Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara

Gurdwara in Gravesham, United Kingdom

Gurdwara Nanak Darbar, Gravesend

Front entrance of Guru Nanak Darbar, Gravesend

Religion
Affiliation| Sikhism
Ecclesiastical or organizational status| Gurdwara
Location
Location|  Gravesend, Borough of Gravesham, England, United Kingdom
Geographic coordinates| 51°26′21″N 0°22′38″E﻿ / ﻿51.4392°N 0.3772°E﻿ / 51.4392; 0.3772
Architecture
Architect(s)| Teja Biring
Type| Gurdwara
Style| Sikh
Completed| 2010
Construction cost| £12 million
Capacity| 10,000
Website
[1]
Image of Guru Nanak Darbar, Gravesend (from the side)

The Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara (Punjabi: ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ ਦਰਬਾਰ ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰਾ (Gurmukhi)) is a Sikh Gurdwara situated in the town of Gravesend, Kent. It is the largest Gurdwara in Europe[1] and also one of the largest outside India.[2]

The complex has 3 prayer rooms and 2 langar halls.[3] There is a building used for Punjabi lessons nearby, called Punjabi School, and as a day centre for the elderly community. There is also a sports hall hosting activities including boxing, basketball and karate. The grounds are used for outdoor sports including football and are where the Gravesend Guru Nanak Football Club plays.[4] The architect was Teja Biring.[5]

## Presidency

[edit]

Elected  | Name  | Party

|
|

19 September 2023  | Ajaib Singh Cheema[6][7][8] | Baaj
January 2020  | Manpreet Singh Dhaliwal[9] | Baaj
October 2013  | Shinde (A1) (aka Davinder Singh Bains)[10][11] | Sher
2001  | Jaspal Singh Dhesi[12][13] | Baaj
| Gurdev Singh Rapur[14] |
| Baldev Singh Biring[14] |
c1976  | Mohan Singh Mathada[15][16] |
c1960s  | Ram Singh Biring[14] |
Pre 1962  | Charan Singh Jandiali-wala[17] |

Jaspal Singh Dhesi is the father of Slough MP Tan Dhesi.[12]

Shinde (A1) is also father of Conservative Councillor Gurjit Kaur Bains[18] who stood to be MP in Walsall[19] in 2019, but was not elected. Shinde (A1) coordinated the 2015 visit of David and Samantha Cameron to the annual Vaisakhi celebrations[20][21] amidst Tan Dhesi's 2015 Labour campaign, which Dhesi subsequently lost.

## Guru Nanak F.C.

[edit]

Guru Nanak F.C., sometimes called GNG (Guru Nanak Gurdwara) FC was founded in 1965[22][23] by a group of Sikh students, and is named after Guru Nanak. This is not to be confused with GNG FC Leicester.

This football club has a female section, where 70 women and girls play. they first entered team(s) in the FA People's Cup in 2019. In addition to Sikh players, they have Muslims, Polish, English, Asian and black players.[24] The women's football club was started up by Parm Gill[25] and, in recognition, UEFA rewarded her in 2018, with a UEFA Grassroots gold award for her leadership qualities. This was presented by the UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin, at UEFA's headquarters in Switzerland.[26]

## GNG Kabaddi Club

[edit]

The GNG Kabaddi Club was started in 1964.[15] In 1969 the first UK Kabaddi Tournament was held on Gravesend Gurdwara field.[15]

## Guru Nanak Day Centre

[edit]

Guru Nanak Day Centre was established for the elderly in 1993.[14] Day centre alumni include the WW2 fighter pilot Squadron Leader Mohinder Singh Pujji.

## Ethos

[edit]

In line with the Sikh principle of Sarbat da bhala, the Gurdwara served 60,000 free meals to hospital staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.[27]

## Sites

[edit]

The exact timeline is not fully clear, and conflicting accounts can be seen. However in the early 50s the first Guru Granth Sahib seems to have been brought to Gravesend by Mr Darshan Singh Sangha, a family from near Amritsar.

### Wakefield Street (1950s)

[edit]

Prior to Edwin Street, the Gurdwara was located at Wakefield Street.[17] This was also the personal residence of Charan Singh Jandialiwala, who was from the village of Jandiali.[17]

### Edwin Street (1956/57 - 1970)

[edit]

The original site for the Gurdwara was 55 Edwin Street, Gravesend. The site was purchased for £575,[14] a significant sum at the time.[17] A library of 500 books was set up in the 60s, having been brought over from India by the then schoolteacher and librarian, Joginder Singh Mattu.[14] The Edwin Street Gurdwara was not closed for the first 2 years of the Clarence Place site operation, but was eventually sold for £2,500.

### Clarence Place Site (1968 - 2010)

[edit]

From 17 November 1968 the Gurdwara was located at Clarence Place. Originally a chapel, this site was being used as a warehouse for the previous two decades, when purchased by the Sikh community.[17][28][29][14] The site was purchased for £13,000, and assistance was given in organising by the then MP Albert Murray.[14]

An alternative site had been considered in Lennox Road, but was opposed by the white residents on racial grounds.[14]

After the current site was opened, a plan was made to demolish the Clarence Place site, however this will now only be a refurbishment.[30][31][32]

### Khalsa Avenue (2010 - Present)

[edit]

It was the idea of President Gurdev Singh Rapur[14] to purchase the current site, which was a park at the time.

