People
23-Year-old Sardarni is New Sarpanch of Seechewal:
Rajwant Kaur
SANJEEV BHALLA
Seechewal, Jalandhar, Punjab
Rajwant Kaur, a post-graduate in English, has been unanimously elected to take over as the youngest Seechewal sarpanch - village head -- of the community of Seechewal, taking over the reins from environmentalist Bhai Balbir Singh.
The panchayat (village council) has selected its leader through a unanimous choice during the last two years, as it did again this time around.
For Rajwant, the election came as a surprise.
“Bhai Balbir Singh ji has always emphasised that an educated person should handle village affairs. On Wednesday (June 19, 2013), he held a meeting with all villagers and listened to our views on how we planned to develop the village. Next morning, I learnt that I have been made the new sarpanch,” she said.
Rajwant appeared in B.Ed. examination this year and is awaiting results.
“I have always wanted to be a successful teacher and I was continuing my studies in that direction. I never dreamt that I could be a sarpanch. However, now that the people and villager elders have reposed faith in me, I will try and meet their expectations.”
Seechewal village is situated in a “border district” and has the population of over 1,000 people. It also had the history of holding village elections in unanimous choice since its inception.
For the current term, other elected members are Ram Asra, Gurbaksh Kaur, Rajwinder Kaur, Surjit Singh, Bhai Balbir Singh, Faquir Singh and Kanwaljit Singh.
On how she would lead a quorum in which Bhai Balbir Singh continues to be a member, Rajwant said, “I will try to take each elder's blessings and advice. I will try and never let him down.”
“I will also try to mobilise youth from my village, most of those are in my friends’ circle, for different developmental projects in the village. The projects, which were initiated by the Bhai Sahib as sarpanch, will be continued with the same spirit and energy,” she said.
[Courtesy: Hindustan Times. Edited for sikhchic.com ]
June 21, 2013
Conversation about this article
1: Paramjit Singh Grewal (Auckland, New Zealand), June 21, 2013, 8:59 PM.
Congratulations, Sardani Rajwant Kaur ji, on your new appointment.
2: Harminder Singh (Jalandhar, Punjab), June 22, 2013, 12:27 AM.
A good decision taken by the people of Seechewal. Rajwant, I personally congratulate you. You should now try to ensure that all people of your village get proper education.
3: Karamjeet Singh (Chicago, Illinois, USA), June 22, 2013, 11:44 AM.
It is a win-win for Sardarni Rajwant Kaur, not only as a Sarpanch but also to carry forward the campaign of her environmentalist mentor. You have a great job ahead of you, cleaning the Baen (Guru Nanak's river). Good going!
4: Sukhman Singh Anand (New Delhi, India), June 22, 2013, 3:04 PM.
Congratulations, Sardarni Rajwant Kaur ji. If you get to read this message, then I would just like to tell you to make the faith of your people your spirit and rise more, above than just a sarpanch. Peace.