Kot Hussain Khan (Pakistan), March 25
Hundreds of Pakistani Sikh families living in Nankana Sahib flourish despite being a minority. It is the blessings of Baba Nanak that has seen these Sikhs preserve and maintain their religious and racial identity. The locals have done well in the present-day Pakistan.

Nankana Sahib has not only given the Pakistan army its first Sikh officer, but a police officer, a paediatrician, a budding cricketer and many more.

Things are fast changing for 600 Sikhs from about 80 houses, who were till recently mainly small shopkeepers and servicemen who are daily commuters to Lahore, Shekhupura or Faisalabad. The younger generation is working hard to maintain its religious, cultural and ethnic identities and at the same time for merging into the Pakistani mainstream.

Pakistan army’s Second-Lieutenant Harcharan Singh, who was born to the late Aya Singh and Amir Kaur and was raised on the streets where Guru Nanak played, is today a local hero - a role model for the Sikh youth - who echo a common sentiment, “If Harcharan Singh can do it, so can we”. Harcharan’s induction into the army as an officer has given a tremendous boost the aspirations of the local youth.

Prem Singh, a first cousin of Harcharan says, “Harcharan was always a bright lad; he secured 677 out of 850 marks in matric while studying at the local Government Guru Nanak High School. Today, he is a local role model; every parent cites his example before their children and it has had a very positive impact on the local community”.

Another local youth, Joginder Singh, has received the presidential award for topping in Nankana Sahib. Similarly Gulab Singh, also a local, has been inducted into the police as an officer and is currently posted at Shekhupura. Dr Mahipal Singh, yet another bright youngster, has graduated as a doctor and is currently at Lahore Medical College training to be a paediatrician. Residents also mention Bhupinder Singh - being coached at Lahore - who locals expect will soon play for Pakistan.

Other than beginning to excel in various spheres of life, the local Sikhs make a lot of effort to preserve Sikh cultural values, imbibe religious training and teach Punjabi to every Sikh student in Gurmukhi script. In west Punjab (Pakistani Punjab), the credit to keep Gurmukhi (Punjabi) alive goes to Master Hakam Singh, who taught at a local school and trained most people working at the seven gurudwaras in Nankana Sahib associated with Guru Nanak.

Guru Nanak Ji Public Model High School, run by the Sikh sangat of Nankana Sahib, teaches its Sikh students to read and write in Gurmukhi. The school has six teachers, five Sikh and one Hindu, who teach Punjabi as Gurbanai. Currently there are 325 Sikh students who start with Japji Sahib and go one to learn the complete Guru Granth Sahib. It serves a dual purpose, they learn about their religion and will help in running of the gurdwaras.