Volunteer by Day, Mechanical Engineer by Night
| My name in Gurmeet Singh. I am part of the UNITED SIKHS family based out of Punjab, India. I would like to start by offering my heartfelt wishes for the New Year. May we solve the challenges of Covid-19 pandemic and gross inequalities towards a wellness filled year and future ahead. I am a Mechanical Engineer working at a leading automobile manufacturing corporation that sells tractors used by farmers in India as part of their daily work to feed us and our families. I do this work 6 days a week on a night shift. By day I volunteer with UNITED SIKHS. I have a personal commitment and deep respect for farmers at large. They are the most essential of workers. Without them we cannot survive. For the past many weeks I have been part of a very emotional and life impacting mission. I have been visiting families of farmers lost in the ongoing Farmers Justice Morcha in India. As part of the UNITED SIKHS Fallen Farmers Fund announced at the end of 2020, we are offering financial compensation to every family that has lost a loved one in this movement for economic justice. Sadly there are over 60 families living with this loss. We are giving 50,000 Rupees to each family. For families with dire financial circumstances we are providing additional financial assistance. I want to share a few stories from these poignant visits. |
Gurpreet Singh, 21 years old, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar
Gurpreet Singh moved to Australia a few years ago for professional pursuits. But his heart was still back home in Punjab. He moved back after a few months. He made a commitment to finish his bachelors degree and work as a farmer by trade. He tilled his family’s land along with land of fellow villagers. As part of his dedication to farming he came to the border of Delhi in solidarity with farmer rights. He encouraged youth from his village to join the Farmers Morcha. Tragically he lost his life in an accident on a roadway on his way back home from Delhi.
Rajinder Kaur, 48 years old from Barnala
Rajinder Kaur comes from a family of farmers. She was the first woman in her village to actively participate in the Morcha starting in October 2020. She led the effort to create a woman’s group in her village to raise voice for farmer rights. She suffered a heart attack while on the frontlines of this activism. Heartbroken but inspired by Rajinder jee’s service her family has doubled their commitment to farmer rights.
Gajjan Singh, 56 years old from Ludhiana
Gajjan Singh has been a farmer like his two brothers. He joined the Morcha in the early days. He succumbed to a heart attack and passed away. I got to speak to his family and his brother’s young grand-daughter.
“My papa is also in Delhi for the Farmers Morcha. I have an appeal for the government. Please repeal the three bills so my Papa can return home safely”
These stories tragic as they are provide inspiration for me to stay committed to humanitarian relief work in India and beyond.
What also keeps me motivated are the amazing volunteers in the UNITED SIKHS family. Over 150 of them are serving farmers at Singhu, Tikri, Gazipur, Shahjahanpur borders of Delhi. Two of them, Dr. Saniya Kataria and Dr Manmeet Kaur, are serving the mental health needs of farmers.
Indian Express recently reported on this much needed sewa for the farmers.
“It has been 40 days since they have been here, so there is burnout. There is also a major problem with sleep; many are not able to sleep and are going through mood swings. For some, effective listening is enough because they don’t have any outlet for their thoughts and emotions. It is cathartic,” – Dr. Kataria, Indian Express, January 8th, 2021
All of this work and sewa is only possible with your financial support. I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart.
To serve all the families who have lost their loved ones we need your continued support. Every dollar makes a difference in the lives of impacted families. These funds are supporting cremation costs, farm loan payments, rental expenses, school fees and in some cases basic needs like food, clothing and utility bills.
Please donate to the Fallen Farmers Fund.
Gurmeet Singh
UNITED SIKHS India Team
Recognize the Human Race as One