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.

Remembering S Gurbaksh Singh Dhir

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S Gurbaksh Singh Dhir who pioneered the development of National Museum in post colonial India.

Today, his son Amritpal Dhir, married to my second sister Amarjit (Ambu), messaged me that, with Satgur’s blessings and by virtue of my association with the family, we too have been included in the lineage of Bhai Nand Lal ji’s family.

It would be more fitting to say that it is our honor to be connected with your esteemed family.

Your respected father, S. Gurbaksh Singh Dhir Sahib, was one of the most practical and grounded Gursikhs I have had the privilege to meet in my lifetime. He was truly a hero to me, and I learnt a great deal from his life, his conduct, and his quiet wisdom.

At times like today, when we see some people, who call themselves Sikhs, unfortunately spreading division and widening gaps between Hindus and Sikhs, his example shines even brighter as a guiding light of unity, humility, and genuine spirituality.

You may recall and I take pride in remembering, that when his funeral procession passed by the Gurdwara Sahib, it was a deeply moving sight. Alongside the Sikh Sangat, there stood an equal number of Hindu brothers and sisters near the Mandir, all lined up to pay their heartfelt tributes. It was the same Mandir where he had once laid foundation stone of its building, despite not being a Hindu member - such was the depth of trust and affection he inspired.

It was a powerful reflection of the love and respect he commanded across communities, a true stalwart who cared for all, without distinction. Yet he was a true Gursikh.

This remains one of my most cherished memories of him.

A Salute Across Time - From 12 year Old Boy to Today

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Today, during a short visit to Sacramento for some real estate work, We decided to relax over lunch at a Thai restaurant on an invitation of my niece Jasleen Dhir who recommended it strongly.

As I was passing by to be seated, my eyes fell upon a young United States Army man, quietly having his meal with a companion, perhaps his wife, perhaps a friend. Something stirred deeply within me.

Without thinking twice, I walked up to him… and offered a salute.

He looked at me with surprise, and then with warmth.

I smiled and shared with him a memory from my childhood.

I told him how, 70 years away, as a young boy of about 12 and a high School student, studying in SD High situated on the Grand Trunk Road in Panipat. We would often see long convoys of army trucks passing by at various times when the Indian Army men were moving from one corner to the other of this vast country India.  Grand Trunk Road popularly known as GT Road which was like the longest Artilleries (about 2500 Km) in the body of India  and was realigned by Sher Shah Suri  about 2500 years back. Originally it was  about 3655 Km from Miramar to Bangla Desh to Kolkata to Delhi to Lahore and passing through Peshawar to Kabul and was built by various rulers from Ashoka, to Sher Shah Suri, Sonargaon, Rohtas and Afghan end by Mahmoud Shah Durrani.

The spot, in front of SD High School Panipat main entry gate, where today grown up Palm tree stand and where we would line up and solute to the Army men. You can see a truck passing on GT Road.

Those were different times, simpler, yet filled with a sense of awe. I, along with other students, would rush to the roadside, stand in line, and salute every single truck that passed. To us, those soldiers were not just men in uniform, they were symbols of courage, discipline, and the spirit of the nation.

That small habit, that innocent respect, stayed quietly within me all these years.

And today, seeing him there, it resurfaced, naturally, effortlessly.

What followed was a beautiful conversation, two generations, two journeys, connected by a simple gesture of respect.

Moments like these remind me:
Some values never fade.
They only wait for the right moment to reappear.

Prof Dr Ganda Singh - A pioneer of Sikh Historiography

Prof Dr Ganda Singh

Dr. Ganda Singh – A Scholar Who Preserved Our Roots

As I reflect on the lives of great scholars who have shaped our understanding of Sikh history, one name that stands tall with quiet dignity is that of Ganda Singh.

Born on 15th November 1900 in village Hariana, District Hoshiarpur, into a humble family, his journey was anything but ordinary, to Hukam Devi and Jawala Singh. He was married to Amar Kaur, also known as Inder Kaur. 

