THE ASIAN INDEPENDENT UK
VIRK KEEPS WATERING PUNJABI LANGUAGE AND SIKH RELIGION WITH PURE LOVE
An Amritdhari Sikh Tarlochan Singh Virk Co-Ordinator of Punjabi Listeners Club, formed on the 3rd Anniversary of BBC Radio Leicester’s Punjabi Programme on 9th September 1995 was recognised at Guru Kashi University, Talwandi Sabo, Bathinda, Punjab, India on 15 October 2025 for his excellent Service of promoting Maa Boli Punjabi, Culture and Sikh religion for over 30 years.
In celebration of the club’s 1st anniversary at Guru Nanak Gurdwara the youngest of the Punjabi School’s 100 students presented a well deserved trophy to Gurpreet, main presenter of the BBC’s Punjabi Programme who was chosen by the Leicestershire’s Punjabi community to present the historic radio programme which became very popular throughout the Midlands areas in cities that included Derby, Nottingham, Birmingham, Peterborough, Coventry, Northampton, Wolverhampton.
With Waheguru ji kirpa the Punjabi Listeners Club has organised:
Turban tying competitions for boys and girls aged 7 years to 18 years in Uk and Punjab.
Punjabi Writing Competitions for over 400 students in UK and Punjab.
Trips to see exhibitions of Sikhs’ Contributions in World Wars and Maharaja Ranjit Singh Kursi in London and National Sikh Museum in Derby.
Celebrations of International Mother Language Day annually.
Events in libraries, community centre and different Gurdwaras of Leicester, Coventry and Derby.
Opening of Overdale Punjabi School
Trips to Gurdwaras for school children, cubs, scouts and members of other faiths.
Health Events in Gurdwara Sahib so Sikh community can make better choices to improve their health.
Donated 101 Nitnem Gutkas to University Hospitals of Leicester.
Some of the very special celebrations organised by the club included:
410th anniversary of the 1st installation of Ade Granth at Sri Harmandar Sahib, Sri Amritsar at Guru Tegh Bahadur Gurdwara where first founder of Leicester Gurdwara was awarded with replica Golden Temple model with different shabads. Mansukhpreet Kaur Khalsa was presented with 24 carrot gold khanda for her remarkable ability of reciting Sahej Pathh at age 6 years.
12th anniversary of BBC Radio Leicester’s Punjabi Programme which was well attended and extensively covered in Punjabi newspapers, radio stations and television. Guests included Lord Mayor of Leicester and 1st ever Sikh MP.
Dinner for Business community leaders of Leicester where the Guest of Honour was Narinder Singh Nanda, President Hotels and Restaurants of Punjab. Gurjeet Kaur Bains of Eastern Media Group was recognised for Services to Business Community of Birmingham.
National Punjabi Language Seminars in celebration of club’s 20th and 30th anniversary.
Punjab United Derby Under 13s and GNG Leicester Under 9s football teams were awarded for winning all five National Summer Football Tournaments in Gurdwara Sahibs in Derby and Leicester.
During the last 30 years the voluntary organisation Punjabi Listeners Club has raised thousands of pounds for UK registered charities such as-
Children in Need
Wishes4Kids
Alzheimer’s Society
LOROS Hospice
British Heart Foundation
Roko Cancer
Various Lord Mayor of Leicester’s different Charities
Khalsa Aid International
Punjabi Listeners Club has awarded Lifetime Achievement Awards to Channi Alaap OBE, Giani Balwinder Singh Rangila and Dr. Jagat Singh Nagra.
Writer, Poet who takes keen interest in sports especially football Tarlochan Singh was:
Awarded at Punjabi Bhavan, Ludhiana in presence of Dr. Surjit Pattar Ji.
Awarded by Punjabis in Britain All Part Parliamentary Group at House of Commons, London.
Chosen to meet Her Majesty the Queen during her Golden Jubilee visit to Leicester.
Chosen to represent Sikh Community’s campaign for better services through Ethnic Monitoring Petition at Prime Minister’s residence 10 Downing Street.
Invited to 6th Sikh American Heritage Dinner at White House, Capitol Hill, Washington DC, USA.
During his visit to Takhat Sri Dam Dama Sahib (Guru Kashi), he also saw Gurdwara Likhannsar Sahib Patshahi 10 vi, Manji Sahib Patshahi 9vi, Gurdwara Sri Dam Dama Sahib Patshahi 10 vi. At the University Virk visited GKU Arts Department, Guru Nanak Chair Research, Bhai Mardana ji Research Centre, Sports Department and was extensively interviewed by Manpreet Kaur Brar, Head of GKU Radio.
Tarlochan Singh was presented with a Loee by Pro Vice Chancellor Prof: Dr Jagtar Singh Dhiman and with a trophy by the Vice Chancellor Dr. Rameshwar Singh of Guru Kashi University.
Tarlochan Singh hails from Doaba’s historic village Virk which is adjacent to village of world-renowned Punjabi singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh.
