PROMINENT 20 th CENTURY SIKHS

ARJAN SINGH "GARGAJJ"

Revolutionary and Journalist (1905-1963)
Was born the son of Sundar Singh Ramgarhia, an artisan of Tarn Taran, in Amritsar district of the Punjab, in 1905. In 1919, when he was studying in class VI, young Arjan Singh was expelled from school for refusing to salute the Union Jack, imperial standard of the British rulers. Undaunted, he plunged into the Akali agitation launched in 1920. He left home soon after and took up residence in the office of the Gargajj (lit. thunderous) Akali Diwan established by Jathedar Teja Singh Bhuchchar. This earned him the epithet "Gargajj".
Arjan Singh was arrested in April 1922 on a charge of publicly reciting a seditious poem and sent to jail for six months the youngest Akali prisoner.
Again in 1923, after the Shiromani Akali Dal as well as the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee had been outlawed in the wake of the Nabha agitation, Arjan Singh was taken into custody and awarded one-year imprisonment, but was not released until September 1926, when orders banning the Akali Dal were withdrawn. From the Akali Dal, he went across to Naujawan Bharat Sabha, an organization of young socialist revolutionaries. He became a member of the editorial staff of the Kirti, a professedly leftist magazine founded in February 1926 by Santokh Singh, a Ghadr revolutionary. He was imprisoned for his anti-government writings in 1929 and, again, in 1930.
Speech-making was banned for him in 1931, and in 1932 he was interned in the town of Tarn Taran. After briefly serving as sub-editor of the Babar Sher and chief editor of the Cartoon, he joined the Akili as a sub-editor in 1935.
He suffered imprisonment for his political convictions even after Independence and worked on newspapers such as Jahg-i Azadi and Nawah Zamana. His three published works, all in Punjabi, are Do Pair Ghatt Turna, Shahid de Bol and Mera Apna Ap.
Arjan Singh Gargajj died on 10 March 1963

SIKH GENIUS

GANGA SINGH, PRINCIPAL

A FORGOTTEN PROTAGONIST OF PUNJAB

 When it comes to the history of Punjab, the name of S. Ganga Singh Dhillon would always be remembered. He left an indelible imprint on it. It is ironical that the role played by this philosopher-son remains unknown to the new generations, laments R C GANJOO

Awell known thinker, philosopher, intellectual, writer and orator of the Sikh community in the pre-1947 era, Ganga Singh Dhillon was the first to raise the demand of Punjabi Subha (separate statehood for Punjabis) way back in 1956. Popularly known as principal, Ganga Singh suffered at the hands of British as well as Indian authorities before and after Independence. He passed away at the age of 68 in Gurudwara Shish Ganj on December 26, 1961. He faded away from public memory into an unknown champion in the history of Sikhs. His tales of daring deeds practically vanished along with him leaving hardly anyone to remember him in Punjab. So much so that the present generation hardly knows about his contribution. Although he was a guiding force behind the formation of the Akali Dal, he was never interested in power. He never endorsed "Politics based on false promises", as told by his own son Trilochan Singh. However, he enjoyed playing the man behind the throne. "I am a king maker, why should I become a king," he told Harbans Singh Ghuman (former MLA), also his student. In fact, many people would not know that Ganga Singh was instrumental in making his cousin brother-in-law Sardar Baldev Singh the first defence minister of India on the Akali Dal mandate. Many facets of his life are still not known to many. A progressive individual, he was also a nationalist to the core. According to his son Trilochan Singh, when the Jalianawala Bagh massacre took place in 1919, Ganga Singh, then a Tehsildar of Batala Tehsil, was ordered by the British government to decree the property of those killed at Jalianawala. He declined to carry out the orders and was subsequently declared deserter. Ganga Singh joined the Ghadar Party headed by Ras Bihari Bose and did not look back ever since. He started writing for the official organ of Ghadar Party published from Lahore. The colonial masters had put a ban on its publication and its reading. He toured the USA and Europe in 1947, where he met with intellectuals and world leaders, including Winston Churchill in the UK. With these leaders especially with Churchill, he is said to have pleaded the case of separate statehood for Punjabis. Unfortunately, in the US he met with an accident and suffered a serious head injury and broke his jaw. And doctors shaved off his hair to perform surgery on his head. When he returned t to India in 1949, he drove to Amritsar and rebaptized himself into the Sikh fold. Tarlochan Singh [Son] Ganga Singh also came to be known as an Urdu lyricist for valiant couplets against the Raj. One of them to earn him popularity was,: Ab ham ne himalya ki choti pe chadke lalkara hai, door hato ai dunya walo Hindustan hamaara hai. (Now that we have climbed atop Himalayas, you better get off, Hindustan is ours). In fact, Ganga Singh's fascination with Urdu started when he was in the sixth standard. He then studied the Holy Quran in a mosque and also wrote his first couplet "Rukhsat Hue is jahaan se jo mumaalik ke baani baani the…. From here, he picked up the art of writing Sufiana Kalaam. So much was his affinity to Urdu that he used to write Punjabi in the Urdu script. Under the Ghadar Party he started campaign against the British rule. Gatherings used to be held in Gurudwaras where he would deliver religious sermons. It was a team comprising Harnayal Singh, Partap Singh Kairon, Baba Mool Singh Gadhmulya, Veer Singh Atehbarya and Harbans Singh Attari (who founded Khalsa Yateem Khana). Besides fanning the nationalistic spirit, they would also highlight the importance of education for women who could play a pivotal role for developing the nation. Subsequently, these lofty idealisms led to many more serious and concrete works. For instance, Shahid Sikh Missionary College, at Putli Ghar in Amritsar was established in 1927 under the auspices of the apex Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). Ganga Singh, well versed in the art of oratory and with perfect mastery of Persian, Urdu and Punjabi languages, became its first principal and continued till 1946. This institution holds the credit of producing the pracharaks (preachers) like Ishar Singh Majael (first irrigation minister of Punjab), Gyani Sharm Singh, Gyani Badal Singh, Gyani Tegh Singh , Amar Singh Dussanj, Pyara Singh Padam, Gyani Lal Singh, Kartar Singh Pudi, Shama Singh Layalpuri, Kehar Singh Bairagi, Tara Singh Perdesi, Gyani Zail Singh (former president of India), Tara Singh Tara, Gurudev Singh Mann (father of famous Punjabi folk singer Gurudas Mann). His oratory was so powerful that he could mesmerize the audience. In Calcutta a round table conference of religious leaders was held in 1935 in which Calcutta scholarly persons from Budhist, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh and Jain religions were invited. Ganga Singh representing Sikh community, spoke for 25 minutes leaving the audience spell bound. He also edited Akali Patrika magazine for two years as chief editor. Thereafter, he started daily 'Ajit' and managed it for five years. The highlight of the stint was running a series dwelling on certain controversies involving Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi. Harbans Singh Ghumman [Ex-M.L.A., Student] Dark Phase: Ironically, Ganga Singh had to face a turbulent phase. His visit to Pakistan proved costly affair for him. He had reportedly gone there to attend the marriage of a grand daughter of Ghaznafar Ali Baweja who was the then governor of Punjab (Pakistan). He stayed in Pakistan for over one month. On his return to India in July 1956, he was arrested on the charges of conspiracy and sedition. His passport was impounded. He was lodged in Jaipur jail and his family members were not allowed to meet him. He was shifted to Gwalior jail and subsequently to Jhansi and Kodaikanal and allegedly subjected to all sorts of mental and physical torture. These left his body, mind and soul shattered. Ganga Singh took shelter at Ragi Santa Singh in Mata Sundri lane and decided to dedicate rest of his life to singing religious hymns. He was employed in Gurudwara Shish Ganj for Rs 10/- per day for singing hymns. The didn't join his family probably because he had sensed that his stay with his family members would invite troubles for them

