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Ravinder ‘Ravi’ Singh,
Sevadaar Extraordinaire -
The Chic Sikh Of The Year 2016

EDITOR

 

 

 

 



It gives us great pleasure to announce the selection of Sardar Ravinder ’Ravi’ Singh, CEO of Khalsa Aid, as The Chic Sikh of the Year 2016.

Nominations received from our readers from around the world have helped a panel of five judges to select them from a long list of worthy men, women, youths, groups and organizations based in a multitude of countries around the world.

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RAVINDER RAVI SINGH, CEO & Founder, Khalsa Aid
Exemplary Sevadaar

This year’s choice is an extraordinary man who has devoted his life to the service of those who are in dire need, whether it is as a result of natural calamity, oppression, war or famine. That is, around the world, regardless of nationality, religion, colour, language ...

His footprints, and those of his team under the banner of ’Khalsa Aid‘, are to be found in trouble spots everywhere:  Haiti, Pakistan, United Kingdom, Indonesia, Turkey, United States, Punjab, Iraq, Kosovo, India, Bangladesh, Somalia …

It has now become his life-work, and his name synonymous with Seva - the Sikh concept of selfless service to others, way beyond the call of duty and above any self interest or agenda.

He inspires people worldwide who have responded not only through generous support but have also tried to emulate the letter and spirit of his message and actions.   
    
We at sikhchic.com take great pride and feel immense honour in naming Ravi Singh as The Chic Sikh Of The Year 2016.


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The selection of each year’s Chic Sikh is announced every New Year’s Day by sikhchic.com and is the result of a two-month long poll from its readers worldwide and a final whetting by the five-judge panel.

The criteria for the honour of being selected ‘The Chic Sikh of The Year’ stipulate that a candidate’s actions should constitute public service above and beyond the call of duty; selfless, consistent, ongoing and meticulous service; have a ground-breaking and far-reaching impact; commensurate with the highest Sikh ideals of working towards the welfare of all people; of benefit to people of all faiths and races; have made a mark on society in the year 2016; of a nation-building nature; and deserving wide recognition, encouragement and support.


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This is the ninth year in a row that we have asked our world-wide readers to propose the names of those men, women, children, groups, institutions or corporations - Sikh or non-Sikh - who they feel deserve to be named THE CHIC SIKH(S) OF THE YEAR.

As always, the response from across the diaspora over the course of the last two months has been thoughtful, spirited and enthusiastic. Our judges have struggled during the last few days with the excellent list (see below) of possible awardees.

The selection process this year, as always, has not been easy. The judges have now selected a man who has reminded us of our duty, as citizens no matter where we live, to devote our lives in serving those who are in need … thus exemplifying the highest of Sikh ideals and values.


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The list of past winners includes Wisconsin Gurdwara hero Lt. Brian Murphy, British Marathoner Fauja Singh, Human Rights Activist Gurbaksh Singh, Canada’s Defence Minister Harjit Singh Sajjan, Harvinder Singh Phoolka (Human Rights Advocate), Jarnail Singh ('The Lion of Delhi'), Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, SALDEF, Saran Singh (Editor, The Sikh Review), Waris Singh Ahluwalia, The Sikh Coalition, the Survivors of 1984, and United Sikhs.

The following 27 individuals, institutions or groups were nominated by our readers this year for the honour:


Canada (Nation)
Kaur (Everywoman)
Bardish Kaur Chagger (Canada Govt. House of Commons Leader)
Ek Ong Kaar Kaur Khalsa (Poet, Author)
Mann Kaur (Centenarian Athlete)
Rupi Kaur (Poet, artist)
Khalsa (Everyman-woman)
Khalsa Aid
Caroline Louise Phillips (Podiatrist, Australia)
Sikh (Everyman-woman)
Singh (Everyman)
Ajaypal Singh Banga (CEO, MasterCard)
Amarjit Singh Sudan (Sevadaar)
Bhagat Singh (SikhiArt)
Gurmeet Singh (Patna, Bihar)
Harnarayan Singh (Broadcaster)
Jagraj Singh (Basics of Sikhi)
Kanwar Singh (Art of Punjab)
Kanwar Singh Saini
Kulvir Singh Gill (Brampton, Canada)
Lilly Singh (Comedian, Actor)
Mota Singh, Sir (Judhe, UK)
Navdeep Singh Bains (Minister, Canadian Govt)
Nikki Kaur Randhawa Haley
Shauna Singh Baldwin (Novelist)
Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada
Universal Sikh Mother


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We at sikhchic.com join our readers from around the world in congratulating Ravi Singh and wishing him all power and strength, success and grace, in his continuing endeavours.

