After finishing the special project of propagating Sikhism and researching various aspects of life of Sikhs in Madhya Pradesh, students perusing MA at the Shri Guru Angad Dev institute of religious studies Khadur Sahib run by Nishan-E-Sikhi Charitable Trust (Regd.), have come back.
A renowned environmentalist Baba Sewa Singh is chairman of the trust.
Under this project of one month duration, the trainee preachers covered almost 60 villages of Gwalior, Mohna, Bhind, Hargobind Pura, Shiv Puri, Sho Pur and few other districts with sizeable Sikh population.
Kanwaljit Singh, incharge of the students, told to media persons that their main centre was Gurudwara Data Bandi Chhorh located at historical fort of Gwalior where Sixth Guru of Sikh Guru Hargobind ji, was imprisoned and he got 52 Hindu kings released from there.
“Two students stayed at one village for two days and they taught Gurmukhi and basic principles of Sikhism to local Sikh children besides conduct congregation on morning and evening. At the end of the visit, Amrit Sanchar Samagam was held at the main centre in which 304 Sikh devotees was awarded with Amrit”, he added.
Regarding survey conducted on life of local Sikhs, he told, “While collecting the data regarding life of Sikhs residing there, we tried to get the answers of these questions- when did Sikhs go to the state from Punjab? What were their circumstances at that time? What is their present situation? What is their future? How much are they attached with their religion, culture, language etc.? What are the problems they face? What is their economic condition?-report of which will be released later.
He also told that there are some areas like Shiv Puri, Ashok Nagar and Sho Pur, that look like Punjab because Sikhs are residing their in large number.
The students also found that there are mainly Kaar Sewa sects of Khadur Sahib, Shri Hazur Sahib and Sarhali Sahib and Namdhari sect of the Sikhs, who have strong base among local Sikhs.