Sikhs break communal barriers to help all

Soumitra Bose | TNN | Updated: Apr 8, 2020, 10:57 IST

NAGPUR: By breaking the barriers of the communal divide, the Sikh community has been distributing 15,000 food packets since the lockdown was announced in the city through section 144 in the wake of the coronavirus scare. In a first, the community is also arranging 100kg roti for stray dogs and other animals on the streets.
The 15,000 food packets are cooked at the Gurdwara by volunteers with 1,250kg rice and 250kg of other materials. Seeing the efforts of the Sikh community, three apartments have decided to collect ‘rotis’ for preparing special food packets for senior citizens.
The committee of the Gurdwara Gurunanak Durbar, Pachpaoli, started their ‘langar seva’ or community free food service after the lockdown on March 21 as per their Sikh tradition goes at short notice without much time for planning or preparation. Their aim was to ensure food for starving citizens, irrespective of their religion as the lockdown had shut establishments, trade and other activities except essential and emergency services.
Without food outlets, vendors and kiosks, the Sikh committee had planned to reach out to as many people possible, cutting across class, creed and community.
After two weeks, the ‘langar’ has now become the talk of the town with around 45 different NGOs and residents’ groups preparing food packets. Several NGOs and groups, including the ones coordinated by the police department, also donate rice and vegetables for the langar and take food packets in return for distribution at different places.
The committee, observing the numbers of homeless people near Tajbagh shrine, is also ensuring food packets are taken for them twice a day. “We are also providing food to the locality where Shaheen Bagh was organized in north Nagpur. There is a request from a Masjid committee to help them with food packets and we are happy to extend our efforts of humanitarian work,” said Jasmeet Singh Bhatia, president of the committee.
“Groups and organizations of the other communities are flooding us with congratulatory messages,” he said.
Bhatia, who is helped by secretary Kawaljeet Singh Chauhan, cashier Sarabjeet Singh Bhatia and active members like Ramandeep Singh Bhandari, Hardeep Singh and others, said it was a surprise for them when a Marwadi family from Kenya came forward to donate money for the langar seva. “We have also received donations from several unknown persons from different places like Mumbai after they saw our efforts on social media,” said Bhatia.