INDIAN BUSINESS PIONEERS

GUJAR MAL MODY

Rai Bahadur Gujarmal Modi is counted among the noted industrialists of India who have aided in the building & strengthening of the pillars of Indian autonomy. He had a multi-faceted personality. He was a born administrator and an ardent believer of God. He was never after power and had led a very simple life. Throughout his life, he helped many people, including his relatives, friends and refugees by setting up industries for them. He was particularly sympathetic towards poor and needy, who used to love and respect him a lot. He won respect and esteem of everybody because of his inimitable capacity to distinguish between right and wrong and to stand up fearlessly for what he regarded as his moral duty.
As a philanthropist, he contributed greatly in the field of education. He established a chain of schools and colleges at his birth place, Mahinder Garh, in Patiala and in Modinagar. He also contributed a lot in the field of higher education by giving grants to established institutions such as Banaras Hindu University, and different colleges in Meerut and other places.

Delhi 

Multani Mal Modi Post-Graduate College, Modinagar Multani Mal Modi Degree College, Patiala Modi Science & Commerce College, Modinagar Rukmani Modi Mahila Maha Vidyalaya, Modinagar Dayawati Modi Public School, Modinagar Dayawati Modi High School, G.M. Modigram, Kathwara, Rai Barelli Dayawati Modi Junior High School, Sikrikalan Dayawati Modi Junior High School, Devendrapuri, Modinagar Gayatri Devi Modi Junior High School, Kedarpura, Modinagar Chandidevi Modi Junior High School, Modipuram Dayawati Modi Junior High School, Saidpur Dayawati Modi Junior High School, Abupur Dayawati Modi Junior High School, Bhojpur Pramila Devi Modi Junior High School, Harmukhpuri, Modinagar Dayawati Modi Junior High School, Shahjahanpur Condensed Course of Education for Adult Women, Modinagar Chheda Lal Shishu Niketan, Kasganj, Etah Chandidevi Modi Primary School, Modipuram Chandidevi Modi Nursery School, Modipuram Dayawati Modi Mahila Shilpa Kala Kendra, Modinagar Dayawati Modi Mahila Shilpa Kala Kendra, Modipuram Dayawati Modi Mahila Shilpa Kala Kendra, Kedarpura, Modinagar Dayawati Modi Mahila Shilpa Kala Kendra, Sikrikalan Dayawati Modi Mahila Shilpa Kala Kendra, Abupur Dayawati Modi Mahila Shilpa Kala Kendra, G.M. Modigram, Kathwara, Rai Barelli

He established a Women's Training College and Nurses' Training Centre in Modinagar in 1965. All these above-mentioned institution's provide education to more than 16,000 students. Dependants of the workers of different Modinagar industries get free education or training in these institutions. Monetary help and stipends are also given to students going in for higher education in India or abroad.
He also established a High School and a Sanskrit Pathshala at Mahinder Garh, his birth place, and a Degree College in Patiala, which was named after his father.
He was interested in Scientific Research and Development. He contributed Rs. 2.5 million for the establishment of the Modi Science Foundation in Modinagar in 1975. It has a cotton development scheme meant for training cotton growers, and it uses the latest methods of producing highly yielding varieties of natural fibre.
However, his biggest contribution to the cause of public welfare is the Eye Hospital and Ophthalmic Reasearch Centre in Modinagar to which he contributed Rs. 3 million. It is now working in collaboration with the National Society for the Prevention of Blindness. Its foundation ceremony was performed on 26 April 1975 by the late President of India, Mr. Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed. This research centre is an integrated centre for promotive, preventive, curative and re-habilitative care backed by education and research. It does not only endeavour to prevent eye disease and blindness through appropriate methods of publicity media, by conducting surveys in schools and colleges, and industrial and rural areas and to continuously evaluate the community needs, but it also has a mobile unit fully equipped with instruments and medicines for giving immediate relief to patients at their door-steps. It helps to collect statistics of the eye disease cases in rural and industrial areas to help the government to plan various ophthalmic health programmes. He realised the dire need of such a centre in the country. He was determined to make the centre a model institution to control blindness. He had also made up his mind to create employment opportunities for the blind.

