Above: Some of India's Sikh-Olympians, when it actually had an Olympic Hockey Team. Below: First from bottom - Cricketer Harbhajan Singh. Second from bottom - Olympian Abhinav Singh Bindra. Third from bottom - Prof. J.S. Bajaj.
Current Events
Eight Sikh-Indians Receive Nation's Highest Awards
by PRABHJOT SINGHand HARJINDER SINGH
A physician of eminence, the country's first-ever individual Olympic gold medal winner, a cricketer, and a hockey Olympian of yesteryear are amongst the eight Sikh-Indians who figure in India's prestigious Padma Awards awarded this year.
Prof. J.S. Bajaj, a world-renowned physician, has become the first Sikh (and Punjabi) doctor to be conferred the Padma Vibhushan for his contribution to medical science and research, and planning for improving the healthcare delivery system - thus becoming the first Sikh (and Punjabi) to be conferred with all three Padma series awards - Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan.
Professor Bajaj, who is also Vice-Chairman of Punjab‘s State Planning Board, in the rank of Cabinet Minister, has been one of the outstanding endocrinologists in the world and is known for pioneer work in the treatment of diabetes. Earlier, he had served as member (Health), Planning Commission, Government of India, in the rank of Minister of State (1991-98) and steered the development of national policy and plans for population stabilisation, environmental and public health, nutrition and medical education.
He joined the faculty of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in 1966, and subsequently occupied the chair as Professor (1979) and Head of Medicine. He was appointed honorary physician to the President of India (1977-1982) and again from 1987-92. He also served the Prime Minister as consultant physician from 1991-96. He was the first biomedical scientist to have been appointed member, Planning Commission in 1991, and had the distinction of serving the commission for more than seven years.
He is a founder fellow of the Indian College of Physicians. He was decorated with a Padma Shri in 1981 and with a Padma Bhushan in 1982.
Also, shooter Abhinav Singh Bindra, India's first and only individual Olympic gold medal winner, has been awarded the Padma Bhushan.
Abhinav, a shooter, now lives at his farmhouse in Zirakpur, near Chandigarh, Punjab, and has been recognised as an icon for his brilliant gold medal-winning performance in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. He had qualified for the final in the 2004 Athens Olympic Games also, but missed the medal there.
Two of the Sikhs who figure on the Padma awardees list are Test cricketer Harbhajan Singh (Bhajji) and hockey Olympian of yesteryear, Balbir Singh. They were both awarded the Padma Shri. Both Harbhajan and Balbir belong to Jalandhar, Punjab.
Balbir, who retired from the Punjab Police as Deputy Inspector-General of Police some years ago, hails from the hockey village of Sansarpur - which has supplied India a number of its hockey Olympians through the decades, especially when the country's team was dominated by Sikhs and was a leading world contender - and was one of seven players from the village who participated in the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games.
Spinner Harbhajan Singh, who has of late done well with the cricket bat as well, has been one of the outstanding spinners the country has produced in recent decades. A total team man, Harbhajan has several outstanding bowling feats to his credit that helped the country to pull off exciting wins over teams like Australia, England, Pakistan and other Test playing nations. He has more than 300 Test wickets to his credit.
Balbir Singh Kullar, one of three legendary Balbirs - the other two being Balbir Singh "Services" and Balbir Singh "Navy" - who played in the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games, was the inside-forward and represented Punjab and India for a number of years in the early '60s and '70s. He also remained in personal security of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh and was promoted as Deputy Inspector-General of Police just before his superannuation. After retirement, he settled in Jalandhar.
In addition, there are four more Sikhs on the list:
Dr. Gurdip Singh Randhawa (Science and Engineering), Dr. Isher Kaur Judge Ahluwalia (Education and Literature), and Dr. Inderjit Kaur Borthakur (Public Affairs) have been awarded the Padma Bhushan.
Bhai Nirmal Singh Khalsa (Art), Hazuri Raagi at Darbar Sahib, Amritsar, is recipient of the Padma Shri.
[Courtesy: The Tribune, and Sardar Harjinder Singh of Barnala, Punjab]
January 29, 2009
Conversation about this article
1: Brijinder Khurana (Delhi, India), January 30, 2009, 12:37 AM.
Congratulations to everyone who gave their best to win the awards.
2: Harjinder Singh (Kalala, Barnala, Punjab), January 30, 2009, 9:41 PM.
In addition to the four Sikh-Indians you have named, there are four more Sikhs in the list of Padma Awardees this year: Dr. Gurdip Singh Randhawa (Science and Engineering), Dr. Isher Kaur Judge Ahluwalia (Education and Literature), and Dr. Inderjit Kaur Borthakur (Public Affairs) have been awarded the Padma Bhushan. Bhai Nirmal Singh Khalsa (Art), Hazuri Raagi at Darbar Sahib, Amritsar, is recipient of the Padma Shri. Also, I want to advise you that the Indian Hockey team now, once again, has a number of Sikh players and is again beginning to show promise: Rajpal Singh, the mercurial forward and Harpal Singh, the dependable full-back, play with flowing beards. The Captain of the National team, Sandeep Singh (famous drag flicker), Sardara Singh and Swaranjit Singh are also Sardars. A other Sikh members of the team include Parbhjot Singh, Gurbaz Singh, Baljit Singh and Ravipal Singh. It is heartening to see Sikh players once again back on India's hockey time ... looks like selection of team members is once again being done on merit! Glory to the Khalsa!
3: Jyoti (Delhi, India), February 07, 2009, 3:54 AM.
I need some more information about Dr. Gurdip Singh Randhawa, and his contact info. Can anyone help?
4: Irvinderpal Singh Babra (Brantford, Ontario, Canada), February 17, 2009, 1:31 PM.
Heartiest congratulations to all the Sikh honorees. And thanks to Prabhjot Singh, who has been a dedicated Sikh reporter for over 25 years, and has a Ph.D. by now, I believe, and brings a lot passion and light to the Sikh ethos. Sikhchic.com, great job and assembly of a banquet of Sikh reports. Keep them coming!
5: Raj (U.K.), February 21, 2009, 6:43 PM.
This is great ... it is time the contribution of Sikhs around the world gets acknowledged.
6: Kanwal Nain Singh (Lindsay, Ontario, Canada), March 29, 2009, 8:17 AM.
Talking of Sikh supremacy in field hockey, let me remind the readers about another stalwart - yet another Balbir Singh! I am speaking of Balbir Singh (Senior), who captained the Punjab Hockey team, and led India to victory in the Olympic Games in London in 1948. Balbir Singh (Senior) was also an Inspector in the Punjab Police Service in Ludhiana. He was then followed in his foot-steps by another Olympian Balbir Singh, known as Balbir (Junior). Both played in the position as 'centre-forward'. These names were, unfortunately, not mentioned in the article.