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Name: Bhagat Puran Singh Posts: 1 (0.000 per day) Position: Choocha/Choochi

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120

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Punjab

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August 30, 2010, 08:37:15 AM

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September 09, 2010, 12:25:47 AM

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Bhai Puran Singh ji in undoubtly the single Sikh Hero of this century who worked totally selflessly all his life to provide the last hope to the mentally and terminally ill patients. Whenever he use to see a deserted dead body (human or animal) immediately he would prepare (by his own hand) a grave and him human/animal a deserving respect of death. He was to Sikhism, what Mother Teresa is to Catholicism. Against the backdrop of violence and poverty in 1947 he established a premier institute which takes care of sick, disabled and forlorn persons. Whatever money and financial resources he could gathered he used it to establish this institute. It is also believed that he was almost nominated to receive Nobel Peace Prize in 1990 but by not giving him prize it was the loss of sick and disabled persons as well as nobel Prize committee. His life story is a saga of grit, determination, faith in the almighty and unending love for the suffering humanity.

Bhai Puran Singh (June 4, 1904 – August 5, 1992) was born in Rajewal (Rahon) Ludhiana district, Punjab. Born into a Hindu family, he was given the name Ramjidas as a child. Later, while a child, he choose to become a Sikh. Though he never finished his basic schooling, he became a writer, a (self) publisher, an environmentalist and a philanthropist. He is, perhaps, best remembered for the home he founded in Amritsar, India; named Pingalwara, a home which long after his death, is still tending to the sick, disabled and abandoned forlorn people, which is still providing care for the cast-a ways of society.

He set out in life for the service of the suffering humanity- the greatest religion. He founded Pingalwara in 1947 with a few discarded patients. He was also a writer as well as publisher and an environmentalist. Pingalwara is a very big home of human service. Bhagat Ji's contribution in spreading awareness about the global dangers of environment pollution, increasing soil erosion etc are also commendable. His dedication was awarded with heaps of honours by many quarters. Prestigious among these was the Padamshri award in 1979, which he surrendered in the wake of the army attack on the Golden Temple in 1984.

As a sturdy youth of moderate means about 70 years ago, Bhagat Puran Singh saw a little boy who couldn’t walk. He decided to be the boy’s carrier "Until the latter could use his own legs".

The boy never did and Bhagat Puran Singh carried him on his shoulders until the time he himself became too frail to walk. And he decided to collect humans who did not have the abilit to help themselves. His Pingalwara became a home for orphans, mentally retarded persons and, the totaly deprived sections of society. It was a primitive place and neither society nor the State helped. The media winked a lot, took occasional notice and lapsed back to winking. But Bhagat Puran Singh carried on.

He remained an avid collector ever since. He collected "human pebbles" from the streets and housed them in Pingalwara. He collected funds, in driblets rather than droves, to run it. And he collected all the purposeful articles in the newspapers and magazines writings on the economy, environment, public health, population, etc. -- published booklets of these and distributed them free to interested people. The front page of newspapers never interested him. It was amazing to see how his eyes went straight to reports and write-ups dealing with human problems and welfare. He lived all his life for others and packed 72 hours of activity in a normal day.

Bhagat Puran Singh established a home for destitute, called Pingalwara in Amritsar. On 6 March 1957, the All India Pingalwara Society was duly registered with the government. Pingalwara is interpreted in several ways. To some it means a home for the crippled', to others a 'home for handicapped'. Indifferent to appearances and trappings, salvaging lives-which were almost lost-was what mattered to Puran Singh. Bhagatji served God through his service to God's creatures and His creation.

In 1986, he prepared a will according to which Dr. Bibi Inderjit Kaur was to be the Life-President of the Pingalwara Charitable Society after his death. Dr Inderjit Kaur, a doctor by profession, has sacrificed her family life as well as active professional practice at Sangrur to make her life and home among the inhabitants of Pingalwara, just as he had done. He made the right choice in handing over Pingalwara to her.

Today Pingalwara stands stronger than ever on a foundation of love, tender care for humanity, and dressing the physical as well as mental wounds of its inhabitants. Dr Inderjit Kaur, zealously follows the guidelines laid down by her mentor and father-figure Bhagat Puran Singh.

Bhagat Puran Singh breathed his last breath on 5th August 1992.

 More information about Pingalwara is available at www.pingalwaraonline.org

Helping those that are less fortunate then most.

Trying to bring positive change in the world.

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