Paramjit Singh Sarna

Paramjit Singh Sarna, President Shiromani Akali Dal and the past President of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee for a long time was born in an affluent business family of Gujarkhan (now in Pakistan) on 30 March, 1943. After 1947, the Sarna family migrated to India and settled in Delhi. Paramjit Singh graduated from SGTB Khalsa College, Delhi University and then joined his family business. Although, their business was going on very well, he felt an urge to serve the community with his innovative ideas and for that he contested the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee election and became its Member and the President in 1995. His first priority as the President was to expand the avenues of education for the Sikh children. He emphasized upon the establishment of educational institutions to cater modern quality and employment oriented education to make the youth self sufficient. His other desire was to make the Delhi Gurdwaras as most clean, hygienic and beautiful with modern amenities for the devotees and to make them inspiring centers for propagation of Sikh religion all over the world. He also realized that without the political and administrative participation in the government a community cannot justify himself from the misconceptions conceived by the bureaucracy on reports of different agencies. To achieve this noble idea, Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Academy of services was established by him, where coaching for I.A.S., I.F.S., I.P.S., Armed Forces competitive examination has been provided at a very low fee. This academy was established in the campus of S.G.T.B. Khalsa College, the most prestigious College of Delhi University.

Another historical achievement was the revival of Guru Harkrishan Education Society to develop the academic as well as overall standard of Guru Harkrishan Public Schools and to prevent unnecessary interference of members of DSGMC and others in the functioning of the schools. Directorate of Education (G.H.P. Schools) was also established for evaluating, review and assessment of the working of academic as well as administrative functioning of the schools. A central and universal policy for the Recruitment and promotion of the employees of these schools was also formulated to avoid discrimination amongst the employees if transferred to some other school, where he/she is appointed. For providing public school education at low cost to the children of downtrodden sections of the society, he conceived the idea of starting Guru Tegh Bahadur Modern School at Nihal Vihar, New Delhi. Sarna Ji has also been playing a very active role in Sikh politics. For example, it was he who played a vital role in signing of Longowal-Rajiv accord on 24th July 1985. According to him, this step was taken for improving the relations of the Sikhs with the government and for strengthening secular spirit in the country. When he had difference of opinions with some persons, he started his own party Shiromani Akali Dal Delhi in 2002. After separating his party, he again became President in 2002 and then in 2007. His party lost the majority in 2013 and as such some of the works initiated by him could not be completed during his period. However, he will be remembered for establishing such educational institutions like Guru Tegh Bahadur Institute of Technology, Rajouri Garden, Guru Nanak Institute of Management at Punjabi Bagh, Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Institute of Management and Information Technology at Gurdwara Nanak Piao Sahib and many others. He had also got the expansion of the main Gurdwara hall of Gurdwara Bangla Sahib and beautified it with gold enameled plates in the main Gurdwara hall. Some other facilities like air conditioning of different parts including Akhand Path cabins, residential rooms and Jora Ghar were also provided. Such like works were also done for Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib, Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib, Gurdwara Bala Sahib, and Gurdwara Majnu Ka Tilla. The conception of Angitha Sahib for burning the religious text books in the religious manners and Asthi Ghat for immersion of ash after the cremation at Gurdwara Majnu Ka Tilla are indeed great facilities for the people of Delhi. In addition he raised many issues with the Government, such as scraping of black list of Sikhs, passing of Anand Marriage Act, grant of citizenship to Afghan Sikhs and grant of Visa on arrival for pilgrims visiting historical Gurdwara in Pakistan. He established the best of relations with Pakistan Government as well as the Sikhs. When he took the first International Nagar Kirtan (procession) from New Delhi to Pakistan with a golden Palki for Sri Guru Granth Sahib to be placed at Gurdwara Nankana Sahib, he got a tremendous applause and appreciation from the sangat on the entire path. In Pakistan itself, he undertook the construction of historic Gurdwaras of Janam Asthan, Guru Ram Das Ji, Gurdwara Tambu Sahib and Gurdwara Rorhi Sahib. The construction of Yatri Niwas with modern amenities at Gurdwara Nanakana Sahib is also his brainchild. With all these initiatives, works and achievements he proved his worth as a prominent community leader.In that respect, he is definitely a role model leader of the community.

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Paramjit Singh Sarna