By: Amolak Singh, New Orleans, LA

NEW ORLEANS, LA:March 9, 1995 S. Jagir Singh Mangat enters the 91st year of his Gursikhi Jiwan. He was bom in village Katani Kalan (about 10 miles from Ludhiana). He was only nine year old when his father (S. Bachint Singh) left for his heavenly abode. At that time this nine year old Gursikh had a three month old baby brother (now known as S. Gurdial Singh Katani) to take care of. According to God’s will, the role of elder brother was changed to the role of a caring father. From that time till present, S. Jagir Singh had experienced many happy as well as sad moments in his life but he handled them according to the Sikh Principle -by not getting over-excited during a happy moment and by not getting too depressed during a sad moment! For the kind attention of our readers – and with great respect for the sewa he did for the Sikh Community a brief introduction of him and his family is provided below:

After his high school education from Flaur, S. Jagir Singh attended college in Rawal Pindi (now in Pakistan) where his grandfather (S. Kartar Singh) was working as a forest officer. All though his grandfather had the desire that he study medicine, according to God’s will he left India and reached Dares Salaam, Tanzania, E. Africa, where he joined The British Railway Tanzania on July 7, 1925.

During 1925, he and his other dedicated friends (S. Harnam Singh “Banker.” S. Gurcharan Singh “Babaji,” S. Sant Singh “Chacha,” S. Harnam Singh “Thanedar,” S. Balwant Singh “Lambardar,” S. Prem Singh “Taiaji,” S. Bhagat Singh, and Dr. Mehta) did the Kar-Sewa of the construction of Gurdwara Sahib at Dares Salaam. After completing their daily duties at 4:00 pm, these dedicated members used to do this Sewa according to their individual capabilities. After this Sewa, they started the Sewa of Girls Khalsa High School Dares Salaam. Congratulations to all of them for their dedicated and unselfish services to the Sikh Community!

On May 8, 1933, he married Sardarni Hardyal Kaur (daughter of Dr. Kartar Singh, village Lalton Kalan). The couple was blessed with two sons (Dr. Harjeet Singh, and Dr. Balminder Singh) and four daughters (Dr. Ranjit Kaur, Ms. Devinder Kaur, Ms. Jatinder Kaur, and Ms. Charanjot Kaur). After serving the British Rail- way Tanzania for 37 years, he got his retirement on January 20, 1962. His honesty during his service was appreciated even by the first President of Tanzania, Julius Kambarage Nyerere. During the time when Nyerere was leading freedom fighter he had no money to pay for his fare when he was trying to reach an important meeting. When Nyerere explained his situation, then S. Jagir Singh said, “I do realize your situation. Even with this kind of justification, the law does not permit me to allow you to travel without a proper ticket. I am issuing you a proper ticket and I will pay for your train fare!” Narere remembered this incident became President.

From January 1962 through 1982 he stayed in Ludhiana and took care of his grandfather who completed the journey of his life in 1969. His grand- father, S. Kartar Singh, made him the trustees of his property and left be- hind a substantial amount of finances to do more sewa for the community. S. Jagir Singh helped many needy families especially during their daughter’s marriages. With all these finances available, he spearheaded the construction of a Hospital, as well as a veterinarian Hospital, and the Girls High School in his village Katani. In 1983 the couple moved to New Orleans, where their younger son Dr. Balminder Singh Mangat, who is the present President of the local Sikh Organization, resides. For more than 60 years, Sardarni Hardyal Kaur has recited Gurbani, which S. Jagir Singh listens at least twice a day. In New Orleans, S. Jagir Singh spearheaded the construction work of Gurdwara Sahib-for which the Gurdwara Management Committee is thankful to him for his SEWA of $125,000. Although his memory is not as strong airbuses to be he does remettiber very well his younger brother S. Gurdial Singh Katani who visited him in New Orleans last year. S. Gurdial Singh is an excellent lecturer and being an influential personality in that area is, therefore, well known among the Punjabi politicians of pre and post independence time. Once he told S. Partap Singh Karon that the reason he did not support him was that Karon had too many unethical followers surrounding him. Karon then said, “Katani Sahib! if good people like you don’t support me, and then expect from me to drop my other so called unethical supporters, then how am I going to rule Punjab?”

On January 9, 1994, we in New Orleans had to share with him the tragic news about his son Dr. Harjeet Singh’s departure. Dr. Harjeet (FRCS) was an outstanding heart surgeon in North Dakota. In the presence of the present writer, this news was conveyed to him by his younger son, Dr. Balminder Singh Mangat. While accepting this as God’s will, he advised Dr. Mangat to play the role of a caring father for Dr. Harjeet’s only son. He further advised Dr. Mangat that in this difficult time, what he could do to help the family!

Age did take away from him his physical strength but not his gracious manners. Whenever he watches his daughter-in-law (Dr. Raghubir Kaur Mangat) unloading groceries from her car, he always says, “Biba, do you need any help!” About four years ago, while helping us in the preparation of food for a Sikh congregation which was to be held at our house, his daughter in law said, “Our Baji is a Real Saint! He is very appreciative even after receiving minor help. His manners and the way he always says thanks, makes me really proud of him!” While I said, “I know what you mean and we have very much the same opinion about Babaji” in my mind I was saying, “Sardar Sahib, too, must be very proud to have you as his daughter-in-law!”

Article extracted from this publication >> March 17, 1995