We wish him, his loved ones and his growing team of sevadaars at Khalsa Aid, every blessing and happiness in the New Year and in the years to come.

January 1, 2017 




 

Conversation about this article

1: Ujjagar Singh (New York, USA), January 02, 2017, 5:55 AM.

Congratulations, Ravi Singh ji. A perfectly well-deserved honour! May Waheguru bless you and all of your associates, and give you all every strength and endless contentment.

2: Kulvinder Jit Kaur (Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada), January 02, 2017, 7:26 AM.

Heartiest congratulations to Ravinder Ravi Singh ji. You and 'Khalsa Aid' are serving humanity in the true spirit of Sikhi. Best wishes for the future.

3: Baljit Kaur (New York, USA), January 02, 2017, 12:09 PM.

Excellent choice. Wishing Ravi and his team the very best New Year ... better than all years to date.

4: Baldev Singh (Bradford, United Kingdom ), January 02, 2017, 1:23 PM.

We watched a documentary on UK TV about Ravi Singh and it featured him travelling to Syria to help Yazidi families who were being persecuted and exterminated by various Islamic groups headed by the Islamic State. Couldn't believe a Sikh would risk his life to help people who were now very much in the state and condition his and our ancestors were over 300 years ago until Guru Gobind Singh created the Khalsa. Well done, Ravi Singh, you've done Sikhs and the Guru proud!

5: Harry Singh (Wisconsin, USA), January 02, 2017, 5:40 PM.

Congratulations, S. Ravi Singh ji. Keep on truckin' ...

6: M Kaur (Canada), January 03, 2017, 4:27 AM.

Congratulations, Ravi ji! Well deserved. You are truly a shining star in our community.

7: Ravi Singh Natt  (Calgary, Alberta, Canada), January 06, 2017, 1:02 AM.

Well deserved ... epitome of compassionate service.

8: Kanwal Prakash Singh (Indianapolis, Indiana, USA), January 18, 2017, 8:43 AM.

Dear Sardar Sher Singh ji and the 'Chic Sikh of the Year' Selection Committee: In bestowing this honor on gurusevak extraordinaire, Bhai Ravinder "Ravi" Singh, CEO of Khalsa Aid, you have not just honored the entire Sikh world, but have celebrated the central Sikh commandments of selfless seva and sacrifice for those in need, in danger, and in difficult circumstances; recognition and respect for all humanity as one Brotherhood, One Human Race - as the children of One Almighty, Immaculate and Compassionate God who is the father and mother of all creation; abiding commitment and daring to do what is right, just, and divinely-honorable as our offerings in this life and beyond in Satguru's Court. Ravi Singh embodies the sacred commandments of the Gurus, the Light and exemplary testimony of Sikh Faith and tradition, and embodies the spirit, legacy and proud legendary markers laid before us by Bhai Kanhayyia, Bhagat Puran Singh of Pingalwara, countless Sikh braves and saint-soldiers and those from other faiths, cultures, and communities. In great souls like Ravi Singh, we see all that is right, noble, illuminating, and reassuring at human crossroads. Ravi Singh provides another timeless testimonial to Rabindranath Tagore's divinely-inspired thoughts: "Every child comes with a message that God is not despaired of Man" that finds a thousand echoes across Guru Granth Sahib and other scriptures. And we can thank God for sending us and showing in Ravi Singh the reason and the evidence of God's boundless benevolence. May Waheguru bless us to see such symbols of what it is to be a Saint-Soldier of Guru Gobind Singh who taught the world the defining testimony of true sacrifice and seva as a sacred ideal and spiritual virtue and the highest form of worship of the divine; a straight and narrow path to temporal emancipation and honoring the central commandment of the divine lessons.

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Sevadaar Extraordinaire -
The Chic Sikh Of The Year 2016"









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