When compassion is sole passion

Syed Ali Ahmed

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 10

For all that’s not right, here’s something that is — Veerji Ka Dera. It’s an unusual name, but this is no regular dera. It’s an inspirational tale of altruism and selfless devotion to those in need.

The self-motivated group runs soup kitchens for some 2,500 homeless persons and nurses 400-500 in need of medical attention on a daily basis.

Every morning at 7, the dera volunteers arrive on the street right across Gurdwara Sis Ganj and six other places in the national capital to take care of the medical needs of the homeless. Armed with 300-400 volunteers who divide themselves into compact teams, they descend on designated spots.

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Started by a retired government official, the late Tirlochan Singh, in 1989, the dera is now run by his sons: Brig Premjit Singh Panesar, who retired recently, and Kamaljit Singh, who runs a security agency.

The brothers, along with their volunteers, including doctors Tahir and DC Aggarwal, continue to tend for an hour every day not from some cubicle, but right on the footpath. They describe their endeavour as a mission.

Tirlochan Singh, who was born in Myanmar in 1937, came to Delhi to study, where he got a government job and retired from the Pusa Institute. His father was in the British Indian Army and had fought in the World War II.

Brig Premjit Singh is a hands-on giver. Seated on a chair with pharmacist Raju by his side, he washes the wounds of patients before the dressing. Women volunteers Mithlesh Rastogi, Harbans Kaur, Harinder Kaur and Harjit Kaur also assist in tending to injuries and dispensing medicines. “Money cannot run the mission to serve langar and treat poor patients free of charge, only compassion can. Majority of the patients are in a pathetic condition.

They smell. But we wash their wounds, apply ointments and apply dressing without hesitation,” says Brig Singh. 

“We offer them tea. Later they are given two chapattis, a plate of rice with vegetables and pulses. The food is prepared by the volunteers by burning waste wood. According to need, it is supplied to each centre. We also cremate unidentified bodies at the Nigambodh crematorium,” he adds. The mission was launched by his late father, known as Veerji and Jharoo Wale Veerji because he could be routinely seen cleaning gurdwaras with a broom. He died in 2010.

“We both brothers have continued the mission with the help of volunteers. We do not have an account of the budget. We get donations from people but we do not accept money. We just accept donations in kind,” he says.

Veerji Ka Dera has taken land on rent for farming at Sohna and at Bhagola village in Palwal. “We cultivate bajra, wheat, rice and mustard. The waste of crops (turi) is used for feeding animals. The milk from the farm is used for tea served to the patients and other poor people,” he says.

Other places where the Dera runs its mission are Vridh Ashram at Dashrathpuri near Janakpuri; near Rajdoot Hotel in Nizamuddin; Sai Baba Temple at Lodhi Road, Keshavpuram Mandi near Tilak Nagar and Yamuna Pushta near ISBT, Kashmere Gate.

The Dera also runs a 65-bed hospital at Dashrathpuri where destitute patients are treated. The volunteers also get patients admitted to AIIMS and DDU hospital.

“Veerji” Tirlochan Singh has passed away, but his mission continues.