thinking not just for the Golden Temple Complex but for gurdwaras all over the country in this the 300th year of the celebrations of the Khalsa.