Camping in My village Badbar- then and now

​Camping in Badbar — Village Life

These days, we are camping in my beautiful village of Badbar District Barnala, Punjab. Sitting here, memories of my childhood summers keep flowing back.

 My San Ramon family will be thrilled to know there is street side Liabrary too. But English books are very few.

I still remember visiting Badbar during school vacations. In those days, we would carry fruits, vegetables, and supplies for the village including some emergency medicines and stay here for a few peaceful days. Life was simple, slow, and deeply connected to the land.

Wheat harvesting combines have turned Monster to Miracle.

At this time of the year, Punjab faces its scorching heat. The hot winds blow endlessly across the fields. Yet these very winds helped ripen the golden wheat crop. Today, the wheat is harvested, thrashed, sold, and the money reaches the farmers almost within hours. Earlier, it used to take months of hard labor by men and animals to complete the same work.

Shoppers are busy improving their lands for the next crop.

Village life too has transformed dramatically. In earlier days, nights meant darkness, lanterns, fear of snakes, insects, and other venomous creatures. Today the village is fully electrified and vibrant. 

Fine dining Swagat Badbar is about 3 miles from our village on NH-7

Nearly two miles before entering the village, one now sees bustling activity, furniture shops, electrical stores, mechanic workshops, grocery shops, and all kinds of modern businesses.

Sarpanch Electronics and Furniture Shop, Badbar

I deliberately purchased most of my furniture and furnishings from our local Sarpanch’s (name)Electronics & Furniture shop. These village businesses survive because villagers support them. He has been extremely fair, gives reasonable prices, and attends to every complaint personally.

Panchayat Ghar -a modern new building being build by the Government.

I was surprised when the Sarpanch of our village stood up and rushed towards me to touch my feet. I was aghast to observe how the cultural values are still being passed on. 

From 4th May onward, despite the intense summer, we were comfortably sleeping under air conditioning. Honestly, I doubt even a five-star hotel could have given us the same emotional satisfaction.

But last night reminded us that village life still has its own uncertainties. There was a major power breakdown, perhaps a transformer failure. Electricity came briefly for a couple of hours and then disappeared again until nearly 11 in the morning. It became a difficult and restless night.

We even went up to the rooftop where the cool open breeze was surprisingly pleasant, green surroundings, no mosquitoes, absolute silence. The only problem was that we had no cots there. I have now decided to place two or three cots permanently on the roof for such emergencies. Sometimes the old ways still offer the best comfort.

 On our way we had the Darshan of Gurdwara Sh Dukh Niwaran Sahib, Patiala

Finally at around 6:30 in the morning, we decided to leave for Fatehgarh Sahib, the sacred place associated with Sahibzada Baba Zorawar Singh ji and Baba Fateh Singh ji, who embraced martyrdom with unmatched courage.

This was my second visit there, after nearly sixty years.

Harvinder looking emotional to be present at the sight where Baba Zorawar Singh Ji and Baba Fateh Singh Ji were bricked alive

The emotions were overwhelming. Memories, history, sacrifice, and spirituality all seemed to merge together. We could not control our tears while paying our respects.

And perhaps by Guru’s grace, by the time we returned home, the electricity too had come back.

Such is village life in Punjab,  hardship and peace, discomfort and blessings, all walking together.

Highlighted Nanak Shahi bricks

Harvinder joins me to showcase our living room in village Badbar

These bricks are not part of a wall but are living memories while you are doing house hold chore's.

These highlighted bricks are original Nanak Shahi bricks, nearly 250 years old. I carefully cut them through the middle, placed their finer surfaces outward on the face, and later ground and waxed them to restore their timeless beauty and character.

My mother with my older sister in her lap, my Dad and my grandmother

Whenever I look at them, I feel as if the breath and presence of my father, my mother and my grandmother still live within these precious bricks. They are not merely part of a wall, they are living memories carrying the warmth, struggles, love, and blessings of generations gone by.

Laying Underground pipeline in Nehri Parcel of our land

​For perhaps the longest continuous stretch ever, I have been camping in Badbar and working almost daily on my land matters. The demarcation issues on both parcels of land had to be resolved, and by Waheguru’s grace, nearly 90% of the work now stands completed.

We have also donated extra trees and shrubs for the Guru’s Langar.

Still, I decided to stay another few days to personally supervise and improve the infrastructure of the land as well as furnish my village home. On one of my parcels, spread over 21+ acres, I have two tubewells located at the far end along the newly finalized demarcation line. I took up the task of connecting both tubewells through a 10-inch PVC pipeline system.

