Historic Sikh Worship Service Revived at Aitchison College Gurdwara After Nearly 79 Years

LAHORE, Pakistan Nazrana Times– February 13, 2026  Ali Imran Chattha
 

In a poignant revival of religious heritage, a special Sikh worship service, known as Keertan, was held today at the historic Gurdwara on the campus of Aitchison College in Lahore, marking the first such ceremony at the site since Partition in 1947.
The event, part of the college's 140th-anniversary celebrations, drew Old Boys (alumni), current students, staff, and participants in a ceremony that underscored themes of interfaith harmony and shared Punjabi history. It took place this morning in the preserved Gurdwara building, which had remained closed for regular worship for nearly eight decades due to the absence of Sikh students following the 1947 division of India and Pakistan.

The service was facilitated through the efforts of Dr. Tarunjit Singh Butalia, a Professor in the Engineering Department at Ohio State University in the United States and Honorary Envoy for Aitchison College. Dr. Butalia, who has long advocated for cross-border cultural reconnection, played a central role in organizing the occasion, building on his prior visits and engagements with Sikh alumni communities.

Aitchison College, founded on November 3, 1886, to educate the royals and elite families of undivided Punjab, has maintained a tradition of pluralism. The campus still houses three pre-Partition places of worship: a mosque constructed in 1900 by the Nawab of Bahawalpur, a Hindu temple whose foundation was laid in 1910 by the Maharaja of Darbhanga, and the Gurdwara in question.
The Gurdwara, designed by renowned Sikh architect Bhai Ram Singh (associated with the Mayo School of Arts, now the National College of Arts), had its foundation stone laid in 1910 by Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala, an alumnus of the college from 1904 to 1908. The Patiala royal family provided financial support, and the structure was completed within two years. It features distinctive black-and-white marble flooring and an interior reminiscent of a castle-like setting, elements preserved by the college administration over the decades.

The ceremony evoked strong emotional responses, particularly among the estimated 15 Sikh alumni now residing in India, many of whom recalled peaceful prayers and campus life at the Gurdwara. Organizers arranged for elements of the event to be shared virtually, allowing distant participants to join in the historic moment.
Today's gathering reaffirms Aitchison College's legacy of inclusivity while aligning with Pakistan's broader policy emphasis on interfaith harmony, minority rights protection, and the safeguarding of religious heritage sites. It stands as a symbol of healing historical divides and fostering mutual respect across borders.
The college's official announcement described the event as a "beautiful ceremony and celebration of interfaith harmony," attended by the full Aitchison community.