AMRITSAR, August 6 — Marking the 33rd death anniversary of Bhagat Puran Singh, the Akal Takht’s officiating Jathedar, Giani Kuldip Singh Gargaj, called upon the Sikh Sangat to embrace the late humanitarian’s legacy of selfless service, compassion for the downtrodden, and deep respect for the environment.
Participating in a Gurmat Samagam at Pingalwara, the institution founded by Bhagat Puran Singh, the Jathedar also paid homage to the humanitarian’s lifelong work for the destitute and nature. The event included Gurbani Kirtan rendered by children of Pingalwara, which Jathedar Gargaj listened to before addressing the congregation.
“Bhagat ji served the needy, the sick, the abandoned like they were his own sons and daughters. He is one of the most revered figures in the Sikh Panth—a source of pride for the entire community,” Jathedar Gargaj said. He urged the Sangat to follow the principles Bhagat Puran Singh lived by: humanism, environmental care, and selfless service rooted in Gurbani.
Describing Bhagat ji’s journey, he shared how early exposure to sewa at Gurdwara Reru Sahib in Ludhiana deeply moved the young Puran Singh and set him on the path of Sikh values and service. “He lived Gurbani, not just read it,” the Jathedar said.
Recalling the events after Operation Bluestar, the Jathedar noted that Bhagat Puran Singh returned state awards to the Central government in protest, a powerful act that, he said, “reflected his uncompromising Panthic spirit.”
The Jathedar also drew attention to Bhagat ji’s pioneering efforts on environmental protection. “Decades ago, he raised concerns about preserving the land, water, and trees. That message is more urgent today than ever,” he said. Warning against Punjab’s aggressive urban expansion, he remarked, “Concrete jungles are consuming our soil faster here than anywhere else in the country.”
He stressed that land degradation and ecological neglect posed serious challenges, and that Bhagat Puran Singh’s teachings must serve as a moral and spiritual compass in addressing them. “His vision of living in harmony with nature is Gurbani in action,” he said.