For this, I went myself to negotiate in nearby village Cheema and selected the best available material before finalizing the work and fixing the erection schedule. For the last three days, the labor boys have been working extremely hard in scorching heat. Incidentally, the temperature here is touching almost 113°F at peak hours.

I also visited the site a couple of times to monitor the progress. The heavy PVC pipes have already been joined together, and a trench nearly four feet deep has been dug across the fields. Once the pipeline sections are fully aligned and sealed, they will be carefully lowered into the trench already prepared.

Watching this development gives me immense satisfaction. Such infrastructure improvements not only strengthen the long-term utility of the land but also significantly enhance its value,  perhaps by a couple of lakhs per acre.

Life teaches us that land does not grow merely by ownership; it grows through vision, planning, and continuous hard work on the ground.

My Hero in Badbar - Maghar Singh

​Today I met a man who instantly became my hero, Maghar Singh.

Maghar Singh removing the spots on the floor.

He was brought to our house by one of the ladies helping us with cleaning work. Seeing the terrible condition of the floor, badly damaged by glue left behind by the carpenter, she wisely brought along an expert cleaner. That expert was Maghar Singh.

The moment he arrived, I noticed his energy. He was not merely working, he was attacking the problem with dedication and confidence. Like a true professional, he brought a special chemical that softened the hardened glue. Then, with patience and skill, he kept rubbing and cleaning the floor inch by inch. Even when some glue remained stubborn, he calmly explained that he would return with another tool to scrape it off properly.

Maghar Singh poses with his signature folded hands

Watching him work, I became deeply interested in him as a person.

I noticed one of his legs was weak, yet he had arrived on a bicycle and was moving around tirelessly. When I gently asked him about it, he told me that he had suffered a polio attack during childhood.

But there was not even a trace of self-pity in him.

I then asked him about his family. With complete calmness and dignity, he shared that he had been married for twelve years before his wife passed away. Now he lives together with his brother’s family. When I asked, “Do you have children?” he smiled and replied, “My brother’s son and daughter are my children. We all live together.”

What confidence. What acceptance of life.

Later I mentioned that I needed some masonry work done to build a small additional room and roofing area. Immediately he responded confidently, “Yes, I know many good masons. I will bring them tomorrow.”

I was so impressed by his personality that I decided to take his photograph.

When I first clicked a picture, he laughed and said, “No, no, not like this.” Then he himself squatted on the floor with folded hands and posed naturally with humility and grace. The photograph came out beautifully.

Maghar Singh relaxes in an Executive chair.

I even requested him to sit proudly on the brand-new chair I had purchased, but in my heart I had already made him something much bigger, the headmaster of life’s school.

Though he works as a cleaner, today he taught me lessons in courage, dignity, positivity, acceptance, and self-respect.

People like Maghar Singh remind us that greatness does not come from wealth, position, or appearance. It comes from attitude, honesty, hard work, and the ability to smile despite pain.

May Waheguru bless him always!

Now I came to know that Maghar Singh is an expert Mason as confirmed by our DhunAnand Ambassador Master Sh Avnish Kumar ji.

Dhun Anand Foundation meeting in Badbar

Both Harvinder and Preet remain deeply committed to passing on our lifelong learnings, experiences, and values to the DhunAnand Foundation. It gives us immense satisfaction to stand shoulder to shoulder in support of its Founder, Shivpreet Singh, whose vision of blending spirituality, education, arts, and humanitarian service continues to inspire young minds and communities alike all over the world.

​It was a very cordial and meaningful dinner meeting at Swagat Restaurant, situated about 3 miles from our Government High School Badbar, Barnala. The meeting was attended by senior teachers Shri Rishi Kumar Sharma Ji and Shri Avinash Kumar Ji, both of whom have been strong pillars and ambassadors of the DhunAnand Foundation’s activities in the village.

Preet with leading torch of Foundation in village Badbar Barnala

Their families also participated in the dinner, making the evening warm and family-oriented. During our discussions, it was decided that the recently improved logos of the DhunAnand Foundation would now be printed on T-shirts and distributed among volunteers and workers so that awareness about the Foundation’s activities spreads further among the local people.

Shivpreet Singh, the brain-behind and the founder of Dhun Anand Foundation. USA and India

I was pleasantly surprised to learn that even Sarpanch Shri Jagji Singh (Jagga) Ji of the village was fully aware of the Foundation’s humanitarian work, particularly our efforts during the flood period when monthly ration and food supplies were distributed to poor and needy families of the village. Though our contribution may appear small, it is certainly a sincere step towards serving humanity and supporting those who quietly help society progress.

