Kids Corner

Current Events

Government Illegally Ousts
Bhai Baldeep Singh’s Music Academy
From Qila Sarai

NEWS REPORT

 

 

 





Without possessing a court order, the Sultanpur Lodhi police today illegally had the premises of Anad Foundation, a music academy run by Bhai Baldeep Singh, the renowned musicologist, vacated by throwing out the institution's musical instruments and other possessions.

The academy was being run in the historical Qila Sarai of Kapurthala by the legendary musician who had recently made the news by running for election on the AAP ticket.

Even though Bhai Baldeep Singh has permission to use two rooms in the complex, the police unilaterally removed and stacked all his musical instruments and other items on the grounds outside the building.

Bhai Baldeep Singh has even uploaded a copy of the allotment letter issued by the then DSP dated May 9, 2011 on Facebook. However, the current Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), receiving his orders from the current government, claims that the foundation has failed to show any authorisation to occupy the rooms in the sarai.

Since the Sultanpur Lodhi Police Station and the DSP’s office are also housed in the sarai, the DSP claimed, “It was no longer feasible for the police to let the Anad Foundation occupy the rooms near the police station as it was a security issue. We vacated the rooms after asking them to do so repeatedly.”

Bhai Baldeep Singh, who unsuccessfully ran from Khadoor Sahib in the Lok Sabha poll last year, accused the police of harassing him. He alleged the police were even threatening to arrest the students if they didn’t stop coming to the institute. He also alleged the police ill-treated the students, pushing them around.

Bhai Baldeep Singh had been teaching students how to play various traditional musical instruments at the academy. He has also been holding musical programmes at the sarai on full-moon nights.


[Courtesy: The Tribune. Edited for sikhchic.com]
August 6, 2015
 

Conversation about this article

1: Bhai Harbans Lal (Dallas, Texas, USA), August 08, 2015, 9:10 AM.

Whatever I have heard of the mission of the Anad Foundation -- the preservation and care of historic relics and manuscripts including the original kirtan raags -- was something worthy of public support. I heard that the Punjab Government originally sanctioned funds to support the mission and assigned suitable space for the Foundation’s projects. I had hoped that further help would come from Sikh organizations like the SGPC, Delhi Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and others. Now I hear this news of eviction. To see the sacred Sikh instruments lying on the ground outside in scorching heat without a home is heart rending. Will someone let us know what is going on? The international Sikh community is concerned. I will call upon the Sikh institutions to come to the helm and save our heritage.

2: Baldev Singh (Bradford, United Kingdom), August 08, 2015, 1:58 PM.

Commentator #1, Harbans Lal ji ... What is going on is that divided and corrupted Sikhs in authority are showing their gross arrogance and egotism! Do you honestly think any of them would recognise the importance or beauty of shabad kirtan or gurbani or would think of respecting the Guru's teachings? They are only interested in their cushy jobs, power and money! The gratuitous thuggery and violence is extra!

3: Bhai Baldeep Singh (New Delhi, India), August 11, 2015, 6:37 AM.

It may not be fair, until proven, for anyone to claim that this illegal action and such a gross violation of human/civil rights was conducted at the behest of the Punjab Government. All evidence, thus far, and recent history shows that this was a localized abuse of power, privilege and position. The trauma that this daylight abuse by the local policemen has left on the minds and memory of the students, teachers and staff is indeed unbearable!

Comment on "Government Illegally Ousts
Bhai Baldeep Singh’s Music Academy
From Qila Sarai"









To help us distinguish between comments submitted by individuals and those automatically entered by software robots, please complete the following.

Please note: your email address will not be shown on the site, this is for contact and follow-up purposes only. All information will be handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy. Sikhchic reserves the right to edit or remove content at any time.