Bhagwant Singh Dilawari

Bhagwant Singh Dilawari, one of the most outstanding persons and gursikh, was born on 11 November 1930 at Jhelum (now in Pakistan). After his graduation, he got employment in Ministry of External Affair. Although, during his service career, he had to stay most of the time in foreign countries (his postings included Caro, Brussels, Beijing and Paris), whenever he visited India he devoted his time to singing of Gurbani and rendering service to the poor and needy person. One of the places where he was attracted most to visit and serve there was the Leprosy Center in Amravati (Maharashtra). One day, when he spiritual quest for searching deeper meaning in life prevailed rigorously, he sort retirement from his quested post in Paris and went to Amaravati Leprosy Center. This center known as Tapovan had many Leprosy patients, who always looked forward to him, to hear him, to share with him their problems and to get consolation and help whatever they needed from this simple gursikh in is white Khadi Kurta Payajama. He became a father figure for them, lovingly called Papaji.He bandaged their wounds with his gloved hands and while doing so he made them laugh with jokes. His gentle treatment of their wounds not only gave them relief but also brought tears in their eyes and smile on their faces.

The famous writer and the film maker Reema Anand has written in details about him and also made a movie on his life. Whenever someone asks about the age of Dilawari Ji he often says that he was actually born on 10 October 1970 when he started living with this lepers. He served in this Ashram for more than 30 years. When he started living in Delhi, his erge for rendering service is one or the other way continues. For the last many years, he can be seen at Jorha Ghar of Gurdwara Bangla Sahib. Dilawari Ji is not only known for his spirit of service (Sewa bhawana), but is also a devout singer of Gurbani, an excellent orator and an outstanding writer on Sikh religion. He has written ten books on various concepts on Sikhism including two in English, viz ‘Experienced Truth of the Master’ and ‘In the Footsteps of Masters’. For his services to mankind and contribution in spreading the message of the Masters, he has been honoured by various organizations. These honours includes Bhagat Puran Singh Award, Bhai Ghanaya Award and an Honorary degree of D.Lit. by Guru Granth Sahib World University Fatehgarh Sahib. His life is really the life of a gursikh dedicated to sewa and simran. Thus, he is a role-model not only for the Sikhs but for all human beings. His wife had expired long back and his two daughters are settled in USA. However, as he had always been associated with the people of sangat, he has been staying since long with one of these families at A-216 Lajpat Nagar, New Delhi. This family lead by Sunita Malhotra Ji is highly influenced by his life. As a result of that Sunita Malhotra (originally from Hindu family has become an Amritdhari and a true associates of her father like mentor in all the spiritual activities.

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Bhagwant Singh Dilawari