The National Sikh Chaplaincy Week The Nishkam Centre in Birmingham was able to promote the The National Sikh Chaplaincy Day in the West Midlands during

the week of 1st – 5

th November 2010. This was all achieved through Guru Ji’s Kirpa (blessing).

Throughout the week each Sikh Rogi Aasra (Sikh Chaplain) and Sikh Sewak (Sikh Volunteer) did the Ardaas (an integral

prayer) for Sarbat Da Bhalla (Wellbeing and Welfare of All) at various NHS hospitals and hospices in the chapels and multi

prayer rooms. These are places in the hospitals/hospices where staff, patients, visitors, religious people from all faiths and

service users can go in and prayer.

Praying for someone who is ill is a humane and noble act to do, taught by our Guru Ji’s and Bhai Kanhaiya Ji. To be there for

a person who is a Rogi (ill person) who needs Paath (prayer) a listening ear, comfort and help in a time of pain, suffering and

need is important.

Guru Angad Dev Ji. The first duty Guru Ji performed after morning prayers and listening to kirtan was to tend to the sick and needy. Guru Ji's

healing touch and loving compassion relieved many of their pains.

Guru Harkrishan Ji

When Guru Harkrishan Ji came to Delhi, the city was then in the grip of an epidemic. Guru Ji went all over the city even in

narrow lanes and by lanes. He gave succour to all in anguish without any discrimination whatsoever. His very presence and

the Divine look would rid the patients of their sufferings

Guru Ji cured them all. This is why in the Ardaas we say “remember Sri Harkrishan, who can destroy all our pains with just a

glimpse of Guru Ji.”

“Remember the great Guru Har Krishan Sahib Ji, for whoever gazed upon him was relieved of pain and suffering.”

Guru Gobind Singh Ji, Tenth Guru.

Bhai Kanhaiya Ji Story: Love the whole of Humanity

The service established by Bhai Kanhaiya Ji, the disciple of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji (Ninth Guru Ji) and Guru Gobind

Singh Ji (Tenth Guru Ji.) Bhai Kanhaiya Ji was an epitome of humility, devotion and loyal to his Guru and service to

mankind without any discrimination of religion, caste or region. He was born in a village called Sodhra (now in Pakistan) in

1648.

Bhai Kanhaiya Ji was devoted to the cause of the needy. He set out to find his Guru who could guide him on the path

of service. He came to Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji and got the opportunity to serve him.

When Guru Gobind Singh Ji was engaged in battle, Bhai Kanhaiya Ji moved to Anandpur Sahib and took over the

responsibility of serving drinking water to soldiers wounded in the battlefield. He carried the leather bag (Mashk) on his

shoulder and served water to the wounded without discrimination, to friends and foe. When a few Sikhs complained to Guru

Gobind Singh Ji that Bhai Kanhaiya Ji was serving water to the enemy, Guru Ji called him and sought his version. Bhai

Kanhaiya Ji submitted:

“With Thy Grace My Lord! My Eyes Are So Enlightened That I See Nothing Else But Your Divine Spirit Pervading

Everywhere and In All, Since I Served None Else But Only Thyself My Lord”

Bhai Kanhaiya Ji on the Battlefield serving water with his Mashk to all the wounded soldiers

Guru Gobind Singh Ji then blessed Bhai Kanhaiya Ji as a holy man and gave him a box of ointment to apply on

the healing wounds of the soldiers whilst serving the water.

This inspired a group of volunteers who worked under the guidance of Bhai Kanhaiya Ji, who thus became a

forerunner of the Red Cross movement which Sir Henry Durant founded about 160 years later.

When Guru Gobind Singh Ji left Anandpur Sahib, Bhai Kanhaiya Ji continued to serve the people and devoted

his remaining life to preach and practice teaching of the Sikh Gurus till he left the world at the age of 71 years,

while listening to the sacred hymns of Guru Granth Sahib Ji. He left behind a unique movement of 'Sewa Panthi',

which literally means people devoted to service of humanity.

