People
A Mission of Compassion
BHAWNA MALIK
For 32 weeks the TV show ‘Satyamev Jayate’ kept the viewers glued to their television screens, not for the usual ‘mother-in-law wars’ soap operas or the cheap stand-up comedies, but real life issues that hanker over our lives day in and day out.
The USP of the show was its host, the versatile Amir Khan whose charismatic presence and empathic attitude towards the victims made this show seem surreal.
The show talked of serious issues ranging from child abuse, female foeticide and dowry, to the so-called ‘honour’ killings that have become synonymous with our the notorious ‘Khap Panchayats’ of Haryana, manual scavenging, domestic violence, etc.
The message was loud and clear that there is a huge difference between, on the one hand, the India of multiplexes and malls, the few Indians who find themselves on the ‘Forbes’, and the ‘India Shining’ that our khaadi-clad politicians boast of, and, on the other hand, the reality where our girls are sold because of poverty, educated girls being beaten black and blue due to dowry expectations not being met, medical facilities lying in the pockets of the elite.
The real India lies ignored and dejected.
The show made many want to sit up and do something for humanity. Some who were presented on the show had actually taken one step forward and contributed as citizens and made a difference in someone’s life.
But, not all get to enjoy, or pursue the limelight. There are some who simply do their bit and slog on …
One such crusader is Sardar Harinder Pal Singh, who as Chairman of The Gurmat College in Delhi, India, runs a ‘Short Term Course in Guru Granth Sahib’.
Continuing his service of imparting the wisdom of the Ten Gurus, he thought of expanding the horizon of his service and thus was born a group called ‘Space For All’.
Its motto: ‘maanas ki jaat sabhe ekai pehchaanbo’ (the caste and race of all humanity are one!)
Throwing out a wide net to cover all who needed help, regardless of which community they hailed from, Harinder his team moved out and started an education camp for the school-age children of the sevadars of the Mata Sundri Gurdwara in Delhi.
Later, they sponsored the higher education of Amreen, a Muslim girl who wished to pursue post-graduate studies in Punjabi Literature.
Amreen studies as well as teaches Gurmukhi to the students of the Guru Granth Sahib course.
The next beneficiary of the project was Sonali Mukherjee, an acid-attack victim.
Based in Dhanbad, Bihar, Sonali Mukherjee was like any other happy-go-lucky young girl with her own set of dreams and aspirations, when three young men -- Tapas, Brahmadev and Sanjay -- cruelly snatched away all her hopes and dreams one day.
They threw acid on her face, leaving her face totally disfigured, both eyes blind and a partially deaf ear.
Her fault? She had refused their boorish and sexual overtures.
Being a NCC cadet, Sonali was fond of rifle-shooting. She gave tuition lessons in order to pay for her own education and also to support her father. She wanted to pursue a Doctorate in Sociology and pursue a career in teaching.
But her dreams were shattered and her life completely battered out of shape after the incident. After nine long years and 22 surgeries, her family is at the verge of poverty.
Sonali still awaits justice from the courts and government authorities.
She suffers from continuous burning and itching in her body. With low blood pressure, she faints occasionally. Sonali’s father, Chandi Das Mukherjee, has left no stone unturned to bring the culprits behind the bars but after one year of jail, all the three criminals were released on bail.
While Sonali struggled for her life, one of the three assailants got married and started his life afresh.
With no respite or words of hope from the government or the so-called woman activists, Sonali and her father demanded permission to resort to euthanasia.
It was at this point that her case caught the attention of Sardar Harinder Pal Singh and his team. They sought out Sonali and gave her Rs. 16,000 in funds. 5,000 in cash.
At this point, Sonali and her father whad sought shelter in a deserted and decrepit temple structure. Without any relief from a fan, or the benefit of bedding or bathroom facilities, flies and ants were her constant companions. For her daily ablutions, she had to walk down 25 minutes to the nearest Metro Station each time. She had no money to buy food and hence was now seeking mercy death.
Harinder immediately made arrangements for Sonali to be moved to a safer and saner place. Both Sonali and her father were given a room in the Gurdwara Singh Sabha in Sarojini Nagar, New Delhi, where she had a proper room with an attached bathroom.
Sevadars Harpreet Singh and Baljit Singh took the initiative of helping Sonali and providing care for her and her father. She was provided daily meals, even when they needed to bring her food from home. And they talked to the two in order to help build up her confidence.
The change was palpable. The young woman who had wanted to end her life was now ready to begin her life afresh.
It’s been more than five months since Sonali moved into the gurdwara premises. She has started to learn Brail so that she can continue reading till she regains her normal eyesight. Attending morning and evening kirtan at the gurdwara is part of her daily routine now. She goes out for walks with the daughter of a sevadar.
She says: “I feel peaceful as the vibrations in the gurdwara are very pure and I have a desire to live and have a darshan of the Guru whose celestial gurbani has embraced me”.
Harinder Pal Singh says: “Sikhs have Bhai Kanhaiyya as a role-model to follow. He served Sikh, Hindu and Muslim alike, with no differentiation between friend and foe. “Space for All” hopes to help nourish and nurture all who need help and support. Only then would we live up to the tenets of our Gurus who exhorted us to always work for ‘sarbat da bhalla’.”
Recently, Sonali has undergone another surgery and is recovering at the gurdwara.
January 31, 2013
Conversation about this article
1: Bhupinder Singh (London, Ontario, Canada), January 31, 2013, 8:24 AM.
A very touching story. It is such a shame that much of Sikhism today has been narrowed down to symbols and rituals. Deeds speaker louder than words.
2: Gurmeet Kaur (Atlanta, Georgia, USA), January 31, 2013, 11:10 AM.
May the Guru's hand always guide his Sikhs to walk on the path of compassion and care for others. May this alone be the wealth we seek. Thank you, Harinderpal Singh ji, for walking the path.
3: Chintan Singh (San Jose, California, USA), January 31, 2013, 3:59 PM.
Thank you, Harinderpal ji, for living truly by the principles of Sikhi and serving all who need care. How can we help your organization?
4: H. Kaur (Canada), January 31, 2013, 10:55 PM.
Thank you, Harinderpal ji, for being a true Sikh and being a role model for others. It makes my blood boil when I see that poor lady's face, that her attackers got away with almost no punishment. No wonder the women there put up with the advances of sexual predators. A woman traveling there from another country who would speak up could have acid thrown on her too! Why, for goodness sake, does't India do something about such beasts? Where do they get so much acid from, in the first place?
5: Devinder Pal Singh (Delhi, India), February 01, 2013, 4:40 AM.
Harinder ji, you have set an example few can equate. Your act of service without compensation is the lighthouse beam to the multitude of Sikh leadership that believes in the path laid by the Gurus for us to follow. Hope the representatives of the Sikhs recently elected will carefully nurture such acts and help promote ideals and idols such as you for the youth. As a first step, Harinderpal ji should be presented to the community through his programs so that he gets the desired support to elevate his work to the next level and thereby provide solace and help to all the needy.
6: Gurvinder Mann (Canada), February 01, 2013, 4:47 AM.
Harinderpal Singh ji, you are the true follower of our Gurus teachings. Please do let me know how can I help your organization to continue the seva.