Special Report
Editorial
Op-Ed
Opinion
Columns

Politics
Literature
Music
Art & Culture
Sikh Religion
Rights
1984
Books
Education
Business

Entertainment
Lifestyle
Travel
Health
Heritage
Sports
Kids Corner

Panjab
India
Pakistan
South Asia
US of A
Canada
Asia-Pacific
UK
Europe
Middle East
Africa
World
 

Archives
Newsletter
Advertise

Obituaries

Feedback
Contact Us
About Us
Site Map

Ishmeet Singh Academy, Awards In His Name, Road too
Thousands pay homage to the man who will forever be young and an icon
Jagmohan Singh 

LUDHIANA: Central Ludhiana came to a halt when the who’s who of the Sikh world and the ordinary folks from far and wide converged on Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Model Town Extension, braving the inclement weather to pay last respects to the Pride of Punjab Ishmeet Singh on the occasion of the Antim Ardas last Sunday.

Religious, social and political leaders of all hues and shades were present to extol the qualities of the 19 year old lad who had won the hearts of the people through simplicity, humility and a sweet husky voice. Young girls sporting the Keski on their heads were seen rubbing shoulders with jean-clad adolescents alongside eighty year old men and women, for whom his turban and beard was more than a symbol of faith – he had become a symbol of hope, a torch bearer for those who wanted to adore their Sikhi.

People at the bhog were sunk in grief but everyone saw a ray of hope. Everybody was in tears looking aimlessly at the huge photographs of the departed soul, speechless at the cruel joke destiny had played on the family, who had barely settled down after the uproar of his becoming the first Voice of India in a realty show contest in November last year. The whole complex was dotted with bill boards of homage by various social and commercial organisations and media groups.

As Paramjit Singh Sarna, the president of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee said, “the community needs many more Ishmeets to be born”. He went on to declare that the DSGMC would honour every year a Sabat Soorat Sikh singer with the Ishmeet Singh Award, which will carry a citation and prize money of Rs. 1 lakh. He announced a grant of Rupees Five lakh for the family of Ishmeet Singh. The President of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Avtar Singh Makkar narrated how his 10 year old grand daughter broke the news of Ishmeet’s death to her over the phone and he informed the Sangat that the SGPC had sanctioned a grant of Rupees Eleven lakhs and also instituted the Sikh Hero Award in Ishmeet’s honour with a prize money of Rupees One lakh and fifty thousand.

Serpentine queues of those wanting to pay obeisance at the Gurdwara continued till late evening when Parkash Singh Badal, the chief minister of Punjab, who had specially flown in, announced his love for the young star and announced to name a road in Ludhiana as Kaka Ishmeet Singh road and to set up a world-class music academy in the fond memory of Ishmeet Singh. He also announced a grant to the family of Rupees Eleven lakh. The chief minister also promised to write to the federal government to institute an enquiry into the circumstances of his death.

Baba Harnam Singh Dhumma of the Damdami Taksal and the Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Charanjit Singh Atwal dwelt upon Ishmeet’s commitment to Guru Granth Sahib and the Sikh religion and urged youngsters to follow the tenets of the Sikh faith. Hazuri Raagi Jathas from Darbar Sahib, Delhi rendered Kirtan in memory of the singer reciting Shabads of how one should handle such situations in life. Mr. Harish Rai Dhanda, MLA, Hira Singh Ghabria -who has been with the family since the arrival of his body at Delhi airport, Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal, Jagdish Singh Garcha, councillors of the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation, Hakam Singh Giaspura-the Mayor of Ludhiana, leaders of the Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle, activists from Canada and UK Members of the legislative assembly from Ludhiana, the former Jathedar of Takht Keshgarh Sahib, Prof. Manjit Singh, Congress leaders Tej Prakash Singh and Malkit Singh Dakha, BJP leader Satpal Gosain, former speaker of the Punjab assembly Harnam Dass Johar, Jagdev Singh Jassowal, former SGPC president Jagir Kaur, Nihang Sikhsvolunteers of the Gurmat Gian Missionary College, Pritpal Singh President of Gurdwara Dukhniwaran were all there to share the grief of the family of Ishmeet Singh. The principal and staff of the Guru Nanak Public School and of SCD College Ludhiana, from where Ishmeet had done his schooling were also present. His music ustad Bhalla ji was also there lost in oblivion at the loss of his student.

His friend Surleen Kaur presented a pencil sketch which was presented to the family. Sikh groups and organisations having a radical agenda and the co-participants of Ishmeet Singh at the Star Voice of India contest were conspicuous by their absence. Though it may be mentioned that one of the participants, Toshi from Rajasthan had to be hospitalised for three days on hearing of Ishmeet’s sudden demise.

Was Ishmeet’s commitment to the religion and humility a matter of chance? No. Ishmeet Singh was the grandson of Inder Singh –who was one of the pioneers of the Chief Khalsa Diwan, Ishmeet’s father is himself a singer and his uncle Dr. Charan Kamal Singh a Sikh youth leader of the Guru Gobind Singh Study circle and a world-renowned anti-rabies expert. Alas, his goodness was short lived. And everyone at the bhog was one voice in saying, May his soul rest in peace. 

Ishmeet makes presence felt at plantation drive

KAPURTHALA: A major afforestation drive of planting 50,000 saplings on 50 hectares of Harike wild-life sanctuary was initiated on Saturday by Baba Balbir Singh Seechewal, with the first sapling planted in memory of Ishmeet Singh. “This would be a lasting tribute to the youth who had become hope of the state and the community,” Seechewal said. Financial commissioner, forests and wildlife, RC Nayyer, who was also present on the occasion, assured the planted saplings would be looked after by Seechewal’s volunteers for seven years.

6 August, 2008
 

Bookmark with

Reddit    Yahoo     Furl    Delicious