Autobiography bhai rama singh ji

The Second Panjab (Southall)

The social environment of Southall is very similar to Panjab. The main shopping centre of Southall (The Broadway) resembles Jalandhar city. Most of the shops are run by the Panjabis. Here, our people have no shortage of Panjabi food. Green vegetables and all sorts of fruit are available all through the year. Panjabi sweets of all varieties are available. You cannot get so many Panjabi/Indian varieties even in India. Some shops remain open from eight in the morning to eight in the evening. Our people are so keen to expand businesses that they work very hard. Some like to eat outside. There are beautiful restaurants here which remain open until eleven at night.

Samosas are so popular, that even the white people have started eating them; they also enjoy eating other Indian food. Southall is so famous now that people come to do shopping from other areas and also eat food here. There are big crowds on Sundays. People come to pay their respects at the Gurdwaras, Mandars (Hindu temples) and Mosques and also do shopping for the week at the same time. One can also buy cloth of all types. There are many shops of gold ornaments.

Anyone coming here from India or Pakistan feels as if he is in Panjab.

There are radio and television broadcasts in our languages. There are programmes for children. If there is a special day for any religion then radio and television are pleased to arrange special information programmes. For example, during Vaisakhi, a direct programme is received from Amritsar for three or four days. There are many Gurdwaras, Mandars and Mosques in Southall.

The most famous Gurdwara is Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Southall. This Gurdwara was started on the 300th Prakash Utsav (Birthday, but also see Glossary) Gurpurab of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. The Gurpurab was celebrated on a big scale at the Royal Albert Hall, London. There was a milk diary building where this Gurdwara is located. Gurbachan Singh Gill helped to arrange for the loan to buy this place. An office was constructed by Bachitar Singh when he became President. When Giani Amolak Singh became President, he bought the place for the car park. Malkeet Singh Grewal, as President constructed the place for the Langar and the Young Sikhs made the Sach Khand rooms (place where Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is kept at night in a state of Sukh‐aasan, "resting position").

This is the most famous Gurdwara outside Punjab. Despite its fame and huge income, no party has taken the trouble to build a new Gurdwara. Everyone bought or built their own houses but no one bothered to build Guru Ghar (Guru's House).

President Himat Singh Sohi and the Committee, with the support of the Sangat, repaid all the loan of 800,000 pounds owed by the Gurdwara to the bank. They received full support from the Sangat.

A considerable amount has also been saved for a new building. With Guru Ji's blessing a new Gurdwara will be built in the near future. All this is happening with the full support of the Sangat.

Here, there is regular flow of Bani and Naam.

The Prakash of Guru Maharaj (Guru King) is done at 2.45 in the morning. Following the Hukamnama, the Nit Nem of Five Banis is recited. Then Naam simran takes place from 4.00 to 5.00 a.m. There is such enthusiasm about simran that a large number of Sangat get together at that time. From 5.00 to 6.30 a.m. Kirtan of Asa Di Vaar is done. The Sangat listen keenly. After this the katha (interpretation and explanation) of the main Vaak (Hukamnama or Order) of the day, read from Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, following the Prakash in the morning, is done. And so the programme continues. From 10.00 to 11.00 in the morning, the simran is done for the second