He received his primary education in his village and completed his matriculation from Government High School, Hoshiarpur in 1919. He briefly joined F.C. College, Lahore, but soon enlisted in the Indian Army, where he served in Rawalpindi, Peshawar, and Iraq. After leaving the army in 1921, he worked with the Anglo-Persian Oil Company in Abadan, Iran, from 1921 to 1930. During this period, he came under the influence of Sir Arnold Wilson, a distinguished scholar and the company’s manager, assisting him in preparing a bibliography of Iran. This scholarly exposure, along with his travels to Europe, nurtured his deep interest in historical research, he carried with him not just experience, but a mission.

Returning to India in 1930, he contributed to Giani Hira Singh’s journal Phulwari in Lahore. In 1931, he joined Khalsa College, Amritsar, as the head of the Sikh History Research Department, where he served with dedication for nearly two decades. During this time, he undertook extensive efforts to collect and preserve rare manuscripts and books from major centers such as Rampur, Bankipur, Patna, Kolkata, and Delhi, significantly enriching the institution’s library.

Dr Ganda Singh in his youth. Credit to Jasmeet Kaur!

At Khalsa College, Amritsar, he devoted nearly two decades to building a strong foundation for Sikh historical research. He travelled, collected, and preserved rare manuscripts from places like Rampur, Patna, Kolkata, and Delhi. I often feel that such silent and dedicated efforts are what truly safeguard our heritage.

Later, as Director of Archives in PEPSU and then as the founding head of Punjab Historical Studies at Punjabi University, Patiala, he created institutions and platforms that continue to guide scholars even today. His journal Punjab Past and Present and the Punjab History Conferences became milestones in academic excellence.

What stands out most is his deep knowledge of Persian. Through this, he brought forward authentic sources, corrected misconceptions, and presented Sikh history with clarity and integrity. His scholarship was not only intellectual—it was rooted in sincerity and the Khalsa spirit.

His courage was equally inspiring. Returning the Padma Bhushan in protest against Operation Blue Star showed that for him, principles came before recognition.

For me, however, his work takes on an even deeper meaning.

Being connected to the lineage and legacy of Bhai Nand Lal Goya, the poet laureate in the court of Guru Gobind Singh, I feel a personal sense of gratitude towards Dr. Ganda Singh. Bhai Nand Lal’s writings, originally in Persian, carry immense spiritual and literary depth, but for many of us, they would have remained distant without his efforts.

Dr. Ganda Singh became a bridge between generations.

Bhai Nand Lal Granthavali published by Punjabi University in 1963

In 1949, he was appointed Director of the Archives Department of PEPSU, where he gathered invaluable records and documents from eight princely states. He earned his Ph.D. from Panjab University in 1952 with a thesis on Ahmad Shah Durrani. Later, he was honored with D.Litt (Honoris Causa) degrees by Aligarh Muslim University (1969) and Punjabi University, Patiala (1978).

In 1962, he became the founding head of the Department of Punjab Historical Studies at Punjabi University, Patiala. There, he initiated several research projects and edited the bi-annual journal Punjab Past and Present. He also established high standards for the annual Punjab History Conference, which became an important platform for scholarly exchange on Punjab historiography.

A scholar of Persian, Dr. Ganda Singh introduced numerous primary sources into Sikh historical research. His writings, rooted in the Khalsa spirit, are marked by objectivity and reliance on authentic evidence. He played a crucial role in dispelling misconceptions and presenting a balanced account of Sikh history.

He was honored by the Punjab Government (1963) and the SGPC, Amritsar (1964). In 1983, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India, which he later returned in protest against the Operation Blue Star.

Dr. Ganda Singh also made a monumental contribution to the study of Bhai Nand Lal Goya, the poet laureate in the court of Guru Gobind Singh. With his deep knowledge of Persian, he worked extensively on collecting, editing, and translating Bhai Nand Lal’s works. The Bhai Nand Lal Granthavali, published through Punjabi University, Patiala, stands as an encyclopedic compilation of these writings.

