In a remarkable tale of faith, diaspora pride, and historical preservation, a long-forgotten clock gifted by Lord Curzon to Sri Darbar Sahib (the Golden Temple) in Amritsar over a century ago has been brought back to life. The painstaking 2.5-year restoration, undertaken in the United Kingdom at a cost of approximately 80,000 pounds (around INR 95 lakh), represents a significant chapter in conserving Sikh heritage.
Discovery and the Decision to Restore
The story began when conservationists from the UK-based Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha (GNNSJ), led by Bhai Mohinder Singh, were undertaking extensive conservation work on frescos and golden plates at the holy shrine. In late 2023, beneath a modern clock at the north-east side entrance, they discovered a battered brass case. Bhai Mohinder Singh immediately recognized it was no ordinary relic.
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the body managing Sri Darbar Sahib, had entrusted GNNSJ with conservation sewa (voluntary service) in March 2022. Upon this significant discovery, SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami emphasized that preserving heritage artefacts is a prime duty. Given the clock's historic significance, the committee approved a full restoration.
A Transcontinental Restoration Journey
With SGPC's consent, the clock was carefully transported to the United Kingdom for expert attention. Birmingham was identified as a key location, not only as the likely original place of manufacture but also as home to specialist restorers. Bhai Mohinder Singh assigned the research and restoration to his relative, Bhupinder Singh Minhas of Birmingham, who engaged leading experts.
The restoration team faced immense challenges. The clock's heavy 10 kg brass housing was severely damaged with dents, cracks, and missing parts. Its original mechanical movement had been replaced decades ago with a common quartz mechanism, stripping its historical integrity. Inderjit Singh, a GNNSJ representative overseeing the project, confirmed the clock was made fully functional in its original state after 2.5 years of work.
Unraveling History and Meticulous Craftsmanship
Research supported by historians and archivists, including writer David Gilmour and historian David Rooney, confirmed the clock's provenance through British Library archives. Correspondence between Lord Curzon, Sir George Birdwood, and the manufacturer, Elkington & Co. Ltd of Birmingham, provided definitive proof.
The archives revealed that during his official visit on April 9, 1900, Lord Curzon and his wife, Lady Mary Victoria Curzon, noted the "somewhat unworthy appearance" of a common clock inside the shrine. Curzon then commissioned a special timepiece designed to harmonize with the sanctity of the Golden Temple. It took from April 1900 to October 1902 to design, manufacture, and ship the clock from England. It was formally presented on October 31, 1902, coinciding with Diwali and Bandi Chhor Diwas.
The inscription on the clock reads: "This clock was presented to the Golden Temple at Amritsar by Lord Curzon, Viceroy & Governor General of India, on the occasion of his first official visit, April 1900." The ornate plate also features the Curzon family coat of arms and motto.
The Restorers' Passionate Endeavour
Subject expert Alastair Chandler explained the challenge of sourcing a period-appropriate mechanical movement, eventually finding a perfect match from Glasgow clockmaker James Muirhead. A new dial was recreated, and hands were hand-cut and blued. The brass restoration was led by metal expert Kam Lawla, who noted an intricately chased pineapple motif—a hallmark of Elkington & Co. symbolizing hospitality.
Kam Lawla, a third-generation Indian in the UK, expressed deep personal connection to the project. "Restoring the clock from the Golden Temple in Amritsar was a profound honour," he said, calling it a source of immense pride and a contribution to shared heritage.
Homecoming and Installation
Bhai Mohinder Singh brought the fully restored clock back to India in November 2025. According to Inderjit Singh, in coordination with the SGPC, the clock is scheduled to be reinstalled at its original spot in Sri Darbar Sahib in the first week of January 2026. It will be securely hung and will require weekly winding with a mechanical key. Special cleaning brushes have also been supplied for its maintenance.
SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami commended the "commendable work" led by Bhai Mohinder Singh and GNNSJ. The clock's restoration coincides symbolically with a pivotal era for the Sikh community—the period from 1900 to 1902 also saw the height of the Singh Sabha Movement for religious reform and widespread service of Sikh soldiers across the British Empire.
No longer just a timepiece, the Curzon clock now stands as a meticulously preserved witness to history, linking colonial-era craftsmanship, Sikh heritage, and modern transnational conservation efforts for future generations.