## Security Incidents

[edit]

In 1976, the then Gurdwara President, Mohan Singh, was attacked by the National Front and thrown through the plate glass window of Woolworth's in Gravesend town centre.[16] Gravesend, being specifically targeted due to having the largest Sikh population in the UK, at that time. This led to further confrontations, and the eventual expulsion of the National Front.[33]

In the 1970s, due to National Front defacement with Swastikas and slogans, then President Mohan Singh organised patrols of 5-6 people at night to watch the Gurdwara and prevent further graffiti.[14]

In 1980, the National Front attempted to burn down the Gurdwara, then located at the Clarence Place site.[14] Local Sikhs, as well as English individuals such as Andy Zeffer and Jill Anderson of the Anti-Nazi League, as well as future mayor Lady Murray,[34] Anglo Indian Naina Sampson (who was born in Delhi and fluent in Punjabi), Miss Braby who began a local club to help Punjabi women learn English, and many others, assisted in working to protest National Front attacks.[14]

In 1981 such attacks were ongoing.[35]

In March 2021 a Swastika was spray painted onto the entrance to the Gurdwara.[36][37] General Secretary Jagdev Singh Virdee invited "...whoever it was to come in and talk to us. They will be very welcome."[36] No culprit came forward to talk.

On 11 July 2024, a 17 year old male snuck into the Gurdwara after Sukhasan and attacked two women.[38] [39] Initially attempting to hide in an empty prayer room, he was found and accosted by security during their lockup. After a short conversation in which security tried to de-escalate, he attacked two women, biting one, and slashing several others with a stolen Kirpan. The motive is unclear, but police treated the incident as "religiously aggravated" and not "terrorism-related".[40] The teen was sectioned under the Mental Health Act.[41]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Kent County Council's cabinet members visit Europe's largest Sikh temple". 17 December 2011.
2. ^ "Gurdwara open to Gravesend Sikhs after eight years work". BBC News. 19 November 2010.
3. ^ "EngDesign Limited - Worship Project - Gravesend Gurdwara".
4. ^ http://gurunanakfc.co.uk [bare URL]
5. ^ Kennett2010-10-29T12:48:00+01:00, Stephen. "Sikh place of worship: The gurus of Gravesend". Building. Retrieved 17 July 2024.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
6. ^ "Management Committee".
7. ^ "New president elected for gurdwara". Kent Online. 19 September 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
8. ^ "Former Sikh temple saved from demolition". Kent Online. 13 January 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
9. ^ "New president for gurdwara to be elected". Kent Online. 12 June 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
10. ^ "Gravesend Gurdwara elects new president for first time in 12 years". News Shopper. 13 October 2013. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
11. ^ "New president elected". Kent Online. 14 October 2013. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
12. ^ a b "UK borough ex-mayor's father eyes SAD ticket | Chandigarh News - Times of India". The Times of India. 22 September 2016.
13. ^ "Gurdwara open to Gravesend Sikhs after eight years work". BBC News. 19 November 2010. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m cohesionpluskent (3 September 2020). The Journey Pt 3 The Evolution of the Gravesend Gurdwara (Sikh Temple). Retrieved 17 July 2024 - via YouTube.
15. ^ a b c cohesionpluskent (13 August 2020). The Journey Pt 1 Sports and Culture. Retrieved 17 July 2024 - via YouTube.
16. ^ a b "'We stood up to the National Front and won'". Kent Online. 14 August 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
17. ^ a b c d e "Clarence Place".
18. ^ "COUNCILLOR DATABASE : Gurjit Kaur Bains from Gravesham – UKPOL.CO.UK". 9 January 2023.
19. ^ "Amir Khan hopes Tory candidate can deliver knockout blow". 20 November 2019.
20. ^ "David and Samantha Cameron join Gravesend's Vaisakhi celebrations". BBC News. 18 April 2015.
21. ^ "Prime Minister joins Sikh festival celebrations". 17 April 2015.
22. ^ "NRG 24HR Gyms Kent County Football League".
23. ^ https://www.gurunanakfc.co.uk/ [bare URL]
24. ^ Bright, Nick (2 March 2019). "FA People's Cup, Round 1". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
25. ^ "Women in Football - Football pioneer Parm Gill is awarded UEFA grassroots gold award".
26. ^ "Kent's Parm Gill awarded UEFA Gold!". Kent County Football Association. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
27. ^ "Ten years of the 'largest Gurdwara outside of India'". 9 November 2020.
28. ^ "Ten years of the 'largest Gurdwara outside of India'". 9 November 2020.
29. ^ "Demolition threat to former Gurdwara and Congregational Church in Gravesend".
30. ^ "Plans underway to transform derelict Sikh temple into flats". 17 May 2023.
31. ^ "Decision - 20140550 - Demolition of existing building and erection of a four/Five storey building at Former Guru Nanak Gurdwara, Clarence Place, Gravesend". 6 February 2019.
32. ^ "Demolition threat to former Gurdwara and Congregational Church in Gravesend".
33. ^ Channel 4 Documentaries (28 March 2015). 2002 Channel 4's Sikh Street [43m35s]. Retrieved 17 July 2024 - via YouTube.`{{cite AV media}}`: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
34. ^ "Former Gravesham Mayor Lady Murray of Gravesend dies aged 85". News Shopper. 11 October 2014. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
35. ^ Thames News (15 January 2015). 1981 GRAVESEND RACIAL ATTACKS. Retrieved 17 July 2024 - via YouTube.
36. ^ a b "'I thought we were way past this'". Kent Online. 7 March 2021. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
37. ^ Mills, Jen (7 March 2021). "Swastikas spray painted on Sikh temple by vandals". Metro. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
38. ^ "Footage of arrest after two people injured in gurdwara attack". Kent Online. 11 July 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
39. ^ "Gravesend: Teen held after two hurt in gurdwara attack". BBC News. 12 July 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
40. ^ "Gravesend: Teenager appears in court after Gurdwara attack". BBC News. 13 July 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
41. ^ "Teen detained under the Mental Health Act after women hurt at gurdwara". Kent Online. 18 July 2024. Retrieved 20 July 2024.

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[edit]

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