In Sikhism, Gurudawara MaalJee Sahib Kanganpur is one of the historic and sacred Gurdwaras of the Punjab. Gurdwara Mal Jee Sahib Kanganpur was constructed in 1939 A. D by the local Sikh followers of Guru Nanak Dev Jee.
About Gurudawara MaalJee Sahib Kanganpur
Here is an incomplete inscription written around entrance Door, probably reads as follows:
….ਦਾਸ ਬਾਕ ਰਾਏ ਗੁਰਦੁਬਾਰਾ ਭਾਈ ਫੇਰੁ ਨੇ ਬਾਕੀ ਸੇਬਾ ਸਾਰੇ ਆਲਾਕਿ ਦੀ ਸ: ਰਾਮ ਸਿੰਘ ਰਮਦਿ… ਸਿੰਘ
….
by the slave Bak Rai Gurdwara Bhai Pheru, the rest of service by the [people of the] region. S. Ram Singh Ramdi… Singh.
Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji along with Bahi Mardana stayed under a Waan tree at the site of Gurdwara Mal Jee Sahib Kanganpur. Gurdwara Mal Jee Sahib Kanganpur is originally a commemorative Gurdwara built in commemoration of the visit of Guru Nanak Dev Jee.
Stay of Baba Gurunanak
When Guru Nanak Dev Jee stayed here on kangan pur mound. The People scolded them rudely and harshly and the Children threw stones on Guru Nanak Dev Jee and Bahi Mardana.
While leaving Kanganpur mound, Guru Jee prayed for residents of Kanganpur. Guru Jee prayed in this way ‘ Shala Wasday Rawo’ and continued the journey. They reached village ‘ Manak Day Kay, 2 KM away from Kanganpur.
The people of Manak Day Kay were well mannered and well civilized. They warmly welcomed Guru Nanak Dev Jee. They served Guru Jee in their best way.
When Guru Nanak Dev Jee started his further journey from the village Manak Day Kay. Guru Nanak Dev Jee cursed them saying ‘Shala Ujarr Jao’. Bahi Mardana astonished to hear this.
He asked the reason for ‘Shala Ujarr Jao’ for nice people of Manak Day Kay and ‘Shala Wasday Rawo’ for bad mannered residents of Kanganpur.
At this, Guru Nanak Dev Jee replied that the people of Kanganpur are not good. Their badness should not spread all around. So I prayed them ‘Shala Wasday Rawo’. On the other hand, the residents of village Manak Day Kay are very good. Their goodness should spread all around. So I said ‘ Shala Ujarr Jao ‘ for them.
Present Condition
At that time, Kanganpur and Manak Day Kay were equally small villages having nearly same population. But now Kanganpur has become urban area having municipal committee and Manak Day Kay is still a small village of Kanganpur Rural Union Council.
Famous Researchers Visited Gurudwara
Due to its historical importance, a lot of national and international researchers, historic photographers and authors visited Gurudawara Mal Jee Sahib Kanganpur.
Gurpreet Singh Anand with his wife Preet Kaur from Delhi, Amardeep Singh and his wife Nikki Kaur from Singapore, Dr. Dalvir Singh Punnu and his wife from San Jose California USA, Baba Iqbal Qaisar from Lahore, Sardar Dewa Singh from Sukkar Sindh, Prof. Dr. Akhtar Hussain Sandhu from Lahore, Ali Usman Baig from Lahore, Prof. Dr. Kalyan Singh Kalyan from Nankana Sahib, Imran William from Lahore, Adnan Tariq Moon from Depalpur, Baba Jee Shahid Shabbir from Islamabad and Syed Faizan Naqvi (Lahore Da Khujji) from Lahore visited Gurudawara Mal Jee Sahib Kanganpur.
There are two great researchers Prof. Shuaib Raza From Dera Ghazi Khan and Baba Jee Shabir Shahid also visited.
Other Information
A lot of famous national and international researchers described the history of Gurudawara Mal Jee Sahib Kanganpur in their books.
The names of renowned books in which Gurudawara Mal Jee Sahib Kanganpur is in detailed mentioned are “Historical Sikh Shrines in Pakistan” by Iqbal Qaisar, “THE QUEST CONTINUES LOST HERITAGE The Sikh Legacy in Pakistan” by Amardeep Singh and “THE SIKH HERITAGE Beyond Borders” by Dr. Dalvir Singh Pannu.
Last but not the least, following the footprints of Guru Nanak Dev Jee, Mr. Amardeep Singh and his wife Nikki Kaur from Singapore traveled towards the same places where Guru Nanak Dev Jee stayed in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, India, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka.
They made a documentary on the above noted places. Gurudawara Mal Jee Sahib Kanganpur is included in this documentary named “Allegory-A Tapestry of Nanak’s Travels“. Here are some more pictures:
