SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar (2nd from L) and US Embassy official Chad Thornberry at the Golden Temple. |
SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar made the announcement following the ‘bhog’ ceremony of ‘Akhand Path’ organised for the peace to departed souls at the Golden Temple Complex. The ceremony was also attended by US Embassy officials Chad Thornberry and A. Sukesh.
Earlier, Makkar said he recently met the US Ambassador and told her that the US should initiate concrete measures to redress the identity issue of Sikhs as a number of Sikhs were attacked post-9/11 due to mistaken identity. He said the SGPC will give an aid of Rs 2 lakh each to the next of kin of two Sikh preachers who were killed in the shootout.
Patiala village remembers its honest, but ambitious son
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Satwant Singh |
For the residents of Dugal village in Patiala, Satwant Singh Kaleke was an honest but ambitious man. He left the village almost three decades ago in pursuit of greener pastures in the US.
After doing menial jobs initially, Kaleke struck gold when he entered gas business. He later went on to own several gas stations. He was associated with the Oak Creek gurdwara in Wisconsin for the last 18 years. His last prayers are also scheduled to be held in the same shrine tomorrow. A large number of Sikhs are likely to participate in the ritual.
Kaleke was related to noted NRI Darshan Singh Dhaliwal, who also shifted to the US around the same time and rose to be a millionaire. The death occurred at a time when Dhaliwal’s daughter Tina Kaur was slated to marry a US citizen today (August 11) in Mequon, Wisconsin.
Darshan Singh is the elder brother of Punjab Cabinet Minister Surjit Singh Rakhra, who is married to Kaleke’s sister Harinder Kaur.
Harinder Kaur, who was already in the US to attend her brother’s ‘bhog’ ceremony, said, “Satwant was a gentleman. If approached, he would always help his friends, Dugal residents and for that matter, anybody in need.”
Shootout eyewitnesses said Kaleke confronted the attacker, a former US soldier who was also gunned down later, as he opened fire at the devotees inside the gurdwara.
“My uncle lived up to his reputation of being a devout Sikh. His bravery will keep on inspiring the younger generations,” said Vijay Kaleke, resident of Dugal village.
Kaleke had shifted to the US along with his four brothers around two decades ago. While the rest stayed put there and made a fortune, one of the brothers, Amarjit Singh, returned as he was serving in the Punjab Government.
Satwant Singh is survived by two sons, one of whom is Amardeep Kaleke, an Emmy award winner in the category of documentaries.
SikhKaum News Service
1 comments:
dilon satikar eho jehe jodhea nu .. Waheguru jiyo..
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