7 Comments
Aug 12, 2023Liked by KBS Sidhu

Beautiful.

Mustansir Hussain Tarar, the Pakistani scholar, who brought the Princess' residence in Lahore into limelight in ninteen seventees, said in an article that on a Christmas day, on his way back home from a visit to Data Ganj Bakhsh, he decided to visit the Princess' grave. He found it deserted, sans flowers and sans lamp, and was reminded of "...na charaaghaa.n, na gule...." So, he placed the stringed marrigold flowers, which he had received from Data Ganj Bakhsh, on the grave. In an interview he said, "but where was I to find the charagh to be lit there, for the Princess was the last charagh of this illustrious family and that charagh had already been extinguished."

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author

Thanks for an invaluable comment and insight. Grateful.

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Aug 15, 2023Liked by KBS Sidhu

Thanks for providing an opportunity to peruse a part of the Sikh history. Maharaja Duleep Singh became a Christian but later returned to his old faith. This alludes to his search for cultural identity more than spirituality. I personally believe religion more as a cultural labeling.

Princess Bamba comes out as a person relishing the diversity - born a Christian, developing interest in Sikhism & her ancestors, preferring India over England, choosing to stay in Pakistan after partition & making Pir Qarim Bakhsh Supra as custodian of the remains of Sikh dynasty. She will be a beacon in the land obsessed with discounting any heterogeneity.

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author

Thanks a lot, for your most insightful comment.

Your support has been invaluable, throughout my venture-- "The KBS Chronicle".

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Good morning Sir,

Princess Bamba Sutherland the eldest daughter of Maharaja Dalip Singh was married to Col Sutherland who was Principal of King Edward Medical College, Lahore while my dad was a student in the Medical College. He told me that the Princess sometimes invited Sikh students over for tea. Dad met her couple of times then. She chose to stay back in Lahore after 1947 and passed away in 1957 she now rests in the Gora Kabristan in Lahore.

Sikh history post Maharaja Ranjit Singh very tragic.

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author

Very valuable comments indeed.

Almost a part of the lived history......

Thanks for adding to our knowledge.

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Excellent Review on Princess Bamba.

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