Gurdwara Sahib Taiping

The Sikh Gurdwara located along Jalan Stesen was built in 1921, funded by the Sri Guru Singh Sabha Larut, Taiping, and the British Government of Perak. The Sikh community in early Taiping were mostly members of the Perak Armed Police which was formed by Captain Speedy and Ngah Ibrahim in 1873. The first known gurdwara in the Malay Peninsular was originally built as a wooden structure within the barracks in Jalan Taming Sari in 1881. Its construction was financed by a Mr. Bhai Pall Singh Dhoti.

In 1915, most of the male Sikh community left Taiping to fight in World War I. This caused some unease within the Sikh community, as their gurdwara was located within a military compound, and civilians had no access to it. By 1916, there were around 250 Sikh families in Taiping, which consisted of government workers, policemen, doctors, teachers, and railway workers. About 30 families reared cattle and sold milk. In 1916, the Sri Guru Singh Sabha Larut, Taiping was formed. A “Sabha Singh” is a movement usually aimed at safeguarding the interests of the Sikh community and Sikh religious affairs. Appeals were made to the British Resident at the time, Sir George Maxwell, who was sympathetic to the plight of the Sikh community. He advised the Sikhs to remove the gurdwara to land belonging to the Sikh community. In 1918, the Sri Guru Singh Sabha Taiping acquired about an acre of land for this purpose, and the original gurdwara in the barrack was dismantled in 1919 to be relocated to their newly-acquired temple grounds. In 1920, the foundation for the new gurdwara was laid, and the original building of the gurdwara would be completed the following year.

By 1940, many additional buildings had been built and attached to the Gurdwara, including a school, quarters for teachers, a library and reading room, an open hall, four rooms, bathrooms, and toilets. The library in Gurdwara Taiping is said to have the largest collection of Punjabi books in Malaysia. Many of these books are of antiquity and are considered rare as they are no longer in print.

In 1970, the single-story gurdwara was demolished to make way for a new double-story building, which still stands today.

The Gurdwara Sahib Taiping is stop number 20 on the Taiping Heritage Trail.

Today, the gurdwara is still the focal point of the Sikh community in Taiping and the surrounding areas. Gurdwara Sahib Taiping is active in community welfare efforts, especially through their contributions with the Taiping Soup Kitchen.

References:

The formation of Singh Sabha Larut, Taiping

Gurudwara sahib Malay States Guide, Taiping, Perak