Modinagar

Mr. Gujarmal Modi belonged to a family which had a tradition of business. His great grandfather Mr. Ram Baksh Modi was a simple, kind-hearted, hard working and honest businessman. He had set up his business in Mahendra Garh which was then known as Kanaur and was the capital of the state of Nawab of Jhajjar. Until 1857 Mr. Ram Baksh Modi arranged civil supplies for the armies of the Nawab. During the first rebellion of 1857 when the British Regent was compelled to leave the state of Jhajjir, he ensured his safe conduct to Rewar. Later, when the rebellion was suppressed and the princely state of Jhajjar came under the sway of the British, the responsibility of arranging civil supplies for the British forces stationed at kanaur was once again entrusted to the experienced and capable hands of the Modi family. The State was later on given by the British to Maharaja Mahendra Singh of Patiala as a reward for the help rendered by him to the British during the rebellion. The name of Kanaur was then changed by the Maharaja to Mahendra Garh after his own name, and the Modi family was now asked to arrange civil supplies for the British forces stationed at Patiala. It was, thus, that the business activities of the Modi family came to be extended to Patiala where Mr. Ram Baksh Modi established a branch of his business. After the death of Mr. Ram Baksh in 1857, the family business was badly carried on by his son Mr. Chiranji Lal Modi, the grandfather of Mr. Gujarmal Modi. As time passed, the task of arranging civil supplies for the whole range of British cantonments from Kanpur to Peshwar came to be entrusted to the Modi family and this work was carried on by them efficiently and to the entire satisfaction of the armed forces. For the sake of efficiency and convenience, Mr. Chiranj Lal shifted the head-quarters of his family business to Multan (now a part of West Pakistan) with additional branches at Kanpur and Ambala and also at Naushera and Jullunder. It was at Multan that on 21st October, 1857, Mr. Chiranji Lal was blessed with a son whom he named Multanimal after the city of Multan. Mr. Multanimal Modi was also a gifted businessman like his father. While helping father in business, Mr. Multanimal in his own right came to be known for his honest dealings and shrewd business acumen. He told his father that he would join neither army nor civil service nor any other service, but would set up his own independent business. He had an immense measure of self-confidence and his discerning father gave him the desired consent. He had no difficulty in raising the initial finance require for the business.

Career of Father

Mr. Multanimal started his career as a commission agent in foodgrains at Patiala. Gradually, he started supplying wheat to a flour mill at Patiala which was then run in partnership by a few Parsi and Sikh officers. For some years business at the mill ran smoothly. But suddenly the mill suffered heavy losses and the owners were obliged to dispose it of. This offered a natural opportunity to Mr. Multanimal to expand and diversity his business. He purchased the mill in 1894 and with his managerial skill and business flourished rapidly. Mr. Multanimal established his name not only in business circles but also in the field of public service. It was due to his popularity and understanding of public affairs that he was made an honorary magistrate and was also elected City Father of Patiala. He was the first and also the last in the state to get the title of Rai Bahadur. This was a fitting recognition of his services as a businessman and philanthropist. Two high schools were among the many public welfare institutions established or patronised by him. He also contributed liberally to the goshalas besides forming a public welfare council to look after the welfare of others. He took keen interest in Persian language and literature and left behind several manuscripts in that language.

Second Child of Family

Mr. Gujarmal Modi was the second child in the family of Mr. Multanimal Modi who married four times. His first wife, who hailed from the family of the Dewan of Khetri, gave birth to a daughter and died four years after marriage. His second marriage was solemnised with Chandi Devi daughter of Nanak Ram of Nawazpura, District Narnaul, in 1896. Mr. Multanimal did not have any son so far. Being an orthodox Hindu, the elders in the family believed that the birth of a son was necessary to ensure one's salvation after death. There was a natural desire, therefore, that there should be a son in the family. This was, perhaps, one of the many reasons which had impelled him to marry again after the death of his first wife. When he was blessed with a son on 9th August, 1902 at Kanaur (Shravana Shukla Shashthi of 1859 according to the Hindu calendar, more popularly known as the Vikrami Calender) there was great rejoicing in the whole family. The birth was celebrated with songs and music because this was the fulfillment of a long cherished desire for a son. Good wishes continued to pour in for days and weeks. The astrologers were summoned and they stated that at the time of the birth, the position of the stars was extremely favourable for the child. The devout father then arranged a Yagna followed by all the ceremonies that normally take place in an orthodox Hindu family after the birth of a son. But this rejoicing in the family and the mood of gaiety lasted barely six days as the mother developed sepsis and all the medical aid that was available in those days could not save her. The little child was left without a mother. This naturally created numerous problems for the family. At first it was decided to bring up the child on bottle feeding. But the elders in the family resisted the idea. The firmly believed that breast - feeding was the only way to save the child, the only male issue so far in the family. The father could not resist the wishes of the elders and thus a foster-mother from the nearby village of Majra was engaged to breastfeed the child. The grandmother would visit the child and the wet nurse almost every other day to ensure that the child received full attention. But after a few days both the foster-mother and the child were brought over to Patiala where they could stay under the direct supervision of the grandmother. The birth name if the child was Ram Prasad, but as time passed, the child was nicknamed Gujar after his foster mother whose name was Gujari. The name Gujar stuck on and the child came to be known as Gujarmal. That is how the little Ram Prasad, who was destined to become an industrial magnate in his later years, came to be known as Mr. Gujarmal Modi. Meanwhile little Gujarmal's father was married for the third time to the daughter of a well-known family at Patiala. As ill-luck would have it, the third wife too died after a year of married life without leaving any issue. When the father married his fourth wife, Rukmini Devi, daughter of Mr. Bansi Dhar of Mahendra Garh, when the young Gujarmal was only 2 1/2 years of age. It was under her loving care that the child received real motherly affection. By the time Gujarmal was four, his father had established his business at Patiala. In those days the modern system of pre-primary schooling was not in vogue. During the early years, therefore, the young child was put under the care of a Maulvi at his private coaching centre. In those days education in such single-teacher coaching centres, established privately, was free. In return for the instruction given, the students paid in kind in the shape of grains and other household goods. It was under the care of the Maulvi that the young Gujarmal, though the son of an affluent family, started learning the Mahajani style of writing.

