- विज्ञापन -
Chandigarh: Two personalities of Punjab have been included this year in the prestigious Padma Awards announced by the government. Bhai Harjinder Singh Srinagar Wale, who has made a unique contribution in the field of Gurbani Kirtan, and Onkar Singh Pahwa, who has made an outstanding contribution in industry and social welfare, will be awarded Padma Shri.
The special thing is that both the faces belong to Ludhiana in the state. The President has approved a total of 139 Padma Awards for 2025.
Bhai Harjinder Singh Srinagar Wale
Bhai Harjinder Singh Srinagar Wale is considered to be the main pillar of the Gurbani Kirtan tradition of Sikhism. He has brought alive the stories of Gurbani and the sacrifices of the Sahibzadas through emotional and melodious Kirtan. He was born in 1958 in village Baldwal in Gurdaspur district of Punjab.
His father was also a Ragi, and his younger brother Bhai Maninder Singh Srinagar Wale is also a renowned Ragi. Bhai Harjinder Singh studied at Shaheed Sikh Missionary College, Amritsar under the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee. He stepped into the field of Gurbani Kirtan in the 1980s and started performing Kirtan in a Gurudwara in Srinagar area of Jammu and Kashmir.
In 1983, he moved to Ludhiana and continued performing Kirtan in a local Gurudwara for some time. Currently, he is living in Ludhiana. Since he hails from Srinagar, ‘Srinagar Wale’ was added to his name to distinguish him.
Bhai Harjinder Singh has released over 100 albums and recorded over 650 Gurbani Shabads. His albums ‘Gallan Jog Na Hoye’ and ‘Waat Lambiyan Te Rasta Pahad Da’ are some of his famous poems based on Sahibzaadas.
Onkar Singh Pahwa
Onkar Singh Pahwa, who is the Managing Director of Avon Cycles Ltd., has taken the Indian bicycle industry to new heights. Born in 1952, Mr. Pahwa joined the family business in 1974 and became the Managing Director of the company in 2002. Under his leadership, the annual production of Avon Cycles grew from 1.4 million to 2.5 million.
He expanded the company’s product range from 25-30 models to 170+ models and made it popular globally. Mr. Pahwa has also moved the company in an environmental direction, investing in wind power and solar energy. His social service initiatives, which include charity in the fields of health and education, are also commendable.
