• By Bidisha Roy

Veteran Sikh community leader Master Mohinder Singh, a former president of Gurdwara Sikh Cultural Society, Richmond Hill, and a founder President of Gurdwara Baba Makhan Shah Sikh Center, was born in 1948 in Miani, a remote village in Hoshiarpur district of Punjab, India. His family members were farmers but his father was a police inspector. Elder to two brothers and one sister, Mohinder Singh aspires to be a teacher from his childhood. After completion of his B.Sc. and B.Ed. from govt college, he started his career as a school teacher in 1970. In 1974, he went back to his village after getting a job in the govt high school there.

In 1985, Mohinder Singh moved to the USA for a better life and better opportunities. He started his new journey as a construction worker and within two years established his own construction company and ran the company until 1999. His family – wife, two daughters and one son joined him in 1995.

He never got disconnected from his root and engaged himself into social and cultural activities. Master Mohinder Singh was two-time president of Gurdwara Sikh Cultural Society, Richmond Hill, New York. Later he founded Gurdwara Baba Makhan Shah Lobana Sikh Center in South Richmond Hill and was a president for the organization for three terms.

He became a voice for the Sikh community when it suffered significantly post-9/11 with discrimination. He was a part of Sikh delegation who met US president George Bush after 9/11 and raised many issues including the future of the Sikhs.

“I work with so many assembly members and city council members. As a result of which Congressman Gregory Mick and speaker of the city council became my good friends. Many politicians visit our Gurdwara and most of the time, I introduce them to the audience. When mayor (NYC) Eric Adams was inaugurated, I did the prayer (Sikh) for him. I performed prayers for many other leaders along with other religious heads.” Master Mohinder Singh is in close touch with NYC mayor and discusses various issues with him regularly.

Master Mohinder Singh is also very active in Indian politics. When Prime Minister Modi came to the USA for the first time, he was invited to meet him and conveyed him about the difficulties Sikh community is going through. “I categorically told him that if every religion gets equal treatment, only then India will progress. If you give special treatment to one religion at the cost of other religion, India will never be strong.”

He is also very critical about the current situation in India. “When India got independence, the only goal was secularism. The government should respect all religion. But look at India now – all the fear is created for Muslims. The central government is ignoring the difficulties of the Punjab farmers. The Prime Minister does not utter a single word (regarding the issue) in the parliament. He is the prime minister for everybody – who cast vote for him or did not – he is the prime minister for all. It’s his duty to solve the issue. What is happening is not democracy. We are the largest democracy but we are not listening to the voice of people”

He feels that the government must talk to the farmers and fulfill not all but few demands because if the famers don’t survive, India will also not survive. He also strongly advocates for creating employment opportunities for current and future generation.

“I love India, I respect India. I am talking for the betterment for all Indians – not only Sikhs – Hindus, Muslims, Christians and all other religions that make the Unified India”, he signs off.