Dignitaries launch a book on the spiritual journey of the first Sikh Guru in Jalandhar on Friday.

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, December 11

“Ek Onkar – One Supreme Reality”, a coffee-table book on the life of Guru Nanak Dev was released at the Virsa Vihar on Friday.

Authored by Army veteran Maj Gen Balwinder Singh (retd) VSM, the book focuses on Guru Nanak Dev’s spiritual journey leading to his enlightenment at Sultanpur Lodhi. “There is no Hindu, no Muslim. There is only one God and we are all equal before him.”

The book launch is a part of the formal initiative by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) to spread the word on history and heritage of Sultanpur Lodhi.

The book was launched by MP Santokh Chaudhary along with environmentalist Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal. Jalandhar Deputy Commissioner Ghanshyam Thori, Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar and Municipal Commissioner Karnesh Sharna, among others, were also present.

This is the rivulet from where Guru Nanak came out enlightened and gave the moolmantra ‘Ek Onkar’ to humanity.

Maj Gen Balwinder Singh is a life member and convenor of the INTACH, Jalandhar Chapter, and a member of the Governing Council of India. He is also one of the patrons of the Virsa Vihar.

He said the INTACH tasked his team to prepare a coffee- table book with a vision to further spread the message of Guru Nanak Dev in the society.

He said it was more than satisfying to release the book during the 551st birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev.

Speaking to The Tribune he said, “Guru Nank Dev spent 14 years, 9 months and 13 days at Sultanpur Lodhi and attained enlightenment at Kali Bein. His message is a beacon of hope and assimilation beyond caste and creed in the present times. While the book has been in my mind for the last few years, the project officially took off on the 500th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. At present, people are too fixated on identities, names, caste and creed but the first Sikh Guru’s life and his spiritual journey entails that there are greater treasures and more significant things in life.”