The values Bhai Kanhaiya Ji embraced are enshrined in Guru Granth Sahib Ji and continue to be as

relevant, today. '

nw ko bYrI nhI ibgwnw sgl sMig hm kau bin AweI ]1] naa ko bairee nehee bigaanaa sagal sa(n)g ham ko ban aaee ||1||

No one is my enemy, and no one is a stranger. I get along with everyone. ||1||

A big thank you to all who organised and took part in this event.

Hospital Sikh Rogi Aarsa/Sewak Staff Gurudwara/Organisation

The Alexandra Hospital Redditch Jatinderpal Singh Loyal

Sikh Rogi Sewak

Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha,

Birmingham

Children’s Hospital Birmingham

Parkash Kaur Sohal

Sikh Rogi Sewak

Mr. Hamdard Singh

Sikh Sewak

Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha,

Birmingham

Small Heath Gurudwara

City Hospital, Birmingham Parkash Kaur Sohal

Sikh Rogi Sewak

Mr Singh.

Sikh Sewak

Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha,

Birmingham

Ramgharia Gurudwara,

Birmingham

Heartlands Hospital Birmingham

“

“

Satinder Kaur Taunque

Sikh Rogi Sewak

Jaswinder Kaur Jutla

Sikh Rogi Sewak

Chaplaincy Team

Revd Gareth Jones

Community Work with various

Organizations

Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha,

Birmingham

Inter-Faith Development Officer at

West Midland Faiths Forum

John Taylor Hospice Erdington Parkash Kaur Sohal

Sikh Rogi Sewak

Mr. Hamdard Singh

Granthi

Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha,

Birmingham

Small Heath Gurudwara

Kidderminster Hospital West Midlands. Jatinderpal Singh Loyal

Sikh Rogi Sewak

Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha,

Birmingham

New Cross Hospital Wolverhampton

“

“

“

New Cross Staff

Narinder Kaur Sidhu

Sikh Rogi Aasra

Amarpreet Kaur Kooner

Staff

Baljinder Singh Uppal

Staff

Harjinder Kaur Kaith and

Sukhvir Kaur Atwal

Staff

Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha,

Birmingham

Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha,

Birmingham

Guru Nanak Gurudwara,

Sedgley,Wolverhampton

Guru Nanak Satsang Gurudwara,

Cannock Road, Wolverhampton

Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Parkash Kaur Sohal

Sikh Rogi Sewak

Jaswant Singh Sohal and Sarbjit Singh

Sohal Sewak

Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha,

Birmingham

“ “ “ “

“ “

Russells Hall Hospital

Dudley

“

Mr. Gurjit Singh Barana

Sikh Rogi Sewak

Mark Stobert

Staff Chaplaincy Team Leader

Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha

Birmingham,

Sandwell Hospital,

West Bromwich.

Parkash Kaur Sohal

Sikh Rogi Sewak

Mr Singh

Sewak

Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha

Birmingham

Ramgharia Gurudwara

Walsall Manor Hospital, Walsall. Parkash Kaur Sohal

Sikh Rogi Aasra

Mr. Singh.

Sikh Sewak

Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha,

Birmingham

Walsall Gurudwara Walsall.

Worcestershire Royal Hospital,

Worcester

Kulwant Singh Loyal

Sikh Rogi Sewak

Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha,

Birmingham

Staff at New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton.

Revd Gareth Jones - Inter-Faith Development Officer at West Midlands Faiths Forum in Birmingham attended the National

Sikh Chaplaincy Day at Heartlands Hospital his comments by email where:

Dear Satinder,

“Many thanks for an excellent occasion at the Faiths Centre earlier today. It was very helpful to have the Sikh faith presented

with such clarity, and in a way that conveyed the deep spirituality at its heart. As I mentioned earlier, I appreciated having

the translation of Ardaas while the Prayer was being offered.”

“It was great to meet members of the team – please thank them from me for the kind and warm hospitality – and other key

figures. Likewise, I appreciated very much the opportunity to experience the welcoming and restful nature of the Faith Centre

itself.”“Best wishes to you and Jagjit, and Mandip.”

Gareth

Gareth Jones and Satinder Kaur Taunque

On behalf of Nishkam we thank all the hospitals, hospices and Chaplaincy staff from all the Multi Faiths

who took part, helped to promote this event and gave us the opportunity to do the Ardaas. We are deeply

honoured.

Thank you and God Bless