School Education

After completing one year of pre-school education, the child, at the age of five was admitted to a local school. The grandfather of the child was a staunch believer in discipline. He wanted the child to be admitted to a Sainik School to become a soldier. But this was not to be. The grandfather died in 1913 when the boy was studying in class VI. Destiny had ordained for him an altogether different path----the path of industry. And rightly so, because, as later events proved, in the field of industry Mr. Gujarmal Modi acquitted himself extremely well by creating the infrastructure for new and diverse industries in those areas which had hitherto been thoroughly backward and undeveloped. Persons who had the occasion to watch the young Gujarmal grow up confide that right from his early days he had started showing unmistakable signs of a promising career. While his other friends at school appeared to be book-worms, the young Gujarmal could be seen engaged in new and uncommon pursuits. One person who had watched him during his school days from closed quarters states that up to his eighth standard, the young Gujarmal used to get two paise (three paise in the new decimal currency) as pocket money each day. Those were the days when the first World War had just started and inflation and rising prices were yet far away. Everything was less expensive and even a little money could boy would meet his daily expenses on snacks and yet save something for helping the poor and needy students. Something unimaginable in these days of spiraling prices. The movement started by Swami Dayanand and other contemporary reformers against child marriages and other customs had made a deep impact on society. The custom of early marriages had not, however, disappeared altogether. The Modi family, essentially, was orthodox. So the marriage of the young Gujarmal was solemnised at the early age of 13 in 1915. At the time of his marriage with Rajban Devi, daughter of Mr. Goverdhan Das of village Singhana in Rajasthan. He was still studying at the Model School, Patiala. Gauna, the post-marriage ceremony when the bride comes to live with her husband took place two years later. Marriage did not have any adverse effect on the education of the young Modi. What did, however, disturb his studies was an otherwise minor at school which eventually disrupted his school education. The incident relates to the year 1920 when he was studying in the tenth standard. It was a cloudy day and there was cool breeze blowing all around. The weather outside was extremely pleasant and inviting and the Mathematics teacher, Mr. Chopra, suggested that the students might go on an excursion on that fine day. The suggestion was met with spontaneous response and the overjoyed students started preparing for an outing. But the principal, who was not on good terms with the Mathematics teacher, came in the way. Taking advantages of the situation, he leveled the allegation that the teacher was inciting the students to go on strike and had, thus, violated the discipline of the school. He also asked the students to apologize. The students led by Gujarmal, opposed this suggestion. They argued that as students they were not to blame and should, therefore, not be asked to apologize. The principal, however, was in no mood to listen. Ultimately, the echoes of the incident reached the Maharaja. There, too the young Gujarmal turned Student leader, argued the case of the students fearlessly and sought justice at the hands of the Maharaja. While Gujarmal was thus engaged in pursuing the case of the students, the last date for sending the examination fees expired. This meant the loss of a full year for the young Modi. By this time the business of Mr. Multanimal Modi had grown manifold and he felt the need of someone who could help him in running the family business. The father considered this a God-sent opportunity and asked his son Gujarmal to start attending to the family business. The young Modi wanted to pursue his studies, but in the face of the firm opinion expressed by his father, who believed that practical experience in life could impart better education than the routine school education, the son yielded. At the same time, being aware of the son's appetite for learning, the father made arrangements for private coaching at home.

Professional Life

The boy started pursuing privately courses in business management, accountancy and other allied subjects. By 1919 he had started working as Munim (Accountant) and cashier at the family shop. A genius learns in mysterious and strange ways; it runs while the ordinary person crawls. The gifted Gujarmal absorbed knowledge of business organisation rapidly. He acquired knowledge of practical aspects of business management and the intricacies of the trade. He worked very hard, spent long hours of his leisure in reading books on commerce, architecture, engineering and marketing. What he missed by not going in for formal college education, he more than made up by the practical training and the dedicated application he brought to bear on his chosen subjects. The father encouraged him in his studies and provided him with opportunities to gain practical experience.

