Williams Lake Arson Update 1 (March 27)

Vaheguru ji ka khalsa,
Vaheguru ji ki fatheh!

The Western Singh Sabha Gurdwara Sahib in Williams Lake was attacked by an arsonist on Monday, February 26, at 3:15pm. Police say the man, 18-year old Sean Alan Downey, also may have burnt down a nearby trailor home just prior to his attack on the gurdwara sahib. The interior of the gurdwara sahib has been completely gutted out as a result of this senseless act. Western Singh Sabha Gurdwara Sahib officially opened in 1989 and contained reminders of pioneer Sikhs who mined in the Cariboo fields during the gold rush days. It was a central gathering place for the Sikh community of Williams Lake and had so many memories attached to it. The Lower Mainland Surrey sangat would often go to Williams Lake Western Singh Sabha gurdwara sahib for rainsabhaee keertans. The gurdwara committee has stated that the suroop of Guru Granth Sahib ji which was prakash at the time of the attack has been damaged by fire extensively, and the sanskaar seva will be done during the Vaisakhi gatherings on April 22/23 weekend in Williams Lake. The gurdwara sahib will have to be rebuilt, and that may take several months to a year.

Burning Guru Sahib’s Suroop is not just Arson,
it is Attempted Assault on the King of Kings.

The Sikh community holds in esteem and respect the Sri Guru Granth Sahib as the living enlightener and teacher. Although in physical form Guru ji is a scripture, Guru ji contains the light and divinity of God, and the teachings of the 10 Sikh Gurus. Guru Granth Sahib is seated on a throne, and treated with more respect than any royalty or dignitary. We are saddened to learn that one suroop (body) of Guru Granth Sahib, which was located in the main hall, was badly burnt although two other suroops of the Guru Granth Sahib were not damaged. This is equivalent to attempted murder because Guru Granth Sahib is the living light and suroop of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Although the Guru can never be killed, the Guru was hear always and will always be here, the fire caused great disrespect and damage to the suroop of Guru Granth Sahib ji. Guru Granth Sahib is the living light of God, a source of divinity and inspiration, divine knowledge and wellbeing. Guru Granth Sahib contains hymns and divine word that prescibes universal love, meditation on One God, equality of all races, and countless other virtues and truth. How can anyone have the misfortune and bad judgement to attack such a Guru ?

As you know, the Sikh community has been in Canada, particularly British Columbia, for over more than 100 years. After so many decades of hard work, dedication to the community, and contributions to the Canadian society, such an incident is disheartening. The desecration of the physical building of the Gurdwara is devastating, but the burning of a suroop (body) of Guru Granth Sahib is unthinkable. The Sikh community feels forgiveness and compassion for the perpetrator of this crime. However the community also has strong belief in justice. The Sikh community will not be intimidated by such an act, and will still continue to work for the well-being of all human beings through kirt, daya, gurbani, simran, and gurmat jeevan.

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Vaheguru ji ka khalsa,
Vaheguru ji ki fatheh !

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