AASRA MAGAZINE: Connecting Communities Since 2006

Among the many contemporary Sikhs who have spent their lives in doing selfless service, Bhagat Puran Singh stands out like a star. He cared tremendously for the poor and the infirm, both people and animals. He is mostly known for Pingalwara, an institution where all living things, be it animals or people can stay and heal – all free of charge. Bhagat Puran Singh devoted his life to helping and healing people and worked all his life to help others. He was so devoted to helping others that he did not even invest in a pair of shoes for himself.

Bhagat Puran Singh was born in June of 1904 in the village of Rajewal in Punjab. His father was Chibu Mal, a moneylender in the village. His mother's name was Mehtab Kaur. At birth, Bhagat Puran Singh's name was Ramji Lal. He was born in a Hindu family. He converted to Sikhism after an experience he had when traveling from his boarding school to his mother's place. Along the trip he stopped at a Hindu Temple and did lot of sewa to clean up the temple. However, even though he worked hard - when the Brahmins finished eating, they did not even leave him any leftovers. He then walked on, disappointed, and came across a Gurdwara. He was offered Langar with a lot of devotion and ate until he was full. It was that day that he decided to follow the teachings of the Guru and become a Sikh.

During his life, he was influenced by many people as well as experiences. His mother taught him to care for all living things both human and animal. He used to pick up all harmful things from the road because his mother had explained that these objects come under the wheels of carts and make the animals who have to pull the carts work harder and they get hurt.

Another turning point came in his life, when he was doing sewa at Gurdwara Dera Sahib, now in Pakistan. The sewadars found an abandoned child in front of the Gurdwara. Bhagat Puran Singh volunteered to take care of the child and named him Piara. This boy was dumb, mentally impaired and physically disabled. Bhagat Puran Singh literally carried him on his shoulders wherever he went for twelve years. Bhagat Puran Singh referred to Piara as the "Garland around his neck." From that point onwards, he made it his main goal to make a place where all living things could rest and heal. He said that we say that god helps those who help themselves. But what about those people who are disabled or handicapped, who cannot help themselves? He wanted to help those who could not help themselves.

Before Pingalwara was built, Bhagat Puran Singh occupied an unused cabin and used it to take care of people and nurse them back to health. The government evicted him from the cabin and so then he moved into an abandoned half-built theatre and took care of the poor and the sick there. He used all the donations people offered him to help the sick people. He did not care to keep even one cent for himself. He ate only one small simple meal a day. When he had enough resources, he built Pingalwara on land very close to Darbar Sahib. He eventually built branches to Pingalwara, some that took care of animals that were abandoned by people. He knew the importance of education and always stressed it with all people around him. He started a printing press where he would print different articles that spoke of social issues facing humanity and the Sikhs.

He resented any comparisons of Pingalwara to hospitals, because hospitals charged money and limited the stay of sick people and he did not. All his life he picked up ailing people from the streets and carried them on foot, or transported them in his wheelbarrow to Pingalwara where he then nursed them back to health.

Bhagat Puran Singh died August 5, 1992 at the age of 88. Even though he is no more, his work and commitment to the sick and the ailing did not die with him. Many people still remember this man of great heart who helped so many people and they carry on his great work. Pingalwara still exists today helping those who cannot help themselves.

- Harmanas Singh