Himself

Mr. Gujarmal Modi struggled hard for the major part of his life. With perseverance and firm determination he succeeded in attaining his objectives and rose to heights of eminence. In times of crisis he never lost heart but with faith in God and in himself fought his way through. Moreover, as he prospered in business, his humanitarian and philanthropic zeal also increased. He was convinced that the key to the country's prosperity was its industry, without of course neglecting the agricultural sector. Ploughing back profits from running concerns to enlarge them or to establish new industries was a passion with him. He did not view his enterprises as money-making ventures but made them sources of capital for more and more industries. He was thus able to build up a vast network of small and big industries in Modinagar, a township which he built from scratch through his sustained personal efforts. He was of the view that the final objectives of the Government and the business community were the same. As he observed in his presidential address at the 42nd annual session of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry in 1969: " We both aim at a faster rate of development. We both wish the country to have a better standard of living. We both want full employment for our people." An industrialist with a dynamic and progressive outlook, Mr. Modi realised that harmonious relations with labour were necessary for success in an industry. Long before welfare policies became an accepted norm in India, he built pucca houses for workers near the places of work and provided educational and other facilities for their dependents. He forestalled the concepts of workers' participation in management by setting up Works Committees in his factories as long ago as 1947. That employees and employers should bilaterally sort out their mutual problems without involvement of extraneous elements was the crux of his outlook on industrial relations.
Mr. Modi was a God-fearing man with a devotional bent of mind. He built a number of temples in the labour colonies of Modinagar, besides the shrine of Bhagvati Devi at Shukratal in Muzaffarnagar District of U.P. and Lord Shiv Temple at Patiala in Punjab. He also built the magnificent Laxmi Narayan temple at Modinagar. It is a marvel in red sandstone, a triumph of the architect's imagination, where the soul inspiring saga of our ancient religion is beautifully carved. The design of the temple was prepared by Mr. M. L. Roy, the famous architect of Kanpur who had earlier designed the building of the well-known Birla Temple in Delhi. The temple is an exquisite structure and stands in the heart of Modinagar. It is a source if attraction for passers-by and visitors. Gay parks and fountains around the temple encourage people to spend time in its lawns. He was later cremated in the lawns. He was later cremated in the lawns of this temple where a marble samadhi is to be constructed. Mr. Gujarmal had boundless faith in God. He strongly believed that he was a mere instrument of the Divine Will and that his efforts would succeed only if God willed them to. Mr. Modi was also a great philanthropist. He established the R.B. Multianimal Modi Chartitable Trust and Sainik Bhawan at Patiala. He established a Sadhu Ashram at Patiala. However, his single biggest contribution to the cause of public welfare is the Eye Hospital and Ophthalmic Reasearch Centre at Modinagar to which he contributed Rs. 3 million. It is now working in collaboration with the National Society for the Prevention of Blindness. Its foundation ceremony was performed on 26 April 1975 by the late President of India, Mr. Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed. This Research Centre is an integrated centre for promotive, preventive, curative and re-habilitative care backed by education and research. It will not only endeavour to prevent eye disease and blindness through appropriate methods of publicity media, conduct surveys ins schools and colleges, industrial workers, rural population and continuously evaluate the community needs of the changing society but will also have a mobile unit fully equipped with instruments and medicines for giving immediate relief to patients at their door-steps. It will help to collect statistics on the incidence of eye diseases in rural and industrial areas to help the government to plan various ophthalmic health programmes. Mr. Gujarmal Modi realised the dire need of such a centre in the country. He was determined to make the centre a model institution to control blindness. He had also made up his mind to create employment opportunities for the blind. Mr. Modi promoted the welfare of women by establishing a Samaj Kalyan Vibhag. The Samaj Kalyan Parishad organises tailoring and embroidery classes for women. There is also an adult education centre under its charge. It ensures employment for windows and has also arranged some widow-marriages. Now this organisation runs under the patronage of his wife Mr.s Dayawati Modi, who like her husband takes keen interest in all philanthropic activities. Mr. Modi also made substantial contribution in rehabilitating displaced persons when the partition of India took place. He constructed Govindpuri Colony consisting of 500 houses and 25 small scale industries. All those persons who were rehabilitated were provided employment either in Modi enterprises or in small scale industries set up in this colony. As a philanthropist, he also contributed greatly to the cause of education. He established a chain of schools and colleges at his birth place, Mahendra Garh, at Patiala and at Modinagar. He supported higher education by giving grants to established institutions like Banaras Hindu University, colleges in Meerut and other places. There is an interesting story behind the establishment of the M.M. Modi Degree College at Modinagar, which is one of the prestigious educational institutions devoted to higher education in Uttar Pradesh. In 1957, Mr. Modi wanted a nephew to be admitted to the B.Sc. class in Meerut College, of which he was a generous patron. At this, the Principal is said to have remarked that if Mr. Gujaramal was so keen on college education, why didn't he establish a college in Modinagar? Mr. Modi did not take the remark as an affront. On the other hand, it sparked off a desire in him to establish a college at Modinagar? Mr. Modi did not take the remark as affront. On the other hand, it sparked off a desire in him to establish a college at Modinagar. The following year the college began to functioning right earnest. It was named Multanimal Modi Degree College after his father. It has now a full fledged post-graduate institution imparting education in 13 subjects of Science, Arts and Commerce and is regarded as one of the best colleges affiliated to Meerut University. It also has an extensive students' hostel constructed at a cost of Rs. 5,00,000 and was inaugurated on 16 January 1961. A Women's Training College and Nurses' Training Centre at Modinagar in 1965 was also set up by him. All these institution provide education to more than 16,000 students. Dependants of the workers of different Modinagar industries get free education or training in these institutions. Monetary help and stipends are also available for students going in for higher education in India and abroad. He also established a High School and a Sanskrit Pathshala at Mahinder Garh, his birth place and a degree college at Patiala, also named after his father. He was interested in scientific research and development. He contributed Rs. 2.5 million for the establishment of the Modi Science Foundation at Modinagar in 1975. It has a cotton development scheme to train cotton growers, and use the latest methods of producing highly yielding varieties of natural fibre. Mr. Modi also inspired his younger brother Mr. Kedar Nath Modi to found a public school named after Mr. Gujarmal Modi's wife, Mrs. Dayawati Modi. Herself a great patron of education, she is President of the Public School. It is affiliated to the Central Board of Higher Secondary Education. It is housed in a two-storey building with 30 spacious class rooms and well-equipped laboratories. A grand auditorium is a special feature of the school. The Principal's lodge and the staff quarters are complete. A self-contained hostel, a swimming pool, a gymnasium, a Gita Bhawan and a horse-riding track are also under construction to complete the school complex. Mr.Modi had a multi-faceted personality. He was a born administrator. An ardent believer in God, he was never after power. He led very simple life and believed in sharing all that he had with every one around him. Throughout his life, he helped a number of people. He also helped his relatives, friends and refugees by setting up industries for them. He was particularly sympathetic towards the poor and the needy, who, therefore, loved and respected him. He won respect and esteem of one and all because of his inimitable capacity to distinguish between right and wrong and to stand up fearlessly for what he regarded as his moral duty. Modinagar is a tangible expression of his untiring efforts for and dedicated service to the cause of India's industrial development. Less tangible though, but equally abiding, is the place he has carved out for himself in the hearts of thousands of men and women who knew him. He was indeed a great humanitarian even more than a great industrial magnate.

