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[[File:Sikh Reference Library Burned.jpg|thumb|right|There is controversy surrounding the government's version of events on what happened to historical manuscripts, books, and artifacts before the Sikh Reference Library was burned.]]
The '''Sikh Reference Library''' was a repository of over 1,500 rare manuscripts located in the [[Golden Temple]] at [[Amritsar]], [[Punjab (India)|Punjab]] which was destroyed during [[Operation Blue Star]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20030607/windows/note.htm|title=Fire of controversy in Sikh library still smoulders|last=Walia|first=Varinder|date=June 7, 2003|work=[[The Tribune]]|language=English|accessdate=21 February 2011}}</ref> In 1984, the library's contents were confiscated by the [[Central Bureau of Investigation]] and the empty building allegedly burned to the ground by the [[Indian Army]]. In recent years the [[SGPC]] has attempted to recover the looted material but has not yet recovered substantial materials. To date, the status of library manuscripts and artifacts is unclear; the vast majority remain in the hands of the government, a few office files and passports were returned, and as many as 117 items were destroyed for being "seditious" materials.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20030607/windows/note.htm|title=Fire of controversy in Sikh library still smoulders|last=Walia|first=Varinder|date=June 7, 2003|work=[[The Tribune]]|language=English|accessdate=21 February 2011}}</ref>
==Origin==
The Sikh Reference Library was established by the [[SGPC]] with a [[Resolution (law)|resolution]] dated October 27, 1946.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20030607/windows/note.htm|title=Fire of controversy in Sikh library still smoulders|last=Walia|first=Varinder|date=June 7, 2003|work=[[The Tribune]]|language=English|accessdate=21 February 2011}}</ref> The library had its roots in a meeting of the [[Sikh Historical Society]] under the presidentship of [[Princess Bamba]] on February 10, 1945 at [[Khalsa College, Amritsar]] which established the Central Sikh library.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20030607/windows/note.htm|title=Fire of controversy in Sikh library still smoulders|last=Walia|first=Varinder|date=June 7, 2003|work=[[The Tribune]]|language=English|accessdate=21 February 2011}}</ref>The Central Sikh library was then folded into the Sikh Reference Library.
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