Published:
January 11, 2025
Dera Baba Nanak Sahib, located in Gurdaspur District, Punjab, India, and Kartarpur Sahib, in Narowal District, Pakistan, are two deeply revered Sikh sites associated with Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism. Guru Nanak Dev Ji spent the last 18 years of his life at Kartarpur, where he attained Joti Jot (union with God) in 1539. Dera Baba Nanak Sahib features Gurdwara Sri Darbar Sahib and offers a viewing deck to see Kartarpur Sahib across the border. The Kartarpur Corridor, inaugurated in 2019, connects the two sites, enabling visa-free travel for Sikh pilgrims, fostering peace and religious harmony. These locations symbolize Guru Nanak’s teachings of unity, service, and equality.
When India and Pakistan were divided during Partition, Kartarpur Sahib, located just 4.5 km from the border, fell within Pakistan's territory, while Dera Baba Nanak Sahib remained in India. This division created a physical and emotional separation for the Sikh community, as they were unable to freely access one of their holiest sites.
For decades, Sikhs in India could only view Kartarpur Sahib from a distance using binoculars set up at Dera Baba Nanak. This led to frustration among devotees, as they were unable to visit the gurdwara despite its proximity.
The strained relationship between India and Pakistan, marked by wars and political hostility, delayed the resolution of the access issue for decades. Concerns over security, sovereignty, and bilateral relations often overshadowed the religious and humanitarian need for a corridor.
The opening of the Kartarpur Corridor in 2019 was a major step forward, but it involved extensive negotiations and political challenges on both sides. Even now, issues such as the regulation of pilgrim numbers, fees charged by Pakistan, and the operation of the corridor occasionally cause tensions.
Dera Baba Nanak has become a symbol of the Sikh community's resilience and longing for unity, but it also highlights the human cost of geopolitical conflicts.
