WASHINTON: M.A.LCS., former Prof. Harvard University, died on August 5, 1992. $.Gopal Singh Ahluwalia was born on Oct.8,1914 in village All ran district Gujranwala (now in Pakistan).
He received a Master’s degree in psychology from Govt. College Lahore and subsequently a P hd. from the University of London. He started his career in I.C.S. and held many high administrative positions. He was a fellow of the United Nations and represented Indian Govt. in many Intl. Conference. He joined I.C.S. in 1944 during British Regime in India.
He arrived in the U.S.A. in 1976 at the invitations of the University of Boston at Amherst, University of Conn. and Harvard University, As a visiting Professor his lectures were always received with admiration. He lived in Boston, Massachuseus and was on the University faculty for several years before moving to Washington D.C.
Gopal Singh Ahluwalia’s deep love and devotion to our Sikh Religion inspired him to highlight the current Sikh issues for freedom.
On Sept.29,1990 the Sikh Intl Secretariat Building was inaugurated by S.Didar Singh Bains, Int! President of W.S.O., in Washington D.C. Sardar Ahluwalia conceptualized the workings of the Secretariat as to win International support for our struggle. By exposing the essence of Sikhism in its entirely, the community could utilize the Secretariat to focus on the current Sikh struggle for freedom.
He believed that the World Sikh Org., with offices in this Secretariat at Washington D.C., would be focus for the educational, cultural, social and religious history of the Sikhs. It would be a center which would disseminate all aspects of our struggle to the erstwhile Press Corps in Washington D.C.
A few months back, he returned from India where unfortunately his health had weakened. But with deeper passion to forge ahead and need the goals that he had set. He called his personal friend, “New York Times” Managing Editor, D.Lelyweld and arranged a meeting so as to get his assistance and expose our struggle. During his last days of life in a Maryland Hospital, he wrote a manuscript which effectively voiced his thoughts.
He handed it over to S. Lachman Singh Aujla, of W.S.O.’s Washington D.C. Office. He beseeched him to request to S, Didar Singh Bains, Intl President W.S.O. and $.Gurcharan Singh Dhillon, president W.S.O., USA to carry on this struggle for the establishment of the Sikh identity in our homeland.
On behalf of the World Sikh Org. (Intl) we express our deepest sorrow at the untimely death of S. Gopal Singh Ahluwalia on August 5,1992 at 4:34 a.m. Our most meaningful homage to his greatness would be to continue on the path he has shown us.
Article extracted from this publication >> Aug 21, 1992
