Services of Sikhs in the present time

Services of Sikhs in The Present Time

In the present day world also the Sikhs are known for their service to mankind in all situations. As per a BBC report, they are the most generous people in the world. This generosity is best reflected in the langar tradition as started by Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji and being followed by the Sikhs all over the world. In short they have won the hearts of the people by feeding the hungry, giving shelter to the homeless, medical aid to the diseased and necessities to the helpless poor people. In the time of natural calamities, riots and even terrorists attacks, they reached the victims to help them by all means. This spirit of service takes birth from their act of remembering God all the times called simran. In this chapter, we shall be discussing a good number of organisations which are doing service in one or the other way.

Services performed in the Gurdwara

Gurdwara being the central point in the life of Sikhs, the service starts from here in various ways. The devotees not only attend the congregation, but also render the requisite services to keep the Gurdwara neat and clean and increase the convenience of the visitors. Some people start doing service at the footwear keeping place known in Punjabi as ‘Jorha Ghar’. They will not only keep the shoe wear of the devotees at proper place in a proper manner, but also, many a time polishes their shoe wear. Further, there are many who look after the parking facility or the boarding and lodging facilities or act as guides to apprise them of the historical importance of the place. A number of persons offers services for cleaning the installation platform of Sri Guru Granth Sahib or other places which are used by the devotees for sitting or moving at the premises. Service in the Langar, for cooking or for distributing is the most well known service among the people who do not know much about Sikh religion or the Gurdwara. Although all these services are performed by the individuals, some groups of people engaged therein have constituted organizations, registered or unregistered. We shall be mentioning a few organizations doing all such jobs. We shall also include such organisations which are also engaged in the programmes of simran or attaching the people to simran. As, there is a big number of people who have faith in Sikh religion, but have been neglected since long because of their illiteracy, poverty, ignorance and backwardness, efforts are being made to serve these people by educating them, rehabilitating them and bringing them in the main stream at par with other Sikhs rather other people in the society. The organisations serving these people known as Sikligars, Vanjaras, Lubanas etc. are also included in this Chapter

Sri Amritsar Sewak Sabha

This unique organisation is doing a different kind of service for the devotees who visit Sri Harmandir Sahib, Darbar Sahib Amritsar. They are doing Sewa in baggage room, known as Gathri Ghar and Jora Ghar (where shoes are kept before going inside the shrine) and also guide the visitors on various points in the Golden Temple premises. Their guidance is of vital importance for non Sikhs and foreigners coming from different parts of the country and other countries. They will brief them regarding accommodation facilities, shoes depositing, the central sanctum, parikarma (circumambulation) and the various spots in the prikarma in a brief brochure. In this brochure, they have not only given useful information regarding the visit to the holy shrine, but also useful information about Sikhism. The organisation was established in 1950 and since then the number of its members has increased many times and such members are performing their duties 24 hrs. All the days in their turns. For contact with this organization, S. Joginder Singh Kohli, the founder and the president and S. Kulwant Singh Gugani may be contact on 9417244099 and 9888519904 respectively.

Sewak Jatha, Dadar

Like Harmandir Sahib, Amritsar, some organisations doing similar services as mentioned above can be seen in other Gurdwaras also. The same include historical as well as non-historical Gurdwaras. To take one example; the Gurdwara at Dadar in Mumbai is one of the prominent non-historical Gurdwaras of India. Here we have an organisation known as Sewak Jatha, Dadar. It is a socio-religious organization managed and run purely on voluntary basis. It is registered under Public Trust Act, 1950 (Mumbai 29 of 1950). With Registration No. E30639 (M) dated 28/08/2014. It was established way back with significant support of Sri Guru Singh Sabha (Regd.) Mumbai (SGSS). This organization mainly does all the service in the Gurdwara like cleaning up and facilitating the visit of the devotees. These services include carrying Nishan Sahib in front of Panj Piaras, Distributing Parshad (Patasha) and receiving offerings at Palki Sahib, Sri Sahib Sewa at Palki Sahib, Entire control in front of Palki Sahib, and Sewa of cleaning up the litter left on the roads at various points during the Nagar Kirtan. In addition, the organisation has also expanded its activities in the field of education. These activities include – Honouring Sikh Students from Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Thane city, securing 75% and above marks (73% for Amritdhari Sikh students) in Std.

X exams in the Divine presence of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji at Gurdwara Sahib Dadar and understanding the need of the hour and in its efforts to provide further service to the student community. SJD has organized preparatory and career Guidance workshops for Std. X students followed by Aptitude Test and one-on –one counselling with the student and his/her parents. These workshops were jointly organized by SGSS Dadar, SGSS Vashi And Sewak Jatha Dadar. The main person of this organisation is S. Kulwant Singh. The contact details of the organisation are phone numbers 9869600490, 9820463256 and Email: sewakjathadadar@gmail.com.

Central Khalsa Orphanage

Central Khalsa Orphanage is a unique institution working under the control of Chief Khalsa Diwan Charitable Society, Amritsar. Based on the principles of service to humanity, it was established in 1904 for taking care of the orphans and destitutes, irrespective of their religion, caste, colour and creed with a view to integrate them with the society as useful citizens. Later on, in 1935 a unit was added for the blind people for educating them in graille to enable them to contribute to the society. Presently, this central khalsa orphanage commonly known as Yatimkhana has expended itself into various activities. Now there is a school upto 10th class affiliated to the Punjab School Education Board named as Shahid Udham Singh Memorial High School. There is an arrangement for sending these children for schooling in 11th and 12th class to Khalsa College Sr. Sec. School, Amritsar and for higher education to Khalsa College or GND University. An air-conditioned computer laboratory with 24 computers and a library named as Shahid Udham Singh Library are important parts of this school. The name of Shahid Udham Singh has been adopted as the great Martyr was an alumini of this institution.

A portion has been dedicated to his memory by making a museum of his pictures and records of his admission in the said school where he received education during 1907 to 1919. Another important part of this organization is the Gurmat College named as Bhai Veer Singh Gurmat College. Bhai Veer Singh Gurmat College was established in 1979 in the premises of Orphanage in order to train dedicated preachers, Granthi and Ragi Singhs for preaching Sikh Religion. Along with three years Gurmat Course, students are provided an opportunity to study BA from GND University Amritsar and learn basic computer knowledge. The students have to stay in the hostel for three years and the whole expenditure is born by Orphanage. The unique institution has a hostel for the students and preacher trainees. Distinguished Gurbani Singers and Katha Vachaks have been produced by this great institution. They include Bhai Santa Singh, Bhai Gopal Singh, Bhai Sumund Singh, Bhai Surjan Singh and Bhai Gurmej Singh. Some of the scholars like Principal S. S. Amol, Gyani Kesar Singh and Dr. Inderjeet Singh Gogoani have also been given by this institute.

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