MODY GROUP

The Modi Group split in the 1989, and the business was sdivided between the five sons of Gujar Mal Modi, including K K Modi, BK Modi and SK Modi and the three sons of his step brother Kedar Nath Modi. K K Modi, Gujar Mal Modi’s eldest son, owns Godfrey Philips, the tobacco company.
His brother K. N. Modi, died in 2005, at the age of 84. His son M.K. Modi is the head of Modipon Fibre, of the K.N. Modi Group, while his other son Y.K. Modi was FICCI president for many years
FOR more info click on following link
http://www.modi.com/htm/chp1.htm

CANADIAN SIKHS

SARDAR GIAN SINGH KOTLI

S.Gian Singh Kotli a prominent canandian from Surry (Canada) who's services to the cause of Punjabi language and literature are widely acclaimed, both in Canada and outside who is credited with propagating Sikhism among the white youth in canadian school, colleges, churches and universities, was introduced to the audience and presented with a memento and Siropa of honour. S.Gian Singh Kotli has been teaching Punjabi and Sikhism to the Mayor of Vancouver Sam Sullivan for the last 3.5 years and he speaks Punjabi when ever goes to Gurdwara and Punjabi functions and says if I can learn Punjabi why not your kids?

PROMINENT MOHYAL

SIR GANESH DATT SINGH
Sir Ganesh Dutt Singh KCSI, KCIE (1868–1943) was an Indian administrator and educationist. He did much to improve education and health services in the state of Bihar and Orissa in the pre-independence era.^] Dutt made generous donations from his earnings and personal property for the development of educational institutions, such as the radium institute in Patna Medical College, Darbhanga Medical College, Ayurvedic College and schools for the blind and deaf A short film based on the life and works of Dutt has been made by Prakash Jha. He was Minister for Local Self Government in British Government of Bihar and Orissa and one of the major public figures of the province of Bihar. Sir Ganesh Dutt had donated his house Krishna Kunj to Patna University to start the Patna University Institute of Psychological Research and Service, one of the oldest psychological service centres in Eastern India in 1945 at the initiative of Sir Chandeshwar Prasad Narayan Singh Sinha, who was the then Vice Chancellor of Patna University. Sir Dutt saved nearly three-fourth of his salary each month for 14 long years only to give it away to various charities to benefit orphans, widows, and schools in the state.
He took keen interest in Patna University’s development.^] He donated some of his valuable assets to the varsity and worked hard to dispense the practice of appointing former judges as vice-chancellors. Dr Sachchidanand Sinha became the first VC of Patna University who was not a judge
Sir Ganesh Dutta started studying English only when he was 18 in an era when you could not take ICS entrance examinations after you were 19. There is an interesting family story about how he took to English. He was at is in-laws place when a telegram came. Someone asked him to read it. His father-in-law tersely remarked “oh If only i was that fortunate that my son-in-law could read english”. The remark hurt Sir Ganesh Dutta’s pride. He devoted himself to studies and matriculated five years later with first division and a scholarship for proficiency in maths . He did not stop there and went on to become a modestly successful lawyer and later a minister in the government of Bihar and Orissa from 1923 to 1937, the longest tenure for any minister anywhere in the whole British Empire,^]. Sir Ganesh Dutt was the Minister of Local Self Government in the British Cabinet from 1923 till 1937 when the Provincial Government was established
While he was the Minister of Local Self Government, Sir Ganesh Dutt was made Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire by the British for his myriad contributions to the public good. State functions are organised by the Government of Bihar on the birth anniversary of Sir Ganesh Dutt on January 13 every year

PROMINENT PUNJABI WOMEN

BIBI GULAB KAUR- 


THE LITTLE-KNOWN HEROINE OF GHADAR PARTY


Gulab Kaur, a revolutionary of early 1900s, is the first Great Punjabi Woman featured here though we know little about her.

Yet there is this amazing possibility that this post may find someone who can tell us more.
Gulab Kaur (circa 1890 Bakhshiwala District Sangrur – 1931)

According to Amarjit Chandan, Gulab joined Ghadr Party (established California, June 1913) in the Philippines where Hafiz Abdullah of Jagraon was the President of the local branch. She also worked with other Ghadr Party leaders such as Banta Singh Sanghwal and Harnam Singh Tundilat. Gulab Kaur kept vigil on party printing press in guise, and helped in the distribution of arms and literature.
Gulab Kaur suffered two years imprisonment in Lahore.

SIKH SAINTS

SANT GULAB SINGH JI GHOLIA

Gulab Singh Gholia (1853-1936), Sikh saint and scholar, was born in 1853 to Bhai Dal Singh and Dharam Kaur of Bhattivala, a village 6 km south of Bhavanigarh, in the present Sangrur district of the Punjab. He received his early education in the village dharamsala, and then spent five years at the dera of Bhai Ram Singh, at Manuke, in Faridkot district, learning kirtan and studying the Sikh scriptures. Realizing that, to properly comprehend and interpret certain theological terms used in the Scriptures, knowledge of Sanskrit was essential, he shifted, in 1873, to the village Dhapali (now in Sangrur district), where he apprenticed himself to Giani Anokh Singh. He studied Sanskrit and Vedanta with him for ten long years. But his thirst for knowledge was slill unquenched, and he went to Rishikesh to read further in the classics under Pandit Nihal Singh and Pandit Advaitanand. He also acquired knowledge of Indian medicine. The Singh Sabha reform was already under way and there was great enthusiasm among the Sikhs to spread the correct Sikh doctrines and practices. Sant Gulab Singh decided to devote himself to preaching the Guru's word. He travelled extensively in pursuit of his mission. Once, in 1890, Maharaja Hira Singh, ruler of the princely state of Nabha, met him at Prayag (Allahabad) and invited him to settle down in his state, but he declined the offer. Likewise, he declined to take over the dera at Manuke, after the death of Bhai Ram Singh. He eventually moved to Gholia Khurd, 5 km north off Manuke, where, in 1907, he established a gurudwara which henceforth became the centre of his activities. His active participation in the Gurdwara Reform movement commenced in 1914 with the Gurdwara Rakabganj agitation. Later, he was elected, unopposed, a member of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and was nominated to its religious subcommittee. He was one of the Panj Piaras who inaugurated karseva at the Amritsar sarovar on 4 Asarha 1980 Bikrami/17June 1923. In his old age, Gulab Singh Gholia built a gurudwara, Anand Bhavan, at Moga where he died on 3 July 1936.

