Bhai Vir Singh remembered

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 5

A programme was organised by the Chief Khalsa Diwan (CKD) to celebrate the148th birth anniversary of founder of Chief Khalsa Diwan here on Thursday. Cabinet Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa presided as chief guest on the occasion at Sri Guru Harkrishan Sen. Sec. Pub. School, Majitha Road Bypass. Randhawa announced a grant of Rs 10 lakh to the CKD for the promotion of Bhai Vir Singh literature and his works.

He paid rich tributes to Bhai Vir Singh and highlighted his role for inspiring youth to associate with their Punjabi culture, rich heritage, tradition and roots and asked Sikh institutes to promote Sikhism vigorously. He proposed to build a new modern CKD school at Dera Baba Nanak, and announced that land would be provided by the state government.

The proposal was accepted by the CKD management and new ultra-modern CKD school was declared to be opened by CKD president Nirmal Singh in the proposed area. Former chairman National Minority Commission and MP Tarlochan Singh presided over the programme acknowledged Bhai Vir Singh as a major figure in the Sikh renaissance. He also appealed the Punjab Government to recommend the name of Bhai Vir Singh for Bharat Ratna. Randhawa also batted for Bharat Ratna for the literary personality.

He said, “I assure Tarlochan Singh that his demand to consider the name of Nanak Singh for Bharat Ratna will be looked into. Personally, I will talk to Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on the issue.” SP Singh, a former VC of Guru Nanak Dev University, also attended the programme as a special guest .

CKD president Nirmal Singh, honorary secretaries Swinder Singh Kathunangal and Surinder Singh Rumaliyan Wale, resident president Harminder Singh, honorary secretary education committee Jaswinder Singh Dhillon, school members, in-charge Manmohan Singh and Navtej Singh Narang extended a warm welcome to the guests.

The programme started with melodious shabad and then recitation of poems composed by Bhai Vir Singh in the form of qwali which was followed by a play depicting Bhai Veer Singh’s life history and his contribution to the Punjabi literature.

CKD president Nirmal Singh while canonising Bhai Vir Singh as an “Pitamaah of modern Punjabi literature”, commented that he had palyed a prominent role in the movement for the revival and renewal of Punjabi literary tradition.