Prime Minister Narendra Modi constituted National Implementation Committee (NIC) under Chairmanship of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to commemorate the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak in the country and abroad.

Key Facts :

• Union Government has decided to commemorate 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak at national as well as international level.
• Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Minister of State for Culture Dr. Mahesh Sharma are Members of the National Implementation Committee (NIC).
• The yearlong celebration will include a number of commemorative as well as constructive activities will be taken up during the commemoration period.
• Number of religious activities like kirtan, prabhat pheri, katha, langar and educational activities such as seminars, workshops, lectures etc. will be organised.
• Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee, which is the apex religious body of the Sikhs, will be knowledge partner for event.
• Government will also develop Sultanpur Lodhi in Punjab where Guru Nanak is believed to have spent most of his life. The area will be developed as heritage city incorporating ‘Pind Babe Nanak Da’.
• Moreover, high powered telescope will be installed on Indian side to view Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan where the first Sikh guru spent his last days.
• Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance and Department of Posts will also release Commemorative coin and postage stamps to mark this event.
• Chairs in the name of Guru Nanak will be set up in UK and Canada.
• UNESCO will be requested to translate and publish anthology of Guru Nanak Dev’s writings in world languages and publication of Gurbani in different Indian languages will be made by National Book Trust (NBT).

Kartarpur :

• It is located in Shakargarh in Narowal district of Punjab province of Pakistan.
• Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism and its first guru had spent over 18 years of his life here.
• Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara is located about three to 4km from Indo-Pak border in Pakistan in Punjab.