SIKH MILITARY HEROES

GANDA SINGH DATT

Sardar Bahadur Risaldar Major Ganda Singh Datt (1830 - July 1903) was a decorated soldier in the British Indian Army, who served in the 19th Bengal Lancers also known as Fane's Horse.

MILITARY CAREER & AWARDS

Ganda Singh was a Muhiyal (Mohyal) born into a Hindu family but brought up as a Sikh, a practice often followed in Muhiyal families at the time. He belonged to the village of Zaffarwal Dattan in Tehsil Rayya of District Sialkot. He enlisted as a Dafadar in 1852 and served as a soldier over 50 years. He received the Indian Order of Merit for having saved the life of Sir Robert Sandeman at Lucknow at the time of the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857. Subsequently, in the Second Anglo-China War, he saved the life of Sir Charles MacGregor as well.

Later in the Afghan Campaign of the British Indian Army, he participated in the famous march to Kandahar

 

and distinguished himself in the Battle of Kandahar, becoming an Honorary Captain. He was eventually appointed ADC to Lord Roberts of Kabul and Kandahar, VC, the then Commander-in-Chief of the British Indian Army.

He was rewarded with large tracts of agricultural land, and the village Ganda Singh Wala on the periphery of Amritsar is named after him. He was president of the first All India Mohyal Conference held in 1902 at Lahore, and was among the select veteran Indian soldiers presented to the British Royals in the Coronation Durbar held in Delhi in January 1903.

 FAMILY BACKGROUND

Ganda Singh's extended family featured many other eminent persons as well. His cousin Bakshi Prem Singh Vaid was a decorated soldier in the British Indian Army as well, and so was his son Bakshi Tirath Ram Vaid. His maternal grandson Dr. Baldev Singh Vaid was a famous neurologist who was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Indian government, and whose son-in-law KK Bakshi was a decorated Air Vice Marshal of the Indian Air Force. Sardar Sant Singh Datt PCS who was appointed Chief Resident of Kalsia State was his grand nephew, whose son Lt. Gen. Kalwant Singh was a senior officer in the Indian army. 

 

INDIAN GADARI BABAS

GANDA SINGH 'GADARI BABA'


Ganda Singh (Phangureh), district Hoshiarpur (1883–18 March 1958) was one of the original freedom fighters and ghadarites. He was the son of Nikka Singhof Pandori, Hariana, Hoshiarpur

In 1907, Ganda Singh moved to North America aboard the S.S. Monteagle where he took part in various movements for national independence. There he also lived among the pioneers of the Indian revolutionary movement.

While returning back from America aboard the S.S. Korea and then the Tosa Maru ship in the year 1914, he was arrested along with veteran ghadarites Baba Sohan Singh Bhakna and Pandit Jagat Ram Haryanvi. He was first kept in Central jail, Muktsar, then taken to Lahore, and then he was thrown into Camp jail,Kainthalpur. He was freed on 26 June 1916 and then sent to his village and put under house arrest. At that time, he was supervised by Deputy Commissioner of Hoshiarpur Raja Narindernath.

Later, the Special Tribunal sentenced him to four years in prison under section 124 A and 125. This sentence started in 1919 and he was kept in Lahore jail. Then, under the Montego Chelmsford Scheme he was freed in January 1920.

He was arrested again in May 1922 and Pir Gyasuddin, a first class magistrate sentenced him to one and a quarter years in prison along with a fine of one hundred rupees under section 17 B of the Chelmsford Law Amendment Act. After that, he was sentenced to nine months imprisonment in the case of Black Turban Movement. He was sent to Dera Ghazi Khan jail . After some time he was transferred to Rohtak jail and in 1924 he was freed. While he was returning to his village after completing his sentence, he was arrested from Sham Chaurasirailway station in the Babbar Akali case. After a while, this case was dismissed and he was again arrested in the famous Anarkali bomb case. Besides Ganda Singh, involved in this case were the famous Hari Singh Jalandhari, Banta Ram Pandori Phangureh, Mistry Famanshia and Mela Ram Bagera. This case went on in the Special court of Lahore for more than four years. In this case, except for the Government/official witnesses, everybody got rigorous imprisonment sentences for 30 years each and a fine of Rupees Five hundred each. This was appealed in the high court.

Ganda Singh went on to become the chief of Hoshiarpur district congress and Civil naming authority along with the district magistrate of Hoshiarpur again sentenced him to one year imprisonment. He served this imprisonment in the Kasoor jail.

In 1932, after coming out of jail he started a school for girls' education in hisr village. At the time, there was no system in place for girls' education in the area and the common people were against girls getting educated. He then started to spend a lot of time in the care and well being of his six children. At this time a lot of political workers used to come to him for advice and he would infuse enthusiasm in them and serve them.

In 1949, for the violation of clause 144, the Hoshiarpur magistrate sentenced him and Harnam Singh Tundilat to one year imprisonment along with a fine of Rupees hundred. The fact of the matter is Baba Ganda Singh's life was a life of a true freedom fighter and he had to face much agony for taking part in the movement of national independence.

Baba Ganda Singh Phangureh died on 18 March 1958. In his remembrance, the inhabitants of the village have constructed a gate/corner on the main street to remember Baba ji by.

