A True Sacrifice

It was the year 2019, the third week in the month of Oct, in Faridkot district of Punjab, Gurdwara Sewewala Sahib held its biggest annual celebration. Situated near Jaito, the Gurdwara celebrated the Parkash Purab of Mata Sahib Kaur Ji (Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s wife and the Mother of the Khalsa). This year's smagam took place from 13th October to 20th October 2019. Thousands of pilgrims from India and abroad came to receive blessings from Mata Sahib Kaur Ji during this week-long festival.

Gurdwara Sewewala Sahib works closely with a well-respected charitable organisation called Mata Sahib Kaur Ji Sewewala Welfare Society. Situated in the village of Sewewala, the Welfare Society works closely with the Gurdwara's Mukh Sewadaars, Baba Gurbax Singh Ji and Dr Karandeep Singh Ji (UK). With the help of the Gurdwara's resources and the expertise offered by its wide range of sewadaars, including professionals from all fields, the Welfare Society has started a huge and ambitious initiative called Mission Nihaal.

Mission Nihaal is adopting 50 poor villages in rural Punjab, to help and uplift the locals. In each village adoption, it will provide reconstruction of Govt schools, underground sewerage systems, clean drinking water, solar energy initiatives, LED street lighting, road repairs, bus stand construction with public toilets and clean drinking water facilities, free village ambulance service, widows' pension scheme, donate-a-bicycle scheme for poor families, poor girls' weddings and construction of multi-sports grounds for weaker sections. This grand vision will be completed over the next 21 years.

In the middle of his ongoing efforts to uplift poor people's lives, Dr Karandeep Singh Ji suffered from a serious health issue in July 2019. After suffering from nerve damage in his right thigh, he has lost movement in his right leg and is now permanently on a wheelchair. The Sangat has been very shocked and saddened by this news. From being someone who never took a moment's rest, and was always ready to help the needy, he has himself become physically dependent. This sudden change has been very difficult for Dr Karandeep Singh Ji and his family. His wife, Bibi Jasneet Kaur, and his son, Kaka Bachittar Singh, have been giving him endless support, even though it has been difficult for them to adjust to his disability.

The Sangat has been watching the heartbreaking decline of Dr Karandeep Singh Ji's health and his family's struggle for the past three months. The responsibilities which Bibi Jasneet Kaur is managing are bigger than most women's. Her family is not a normal family; it includes hundreds of Sangat. She is running her own household, raising her son, maintaining the Gurdwara, managing the sewadaars, looking after the Sangat and now supporting Dr Karandeep Singh Ji. In the past three months, it has become too difficult for her to manage all the Sewa by herself. So, she requested the Sangat to help her find a long-term solution.

Everyone recognises the need of the hour. Dr Karandeep Singh Ji is now physically dependent for all tasks. He cannot stand up or walk by himself. He relies on help for personal tasks like going to the bathroom, having a bath and putting on his clothes. Many times, he faints suddenly while walking (due to body weakness), and requires two people's support to bring him safely to the chair. Bibi Jasneet Kaur had tried keeping a paid male helper, but he stayed for only two days before quitting. Looking after Dr Karandeep Singh Ji is a 24/7 job. Sometimes he needs support at 11 o'clock at night, sometimes at 2 o'clock in the morning and sometimes at 6 o'clock in the morning, but not everyone is ready to stay on duty all the time. In this sensitive situation, the Sangat decided to find a Sewadaar to help Bibi Jasneet Kaur in her daily Sewa, including the public responsibilities and the private duties.

One Sewadaar came forward to help: Bibi Bhagwant Kaur from UK. With Guru Sahib Ji's blessings, she had already been staying at the Gurdwara and doing Sewa on multiple projects. Being someone who never says no to Sewa, she is a trusted and respected Sewadaar. The two Bibiya are very close friends and the Sangat often describes them to be like one person. So Bibi Jasneet Kaur was happy to welcome her into the family and give her Dr Karandeep Singh Ji's personal Sewa. Together, they have been sharing and managing all the Sewa tasks.

After discussing with the Sangat, Bibi Jasneet Kaur decided to bring Bibi Bhagwant Kaur permanently into the family. The only way to do this was to arrange a unique Anand Karaj with Dr Karandeep Singh Ji, so that she could continue doing Sewa with all due dignity and respect. The Sangat took this one-of-a-kind proposal to Bibi Bhagwant Kaur, to protect her from future difficulties and public stigma while doing this personal Sewa. After discussing the out-of-this-world opportunity with her family and receiving their full support and blessings, she agreed.

This very special Anand Karaj took place on 19th October 2019 with great humility, dignity and respect at Gurdwara Sewewala Sahib. Something like this has only happened in history, where two Bibiya have given great sacrifices for the sake of Sangat's Sewa. Bibi Jasneet Kaur has sacrificed her married life by allowing a Bibi to become part of her family. Bibi Bhagwant Kaur has sacrificed her entire life by becoming part of this Sewadaar family.

Together, all 5 Sewadaars (Baba Gurbax Singh Ji, Dr Karandeep Singh Ji, Bibi Jasneet Kaur, Bibi Bhagwant Kaur and Kaka Bachittar Singh) are looking forward to their new life of Sewa as one family. Dr Karandeep Singh Ji is determined to continue doing as much Sewa as possible. His disability has given him more internal strength and willpower. The support of Bibi Jasneet Kaur and Bibi Bhagwant Kaur is helping him to stay healthy enough to continue serving the Sangat.

Listen to this deeply heart-touching speech from Bibi Jasneet Kaur Jee on this beautiful day of sacrifice and prem for Guru Nanak Sahib Jee's Sikhi sewa.  

Some highlights from the day 

Media coverage by local and international newspapers

With all the Sangat's blessings, this family has grown bigger and stronger. They need the Sangat's continued support and blessings to keep doing more Sewa for the rest of their lives. We all send our blessings to this family of Panthik Sewadaars