Virk Pind’s Tarlochan Singh Recognized in Punjab for 30th Years Service to Punjabi Language Culture & Sikh Religion
Virk Keeps Watering Maa Boli Punjabi with Pure Love & Attention
THE ASIAN INDEPENDENT UK-
Jalandahr- The co-ordinator of Punjabi Listeners Club formed on the 3rd Anniversary of BBC Radio Leicester Punjabi Programme was recognized at Jalandahr, Punjab, India for promoting Punjabi Language, Culture & Sikh religion for 30 years.
Tarlochan Singh Virk was presented with trophies and book called “Punjab That was Not” written by Pushpinder Singh Gill & Punjab Times Excellance Award at the office of Punjab Times Jalandhar by the Editor of the daily newspaper published in Punjabi & English in India and Canada.
Tarlochan Singh Virk was also presented with the 2nd book of author and editor of the Leading Independent Euro-Asian Magazine Punjab Mail International from London, U.K. Gurdeep Singh Sandhu who originate from Gadri Babian da Pind Rurka Kalan, Near Goraya, Dish. Jalandhar.
Virk Ji also met President of Gum Nanak Gurdwara, Leicester Sardar Ajmer Singh Basra in Jalandhar On 18th March who is the longest serving person in Leicester Gurdwara & has been in the main sewadar of Gum Nanak Gurdwara since 2007 when the previous management committee left the new committee with large amount overdrawn financially.
With the experience leadership of Ajmer Singh Basra who has over 40 year experience of serving in Leicester Gurdwaras. He originate from pind Mehli near Phagwara and joint hard work of his management committee all of the Gurdwara Sahib has been renovated to very high standard apart from the kitchen which will be completed before Khalsa Sajna Divas and the overdrawn balance is fully cleared. Opening Ceremony of Sikh Troops War Memorial in Victoria Park Leicester was done by Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire Mike Kapoor OBE who is the local representative of King Charles. Basra Ji was chosen as president of Sikh Troops War Memorial which is situated in the vastly visited part of the Victoria Park by different communities of Leicester and is walking distance to the University of Leicester and the popular & widely know De Mont Fort Hall where major shows are held.
Due to the above so many people from across the world have learnt and will continue to learn about the sacrifices made by the less than 2 % of India’s population Sikhs to fight and die for the freedom for people in the time of need in Europe.
Ajmer Singh expressed his delight at all the daily religious programmes of the Gurdwara as well as the Gym, Punjabi School and the ever-increasing waiting list for Nursery places which is soon to be started. Basra ji was proud that Management Committee was able to purchase extra land for car spaces near the Gurdwara situated in the center of Leicester which has population close to 400,000 people from all faiths and many different countries from across the world living in perfect harmony 99% of the time. This land bought will now be very beneficial to the Sadh Sangat Ji.
But the elderly Sikh now over 80 years of age expressed his extreme sadness that for the very first time this year annual Vaisakhi Nagar Kirtan is not going to take place as it has been taking place for decades as the Guru Teg Badur Gurdwara Management Committee does not want the Nagar Kirtan to arrive to the Guru Teg Bahadur Gurdwara Sahib despite a number of meetings between the two Gurdwara Sahib’s sewadars / representatives.
Ajmer Singh Ji also said that the Vaisakhi Nagar Kirtan will still take place around the streets of Guru Nanak Gurdwara so that the Sadh Sangat Ji, Guru Nanak Naam Leva & the whole city of Leicester can celebrate the Vaisakhi together and get Guru Ji’s blessings.
Tarlochan Singh Virk, Co-ordinator of Punjabi Listeners Club who is visiting his beloved homeland Punjab as part of the 30th Anniversary Celebration of the Punjabi Listeners Club thanked the editor of Punjab Times Baljit Singh Brar and Punjab Mail International Punjabi Magazine’s Management for the special recognition which I will always keep very close to my heart.
After the Turban Tying Competition in memory of Mata Gujar Kaur Ji and Sahibzade in 26th December 2024 and International Mother Language Day celebration on 2nd March, other events planned as part of the 30th Anniversary Celebration are:
1. Punjabi Writing Competition at Virk Pind at Govt. Primary Smart School for 200 students.
2. Visit to the Houses of Parliment in London in the summer holidays so that school children can also see this famous place.
3. High Level Punjabi Maa Boli Seminar in September where prominent members of The Punjabi Community who will be participating from all the U.K as well as Canada, India & Pakistan.
Towards the end of the year an event is also being planned in the loving memory of Punjabi Legendry Writers such as Inderjit Hassanpuri, Dev Threekay Wala, Dr. Surjit Pattar, Harbans Singh Jandu Littranwala, Famous Artist Sarup Singh & Leicester Punjabi Singer Sangeeta.
Mr. Virk has 30 years letters from the United Kingdom Royal Family as well as cards on special occasions. He was chosen to meet Her Majesty The Queen when she visited Guru Nanak Gurdwara during her Golden Jubilee in 2001. Mr. Virk was awared for promoting Punjabi Language and Culture at the House of Commons in London and Punjabi Bhawan Ludhiana.
In 2009 he was one of two people invited from the United Kingdom to attend the 6th Sikh American Heritage Dinner at The White House, Capitol Hill Washington DC, USA.
Tarlochan Singh commented The Punjabi Language Seminar for the 20th Anniversary celebration of the Punjabi Listeners Club were held at Manor High School in Oadby Leicestershire & this year’s 30th Celebrations will be recorded by number of International Media Channels & shown later. The students of Punjabi School of Leicester will be participating & it has regularly been thought of the Listeners Club to involve young people who are our future. Indeed for the first Anniversary Celebration of Punjabi Listeners Club the youngest of the 100 students of Guru Nanak Punjabi School presented a trophy to Gurpreet Kaur, the presenter of BBC Radio Leicester’s, Punjabi Programme.
The PLC has raised thousands of pounds for UK REGISTERED CHARITIES such as;
Children in Need
Wishes 4 Kids
The Alzheimer’s Society
Roko Cancer
LOROS
Lord Mayor’s Charities
British Heart Foundation
Khalsa Aid Innternational
Mr. Virk hails from Village Virk which is adjacent Pind of World Renowned Punjabi Singer “Diljit Dosanjh” where Tarlochan Singh gave the 5th class exams after which he has been living in Leicester UK for 58years but his love for Maa Boli Punjabi has been ever present as he continuously keeps watering it with Pure Love & attention.
