Pres. Balbinder Singh Nanuwan

History

From Gobind Pur to global seva

Birth place: Gobind Pur, District Nawanshahar (Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar), Punjab. The family's mahala was known as Fauji Mahala - elders who served in the World Wars. Parents: the late Joginder Singh Nanuwan and Parkash Kaur Nanuwan (both amritdhari). Grandparents: the late Battan Singh Nanuwan and Harnam Kaur Nanuwan. Battan Singh served in World War One, later headed the prison in Suva, Fiji (1920-1942), and was skilled in Gatka.

Khalsa International Welfare Society honours Sikh bravery in the memory of Shaheed Bhai Nanuwan Ji, who was martyred in the second battle of Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji. Later generations of the Nanuwan family served in the First World War, the Second World War, and India's independence struggle until 1947. In memory of the Shaheed Singhs of the Nanuwan family, this seva continues from their birthplace — Village Gobind Pur, District Nawanshahar (Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar).

Balbinder Singh Nanuwan was born on 19 April 1956. He studied in his village school and at SGHG Khalsa High School Banga, trained as a motor mechanic in Ludhiana, worked in Dubai, and married Bibi Kalbinder Kaur in Derby, England in January 1980. They have four children: Paramveer Kaur, Harvir Kaur, Hardeep Kaur, and Sandeep Singh.

He is the eighth generation of Sardar Jamala Singh Nanuwan of Bhaku Majra, District Ropar - a lineage tied to seva of the Gurus, including Chamkaur Sahib. Balbinder has volunteered for the Sikh community in Derby since 1981.

Kar Sewa in Pakistan

In 1999, during a yatra to Pakistan, he felt called to preserve Sikh history and heritage. He helped form Kar Sewa Committee UK and served as treasurer. In 2005 the committee built a Gurdwara in remembrance of Shaheed Singh-Singhnia at Nau Lakha Bazar / Landa Bazar, Lahore - a place of immense historical suffering for Sikhs. In 2018, Ball Lilla Gurdwara in Nankana Sahib was built. Residential blocks and a langar hall were added at Tambu Sahib. The committee's work has helped keep dozens of Gurdwaras open for sangat from around the world.

Author & teacher

After five years of research, he wrote Khalsa Panth to Lahore Shahair - over a thousand pages - released on 2 June 2004 at Darbar Sahib, Amritsar. Proceeds go to charity. The Society has also supported Dharam Prachaar across Punjab and neighbouring states, cold-water coolers and benches at Gurdwaras in Pakistan, and free translation and distribution of Sikh prayer gutkas in languages including Odia, with Sindhi, Urdu, and Nepali underway. Read more about our sponsorship of Principal Bibi Sadhna Patri Ji and the Odia Sri Guru Granth Sahib.

Khalsa International Welfare Society

Founded in 2012 (Canada & UK), KIWS supports shelter, medical aid, marriages for daughters of poor families, widows with children, education sponsorship in Nankana Sahib, and free eye camps at Tambu Sahib every last Sunday of the month - about 14 camps a year, treating tens of thousands. In the UK, the Society helps remarriage for divorced or widowed women with children, Sikh camps, and Punjabi learning books.

All of this seva continues with the blessings of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the ten Gurus, Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, and the Sadh Sangat worldwide.