Bhagat Puran Singh

Universally respected as one of the most inspiring figures in modern Sikhi, Puran Singh dedicated his life completely to caring for those who were most in need of assistance. He set up a home for the physically and mentally disabled called Pingalwara which is still serving those in need today. Puran Singh was an environmentalist before that was even a thing. He was a self-taught scholar who was widely read despite having no post-secondary education. He wrote vociferously and had a deep and profound connection with the Guru that is apparent in his works. He was even politically active for the Khalsa Panth and returned his Padma Shiri (after the attack on Darbar Sahib in 1984 (the Padma Shiri is India’s highest civilian honour, the equivalent of a Medal of Honor for Americans). And, Puran Singh was born a Hindu.

Puran Singh was born Ramji Das in Ludhiana district of what is today Eastern or Indian Punjab. Ramji Das’s mother was a domestic servant who worked very hard for her son to have an education. As a teenager he would often travel away from home for examinations and would usually stay at mandirs during these trips (no hotels back then!). He once stayed in a mandir where the Brahmins demanded that he clean up the temple for them and then ate in front of him without offering him any food. He was obviously hungry and poor, but they just didn’t care. On his next trip he stayed in a Gurdwara instead and he was amazed at the contrast between the two experiences. Not only was he not asked to do any work in exchange for a place to sleep, but he was given food and even a warm glass of milk before bed from the Gurdwara sevadars. Puran Singh was amazed at the concept of seva and that very night decided to become a Sikh and dedicate himself to seva.

Puran Singh worked for decades serving others completely. His life consisted purely of serving those 

in need. He educated people about environmental concerns and was an early advocate against 

pollution and deforestation. His years of service were recognized by the community and Puran Singh has been granted the unique title of Bhagat by the Sikh nation.