Chance meeting that changed him for good

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, February 19

A chance meeting with Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal in 2005 transformed Bihar native Bhushan Paswan (43), then an alcoholic, into an educationist. In 2008, he embraced Sikhism. Now, he is the principal of Nawan Nankana Charitable School, Sultanpur Lodhi.

This resident of Asthwan village in Nalanda narrated his life-altering experience at a meeting with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today.

Paswan, who had migrated to Punjab 14 years ago, was in an inebriated condition when he first met Seechewal on December 15, 2005, at Talwandi Chudhrian village. The environmentalist asked him to conduct a census of children at Sultanpur Lodhi, where he wanted to start a school. Paswan started teaching under a tree with just 13 students in 2005. The school now has 150 students, primarily children of Bihari migrants.

Paswan said, “I used to pull a rickshaw for a living. I was a sharabi-juari (alcoholic and gambler). But after a conversation with the saint (Seechewal), I decided to quit drinking. Inspired by his work, I converted to Sikhism.”

“I feel blessed that Babaji chose me to run the school,” Paswan said, adding that his son also studied here and has now gone to Nalanda for higher education.