Recognizing the difficulty many readers faced with Persian, he undertook the significant task of rendering these works into Gurmukhi script, making them accessible to a wider Sikh audience. While those proficient in Persian can still appreciate the original literary beauty, his efforts ensured that the teachings and poetry reached the common reader in a more familiar and understandable form.

The initial efforts to compile Bhai Nand Lal’s works were inspired by Sant Sohan Singh of Malaysia and Sardar Joginder Singh (M.S.Ed.), who helped gather scattered manuscripts into a unified collection. Dr. Ganda Singh’s scholarly rigor and dedication gave this work enduring value, making it widely referenced and deeply respected in modern Sikh and Punjabi scholarship.

I often reflect that while those who know Persian can enjoy the original beauty, it is because of scholars like him that the essence has reached people like us in a language we live and breathe.

Mention of my name I the book elates me.

In a way, his work has also helped preserve a part of my own heritage. I feel truly elated that my own name finds a place in the family tree of Bhai Nand Lal as detailed in his scholarly works. For me, this is not a merely a mention, it’s a moment of deep connection with my roots, a quiet affirmation  of belonging to a legacy that has been preserved with such unmatched dedication. Dr Ganda Singh researched wrote a full paragraph on my immediate family

Here is details of full Paragraph on my Dada ji L Bhagwan Das, his elder brother L Sham Das and my father S Vasdev Singh Retd Acting Superintendent in District and Session courts in Karnal and my uncle S Inderjit Singh an advocate in Punjab and Haryana High Court Chandigarh

As I continue my own journey of documenting family history and writing about our roots, I draw inspiration from such towering personalities. They remind us that history is not just to be read, it is to be preserved, lived, and passed forward.

And through his work, he continues to guide us even today.

With humility and gratitude,

Vasdev de Munda Di Kothi

​ Proud Sardar Preetmohan Singh in front of his village houseBadbar Dist Barnala

If you ever happen to visit my village and ask the Patwari Saroanch or numberdar or anyone around about me, whether a man named Preet Mohan ever lived there, or where his house is, you may be surprised. Most people will not recognize my name.

Yes, they will recall that we were among the “Multani landlords”, those families who migrated from Multan (now in Pakistan) and were allotted land here after Partition. My family, along with my uncles, once held nearly 800 acres of land.

But names fade with time.

If you truly wish to find my home, you must ask in the language of the soil:
“Vasdev de munde di kothi Kithe hai?”

And then, instantly, directions will come alive.

They will guide you toward Gaganapati and just near the masjid, you will ind my house.
There, my identity still lives, not in records, but in relationships… in memory… in belonging.

S Gobind joins his Dad Shivpreet

Just to make it easier for my co-villagers and strangers, I have erected a detailed name plate  showing my lineage and also attaching my Baba Ji’s name Bhai Nand Lal Goya the eminent poet Laureate in the court of Tenth Guru Gobind Singh.

Waheguru the Inner Thermometer

AI Sketch of my Dad S Vasdev Singh

Being a Sikh, I was always taught by my parents and elders to remember Waheguru in joy, in distress, and in every moment of life. It is our way of accepting His will and staying in gratitude.

As a child, my mother would often tell me about my father. Whenever he fell ill or had a high fever, he would automatically begin reciting, “Waheguru, Waheguru, Waheguru.”
She would gently say, “The way he is taking Waheguru’s name, I can tell his fever is high.”

In those days, we would smile at this… almost take it lightly.

But life has its own way of bringing understanding.

Recently, during our cruise to Hawaii, I was troubled by severe eczema triggered by an allergy. One night, in the middle of sleep, I found myself repeatedly uttering, “Waheguru, Waheguru…” aloud.

Harvinder woke up and asked, “What happened? Why are you saying Waheguru in the middle of the night?”

I did not have an answer at that moment.

But in the morning, I understood.

I was unwell… and somewhere deep within, my soul had responded the same way my father’s used to.

That day, I truly felt what he must have felt.

What once seemed like a habit… revealed itself as a connection, a natural turning toward the Divine in times of need.

Waheguru… becomes not just a word,
but an inner thermometer of the soul.