Gadhar Movement Event – Canada

100th Anniversary of the Gadhar Movement celebrated with the release of books ‘Gadhar Lehar Di Kahanee’, ‘Gadhari Yodhe’ and presentation of notable awards.

Surrey (Canada) (Jaiteg Singh Anant): On Saturday 5th July 2014, Hardarshan Memorial International Trust Canada with the Collaboration of Punjabi Adbi Sangat Literary Society of Canada (regd.) held a special event at the Grand Taj Banquet Hall Surrey in memory of the 100th Anniversary of the Gadhar Movement and to mark the 136th birth anniversary of Bhai Sahib Randhir Singh. During this program, a paper written by the well-known Sikh Scholar Dr. Gulzar Singh Kang was read out by S. Avtar Singh Adampuri (Seattle) regarding the book ‘Gadhar Lehar di Kahanee’ edited by Well-known writer and Scholar S. Jaiteg Singh Anant . This was followed by another paper by Dr. Balvinder Kaur from Bathinda on the book ‘Gadhari Yodhe’ read out by artist Gurcharan Singh Talewalia. Similarly, a paper about ‘Gadhar di Goonj te Bhai Sahib Randhir Singh’ was presented by the winner of the sahit Academy Awardee poet Paramvir Singh. A keynote on Jaiteg Singh Anant , written by Former Minority commission chairman and ex Raj Sabha Member S. Tarlochan Singh was addressed by Harpreet Singh, a well known journalist and TV host at the function.

Book Release

On this occasion, the families of freedom fighters Bhai Sahib Randhir Singh and Gyani Nahar Singh from England and America respectively released the books edited by S. Jaiteg Singh Anant followed by jaikaray from the congregation. S. Sardool Singh (St. Louis, USA), son of the great freedom fighter Gyani Nahar Singh was awarded the ‘Bhai Sahib Randhir Singh Memorial Award’. Gian Singh Sandhu and Daljit Singh Sandhu from Vancouver were presented with ‘Shaheed Bhag Singh’ and ‘Shaheed Mewa Singh Memorial’ awards. Similarly, great grandson of Bhai Sahib Randhir Singh, Bhai Jujar Singh (London, UK) and Gyani Jagdeesh Singh (Surrey) were awarded with ‘Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha’ and ‘Shaheed Bhai Balwant Singh Khurdpur’ Memorial awards respectively. Also presented with memorial awards were: Dr. Gurparkash Singh (St. Louis, USA), grandson of Gyani Nahar Singh given Baba Vaisakha Singh memorial award; Bibi Hardeep Kaur (London, UK) granddaughter of Bhai Sahib Randhir Singh given Bibi Gulab Kaur memorial award; Bibi Iqbal Kaur (Covendale, USA), granddaughter of Gyani Nahar Singh given Gyani Nahar Singh memorial award; well known poet S. Avtar Singh Adampuri (Washington) given Baba Nidhan Singh Chuga memorial award and S. Amrik Singh Hundal given Bhai Harcharan Singh memorial award.

Memorial Award to Dr Gurparkash Singh

These awards were presented by well known and eminent personalities from Canada, and included Master Ujagar Singh, Davinder Singh Grewal, Jaiteg Singh Anant, Jagjeet Singh Thakar, S. Gian Singh Sandhu (Founder president of the World Sikh Organisation), Kundan Singh Saajan, Rajinder Singh Dhaliwal, Harkirat Singh Kullar, Makhan Singh Sandhu and famous TV and radio host Harpreet Singh. Each award was presented with a memorial plaque, shawl, turban and a bunch of flowers. Alongside this Jaiteg Singh Anant praised each of the award receivers through an introductory citation. In addition, well known writer Vaasdev Singh Parhaar and well known personality from Surrey S. Jasmail Singh were also specially welcomed by being given a bouquet of flowers. Bibi Iqbal Kaur read out a message from her father Sardool Singh (son of Gyani Nahar Singh), who was not able to attend in person. Dr. Gurparkash Singh and Jujar Singh also paid tribute to their forefathers and their role in the Gadhar movement. Gian Singh Sandhu, Prem Singh Binning, Jasmail Singh Saran, Daljit Singh Sandhu, Avtar Singh Adampuri, Harkirat Singh Kullar all also echoed that this Gadhar movement was a Sikh movement, in which over 92% of those involved were Amritdhari Sikhs. Particularly, the role Bhai Sahib Randhir Singh and his companions in Punjab can never be forgotten.

Exhibition on Gadri Yodhe

Also on this occasion, paintings and pictures of Sikh martyrs (Shaheeds) were displayed in the form of an exhibition, along with those historical letters beginning in 1920-22 from the dark jails of Rajmundary ( Andhara Pradesh) Prison were also displayed for the congregation to view. Gyani Jagjit Singh Thakar eloquently read out poetic verses on Bhai Sahib Randhir Singh by Hira Singh Dard. The event was attended in large numbers by well known personalities including writers, philosophers, researchers, media and management committees of all local gurdwaras. Some of these included Professor, Hardev Singh Virk, Jeevan Rampuri, Principal Sarwan Singh Aujla, Gyani Kewal Singh Nirdosh, Jagdev Singh Sandhu, Poet Sukhvinder Kaur, Chamkor Singh Sekhon, Gurbachan Singh Sekhon, Master Amrik Singh Lehl, Sunil Kumar, Piara Singh Natt, Gurdeep Singh (Victoria), Nagina Singh, Jaswant Singh Khalsa, Talib Singh Sandhu (Ex-MLA), Bhai Kulvinder Singh Dhillon, Jasvinder Singh Dhatt, Gurdev Singh Bath.  The Honorary Presiding Board comprised of Jaiteg Singh Anant, Dr. Gurparkash Singh (St. Louis), Jujar Singh (London) and Jagjit Singh Thakar, who handled the running of the stage very well throughout the event. Shingar Singh Sandhu and Kewal Singh Dhaliwal both described the contents of the books most eloquently. This memorial and historic event lasted a whole 3 hours, which began with the shock announcements and praiseworthy notes in memory of the well known and eminent writer and researcher Prof. Uday Singh, well known Sikh personality Harbhajan Singh Lakha (Ex-MP) and Kehar Singh Dhamrait (Ex-president World Sikh Organisation Western Zone). The 3 hour function will have certainly left each of us with some of the sweet memories for years to come.

Group Photo

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