SIKH HISTORIANS

Dr.GANDA SINGH

Dr Ganda Singh (1900-1987) is the celebrated Sikh historian, who by his sustained and pioneer work in the field of historical research, initiated new trends in Sikh historiography and who, by his critically important work, became a vital and pervasive influence in historical learning in the field of Sikh Studies, He was born on 15 November 1900, at Hariana, an old town close to the city of Hoshiarpur in Punjab. His father's name was Sardar Jawala Singh. He got his initial education in the village mosque,later shifting to the primary school. He passed the middle standard examination from DAV (Dayanand Anglo-Vernacular) Middle School, Hoshiarpur, and his matriculation from Government High School in the same town. He joined the Forman Christian College at Lahore, but soon left it to enlist in the army (1919). He served at the Supply and Transport Corps Base Depot, Rawalpindl, and at the divisional office at Peshawar before he was attached to the Mesopotamia Expeditionary Force, Basra, in 1920 and later to the British Royal Army Pay Corps, also at Basra, in 1921. There he had his thigh torn by a bullet shot and he was hospitalized. After recovery he was repatriated to India, but had been mistakenly reported dead to his family. This led to a dramatic situation. When he suddenly appeared at the door of his home in the village late one evening, he was taken for a ghost and was refused admittance. As he was recognized the following morning at the doorstep of his house, the family's horror turned into jubilation.

Ganda Singh did not stay at home for long. He went back to Mesopotamia (now Iraq) and then to Iran, to join the Anglo-Persian Oil Company at Abadan as accounts officer. At Abadan, he came under the influence of the British scholar, Sir Arnold Wilson, who besides his official duties as General Manager of the company was working on his Bibliography of Persia . Young Ganda Singh now aspired to prepare a bibliography of his native Punjab. On his return to Punjab towards the end of 1930, he first worked on the editorial board of Phulwari, a Punjabi monthly published from Lahore. One long-lasting friendship he picked up there was with Bhagat Lachhman Singh, a Sikh reformer and educationist. He however missed the opportunity to meet Karam Singh, the historian, then very enthusiastic in promoting the cause of Sikh history. Karam Singh died before Ganda Singh could meet him.

In October 1931 began Dr Ganda Singh's long and fruitful career as a researcher and historian. The Khalsa college at Amritsar placed him in charge of its newly-created Sikh History Research Department, which position he occupied till 1949. During this period he travelled extensively, rummaging various public libraries, archives and private collections throughout India in quest of material on Sikh history, enriching the library of his department and also brought out several books and tracts based on these. 

In 1949, he came to Patiala where he was appointed Director of Archives and Curator of Museum under the Government of PEPSU (Patiala and East Punjab States Union). In 1950, he received the additional charge of Director of the Punjabi Department. His thesis on Ahmad Shah Durrani earned him the degree of Doctor of Philosophy from the Panjab University in 1954, as well as much applause from scholars and historians among whom was Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, a leading Indian savant of the day.

Dr. Ganda Singh was principal of the Khalsa College, Patiala, when he was invited by Punjabi University, Patiala, to organize its Department of Punjab Historical Studies. He set up Punjab History Conference in 1965 which became a very active forum for the discussion of matters relating to Punjab history. In l967, he launched the university's journal, the bi-annual The Punjab Past and Present of which he was the editor and which gathered high repute and much prestige over the years.

In 1938, he had been appointed a corresponding member of Indian Historical Records Commission of Government of India, and was a full member of the Commission from 1950 to 1956. He was nominated member of Punjab Regional Committee for the Survey of Historical Records, Government of Punjab, Lahore, and of Indian Historical Records Commission, Government of India. He was secretary of the Committee for the History of Freedom Movement in PEPSU, Patiala, and chairman of the Regional Records Survey Committee for History of Freedom Movement, Shimla / Patiala, from November 1957 to December 1962. He held membership of Asiatic Society, Calcutta, Indian Institute of Historical Studies, Calcutta, Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, London, and Itihas Sanshodhak Mandal, Poona. He presided over the medieval section of Punjab History Conference session of the Institute of Historical Studies, Calcutta, held at Shillong in 1974 as well as over its 13th session held at Panaji (Goa) in 1975. In 1974, he presided the 35th session of Indian History Congress at Jadavpur.
Dr. Ganda Singh was a prolific writer in addition to scores of research papers, booklets and pamphelets, he published over two dozen full-length volumes of great historical value. Dr. Ganda Singh's magnificent work was widely acknowledged and lauded in his lifetime, and he received honours from a number of professional institutions and associations. The Punjab Government invested him with the award for literature on 31 March 1963, and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Amritsar, paid its tributes on 28 March 1964. On 19 December 1964, Muslim University, Aligarh, conferred on him the "degree of D. Litt. honoris causa". Sikh Educational Conference honoured him during its 52nd annual session held at Kanpur on 25-27 October 1974, and Punjabi University, Patiala, at the annual session of the Punjab History Conference held during November 1976. The University also brought out during the same year an anthology, Essays in Honour of Dr Ganda Singh, lovingly edited by his old pupil Professor Harbans Singh (Editor of Encyclopaedia of Sikhism from where many documents have been sourced on this site). The University also awarded him the degree of Doctor of Literature at its 15th convocation held on 25 February 1978. The Indian History Congress during its Silver jubilee session held at Panaji (Goa) on 5-7 November 1987, honoured him as one of the five distinguished historians of India. The Government of India honoured him with the award of Padma Bhushan in 1983.

In the course of his long career as a researcher and scholar, Dr. Ganda Singh had acquired a vast personal collection of rare books, maps, documents and manuscripts which occupied several rooms of his modest residence on the Lower Mall at Patiala. This precious treasure is now the property of Punjabi University, Patiala, to which institution he donated the entire collection. Dr. Ganda Singh died at Patiala on 27 December 1987.