The sketch of Shri Guru Nanak Dev ji Maharaj is enshrined in the corner of our Baba Ji Room
When I first landed in the USA in Feb 1991, I carried with me not just dreams but also a deep sense of uncertainty. Jobs were scarce, and despite applying to nearly a hundred companies with hard copies of my resume, I didn’t even receive a single interview call. Writing that resume itself was a challenge—it took me three long months to draft, refine, and type it out. Yet, despite all my efforts, I couldn’t secure a job.
Harvinder and me do the Sehaj Path
During this difficult time, my brother-in-laws Jaggi and Baggi, who were in the convenience store business, helped me acquire a liquor store. I wasn’t happy about running it, but it was a means of survival. Meanwhile, Harvinder took up an assembly job in a tech company that paid nine dollars an hour. One of the biggest reliefs was that her job provided medical insurance, which also covered my ailing father, whom we had brought along with us. Knowing that he could see a doctor in case of an emergency gave us some peace of mind.
Shiv reaching the climax with reading of ‘Noauvan Mahal Shalok’
Our daily routine was exhausting. In the first half of the day, while Harvinder was at work, I managed the store. Later, we had an employee take over, but we had to cut down his hours to save money, so Harvinder started working at the store in the evenings as well.
Geet is thrilled with Kartha Prasad disbursing
Amidst all these struggles, I found solace in an old passion—sketching. I had a deep desire to create a pencil sketch of Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Finding the right materials took time; I searched for an Art-Shop near our store and finally found one. I spent a few days selecting the perfect paper, pencils, and colored pencils, with some help from the shopkeeper.
Gobind was introduced with Guru Sewa at an early age.
Once I had everything, I began sketching. I started from the top, working on the turban first, and as I progressed, I carefully rolled up the paper towards the ceiling to protect the finished parts.
Gobind ‘Charni Lagana’ being initiated to reading of Guru Granth Sahib
I was fortunate to have access to a picture of Guru Nanak Dev Ji lying in my brother-in-law’s office, and I borrowed it for reference. It took me about 140 to 150 hours to complete this enormous task, but when I finally finished a huge sketch of 8’-3”, I felt an immense sense of accomplishment.
The sketch of Sh Guru Nanak Dev ji in our Jangpura Ext house.
This wasn’t the first time I had sketched Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Back in 1970, I had created a black-and-white sketch of Guru Nanak and proudly decorated my house in Jangpura with it. That artwork had been a source of personal pride and spiritual connection, and now, decades later, I found myself returning to the same divine subject during one of the most challenging phases of my life.
Jania is trained to do ‘Bhog Lao’ by crossing the Karha Parsad with Kirpan.
The ambience in our prayer room seemed to change as all family members took on their favorite roles in our worship, just as shown in the pictures.
Harvinder is doing Ardaas.
The presence of Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s image filled our home with a sense of peace and devotion, strengthening our faith during those difficult times.
Next, I had a strong desire to get the new sketch framed. However, when I inquired about the cost at a nearby mall, I realized it was beyond my means. I had to wait a couple of months until I could afford it. Eventually, I gathered the courage to return to the shop and struck a deal for $287—a significant amount in those days. Transporting the large framed sketch from the mall to our apartment was another challenge, but we managed.
Gobind is now regular to do Ardas
I dedicated the sketch to my dear mother, late Sardarni Savitri Devi. When the word spread within the community about my large portrait of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the president of Hayward Gurdwara Sahib, late Prof Dr. R.S. Sabharwal, requested to display it at the Gurdwara for a month. It was a great honor for me to have my artwork showcased in such a sacred place.
Shilpy takes her turn to do Ardas.
Looking back, I am deeply grateful to Waheguru for blessing me with the talent to sketch. Despite the hardships of those early days in America, I found comfort and strength through my art. Creating this sketch was not just an artistic endeavor—it was a spiritual journey, a prayer in pencil and paper.
Right from day one of my life, I have looked up to the Gurus, who in turn have bestowed tremendous blessings upon me and my family. Their guidance has been my anchor, and their grace has illuminated my path through every challenge and triumph.
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