The  ladies wing of the Foundation has worked hard to help students to gain confidence in languages and showing brilliant results. Mrs Rishi KumarShrma took a leading part in getting the results in English, while Mrs Avnish has been promoting Punjabi Language.

I express my heartfelt thanks to Rishi Kumar Ji and Avinash Kumar Ji for arranging this wonderful meeting and for their continuous dedication to the welfare activities of the Foundation.

Enjoying the delicious food at Swagat Restaurant three miles from Badbar School.

We also discussed the future plans of the Foundation. One important proposal suggested by Sh Avnish Kumar ji was to organize educational field trips exclusively on the line of two undertaken last year for students, so that budding young minds may learn not only from classrooms but also from the environment, historical places, and important monuments around them. Such exposure can play a major role in broadening their vision and confidence.

The participation of young kids enthused charm in the meeting. The youngest in the meeting is a budding athlete.

It is important to note that our English Language Training Program proved to be a remarkable success. Four to five students scored above 90% marks, and there has been a visible improvement in their confidence, spoken English, and overall learning standards. Seeing rural students grow with such enthusiasm gives us immense satisfaction and renewed energy to continue this mission.  It gives us immense satisfaction to stand shoulder to shoulder in support of its Founder, Shivpreet Singh, whose vision of blending spirituality, education, arts, and humanitarian service continues to inspire young minds and communities alike.

At this stage of our lives, we feel that the greatest wealth one can leave behind is not material possessions, but wisdom, compassion, encouragement, and a spirit of selfless service. Through the Foundation’s activities, we see a meaningful path to share these experiences with the younger generation and contribute, in our own humble way, towards building a more aware, educated, and compassionate society.

With gratitude to all teachers, volunteers, parents, and students who made this effort meaningful.

Jaivik Learning to Share — The Sikh Way

​My sister Mohinder, lovingly known as Bobby, shared a beautiful picture of her grandson, Jaivik, learning one of life’s greatest values at a very tender age,  how to share his food with his little friends and classmates at school.

Jaivik feeding his classmate with his water bottle

To me, this is the purest reflection of Sikh teachings.

Our Gurus taught us “Vand Chhako” , share whatever you possess with others. Whether it is food, happiness, knowledge, or love, life becomes meaningful only when it is shared with fellow human beings.

The lesson gets passed on to his friends who in turn shares his food with Jaivik.

To see this noble value being absorbed by a child still in preschool gives me immense satisfaction and hope for the future. Such small innocent actions often carry the deepest moral lessons for all of us adults as well.

Indeed, character building begins not in universities, but in these tiny acts of kindness learned in childhood. May Waheguru bless little Jaivik to grow into a compassionate, generous, and noble human being.

A man with one Sock

​The Man with One Sock - A Mid-Air Mystery

I was traveling to London on Virgin Atlantic from San Francisco. It was one of those comfortable long-haul journeys, spacious seat, reclining into an almost flat bed, and thoughtful touches like soft cotton nightwear to help us sleep well.

Soon after takeoff, I changed into the nightwear. The steward graciously helped convert my seat into a cozy bed, complete with a warm blanket. I carefully folded my shirt and jeans and tucked them into the small storage space beside the seat. In the dim cabin lighting, I also picked up my socks and tried to keep them safely within that little “well” near the seat.

After a sound and peaceful sleep, we woke up to the aroma of breakfast being served. It was time to change back into my day clothes.

And then, surprise!

I could find only one sock.

The other had mysteriously disappeared.

I called for assistance. The gentleman attending to my seat was extremely helpful, he unfolded the bedding, checked every corner, searched under and around the seat but the missing sock was nowhere to be found.

There I was… a dignified traveler, now reduced to a man with one sock.

Not giving up, I searched again. Then I requested Harvinder to help. She too looked everywhere, but with no success.

After a while, determined to solve this mid-air puzzle, I requested help once again, this time from a calm and attentive English  crew member. She paused for a moment, thoughtfully scanning the area. Then, almost instinctively, she moved toward the opposite corner, bent down, and reached into a dark crevice.

In a flash, she pulled something out.

My missing sock!

Relief, amusement, and a bit of embarrassment all at once.

On reflection, I realized what had happened. While placing my socks in the dim light, I must have secured only one properly, while the other quietly slipped away into that hidden corner.

A simple incident but it reminded me of something we all experience:

Just like socks mysteriously disappearing in washing machines, even at 35,000 feet, they seem to have a mind of their own!

A small loss, a brief worry, and then a joyful recovery, making the journey just a little more memorable.